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	Pastor Dropped from Conference By Athaliah Reynolds The Gleaner August 15, 2009 http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20090815/news/news3.html Dove Ministries International has bent to the cry of outrage and shame levelled against it for using embattled pastor, the Reverend Dr Paul Lewis as headline speaker in a three-day religious and women's conference, which started last night. The consensus among several women's and civic groups is that having the New York-based pastor, as guest speaker at such a conference was a slap in the face of women everywhere in light of his recent carnal abuse and indecent assault charges. Difficult to cancel However, Dove International has come out to say the meetings were planned prior to the allegations and would have proved difficult to cancel. A release sent by the group went on to say Dove Ministries regretted that the advertisement issued was not amended earlier and that Lewis would not be preaching at the conference. According to the release, Lewis was also aware of the sensitive nature of the situation. The conference is part of a series of religious crusades, organised by the Christian promotion group, Dove Ministries International, based in Montego Bay, St James, and Lewis' own Messengers for Christ Ministries. The crusades are slated to take place from August 14-16 in Kingston and again on August 19- 23 in the Second City. Advertisements for the campaign could be found on the Paul Lewis Ministries website where the celebrity pastor was identified as a speaker. Before the release, conference organiser, Reverend Sydney Bennett, pointed out that Lewis had not been convicted of any crime. "He has not been tried and found guilty, the matter is still before the court," Bennett said. He further said the crusade was in the making from October 2008 and that the organisers and some members of the church would not turn their backs on Lewis in his time of hardship. "We must be our brother's keeper," he said. "This is the time we need to stand by him and give him support." Lewis' case was adjourned after he appeared in the Savanna-la-Mar Resident Magistrate's Court on August 4 because the prosecution's case against him was not ready. Bail extended His $1-million bail was also extended until his Thursday, September 4, court date. Allegations against the pastor are that in June, he met a 15-year-old at a convention in Little London, Westmoreland, where he was a guest preacher. He reportedly exchanged telephone numbers with the girl and, in a subsequent meeting, took her and a 14-year-old female companion with him on a trip to Clarendon. On their return to Westmoreland, the girls stayed with him at a hotel in Negril. It is alleged that during the night a sexual encounter took place with the 15-year-old as her companion watched. Contact: athaliah.reynolds@gleanerjm.com
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