Timothy Paul Baymon

Archbishop Timothy Paul
Patriarch of the International Communion of the Holy Christian Orthodox Church
Installed September 2007
Term ended Incumbent

Timothy Paul (born Timothy B. Baymon[1][2]) is the Patriarch of the International Communion of the Holy Christian Orthodox Church. In addition to his service as Patriarch of the ICHCOC, he currently serves in his third consecutive term as President of the World Bishops’ Council, the group's body of ecumenical Bishops.[3][4]

Local roles

Paul is the senior pastor of the International Basilica in Springfield, Massachusetts and president of Epiphany Development Corporation which in 2006 announced the planned construction of a $10 million boutique hotel at the Epiphany Tower building on State Street in that city.[5][6] As of September 2016, following repayment by a partner developer of unpaid taxes, the planned hotel will be a Holiday Inn Express.[7] He is president of Springfield Christian College and Theological Seminary, a non-accredited institution for aspiring ministers that gives credit for life experiences.[8] Paul attended Wheaton College and American University, and is currently enrolled in a Juris Doctor program at Taft Law School.

Paul is a native of Springfield. He is a member of the board of New England Partners in Faith,[9] and in 2006, served his second term as president of the Council of Churches of Western Massachusetts.

World Bishops' Council presidency

Under Paul's leadership, the World Bishops Council has stood against universalism, in one case publicly criticising the teachings of United Church of Christ Bishop Carlton Pearson, which the Council judged to be heretical.[10] In 2001, the Unification Church promoted an event called "We Will Stand!" where Paul introduced Sun Myung Moon, leader of the Unification Church and messiah claimant, as the keynote speaker on a 50-state 51-day tour.[11][12][13] Paul signed a letter with twenty-eight other religious leaders in support of religious freedom in Iraq[14] Representing the WBC at the United Nations' 60th DPI/NGO Conference, Paul urged Christians to "become greater stewards of the earth" by conserving energy, by reducing greenhouse gases and deforestation, and by creating public and private partnerships which will lead to renewable energy sources.[3]

International Communion of the Holy Christian Orthodox Church

Formerly a pastor of the Praise and Glory Church of God in Christ in Springfield,[6] Paul entered the autocephalous movement and was ordained in August 1999 by Carl Jimenez, Peter Brennan, James Lagona, and Joseph Grenier.[15] The ICHCOC established its U.S. Headquarters in Springfield following the purchase of the historic Springfield Masonic Temple, renamed the Basilica of the Holy Apostles.[16][17][18] The church aims to offer a place where the three major streams of conservative Western Christianity (Catholic, Evangelical and Pentecostal) can worship together.

Deposed Bishop Edward Chomba alleged that Paul on January 1, 2007 attacked him, accusing him of practicing witchcraft and brainwashing another man. Baymon was arraigned and plead not guilty. At the arraignment, Baymon's lawyer argued for dismissal of the charges, stating there were four witnesses to the fight and claimed the witnesses said Paul "didn't do anything."[1][2]

In September 2007, the Holy Christian Orthodox Church and the Holy Synod of Bishops voted, and elected him as Patriarch of the International Communion.

In January 2012, following financial difficulties, the former Masonic Temple serving as the church's basilica was sold at a foreclosure auction to its mortgage holder in January 2012.[19][20] The church subsequently announced that the 500-member congregation would relocate to Maryland.[21]

In September 2016, Paul announced that his church had nominated the American Baptist minister and civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. for sainthood.[22]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Archbishop charged with beating a former bishop". Boston Globe. February 15, 2006. Archived from the original on February 23, 2006.
  2. 1 2 Marla A. Goldberg (February 14, 2006). "Bishop Pleads Innocent to Assault Charges". The Republican. Archived from the original on March 22, 2007.
  3. 1 2 "World Bishops' Council President Urges Action From Christians On Climate Change". Religion News Service. September 7, 2007. Archived from the original on October 11, 2007.
  4. ↑ "EXECUTIVECOLLEGE - The World Bishops Council". worldbishopscouncil.org. Archived from the original on November 13, 2012.
  5. ↑ Peter Goonan (June 3, 2006). "Hotel proposed near civic center". The Republican.
  6. 1 2 Peter Goonan (June 3, 2006). "Hotel project moving forward". The Republican.
  7. ↑ "Springfield Epiphany Tower developer once again anticipates completion of hotel project after years of delay". The Republican. September 2, 2016.
  8. ↑ Rosalind S. Helderman (August 5, 2007). "Bland's Words Echo Kofi Annan's". Washington Post.
  9. ↑ Jo-Ann Moriarty (July 9, 2006). "$75,000 grant aids job-finding program". The Republican. Archived from the original on September 3, 2006.
  10. ↑ "News Service Briefs By - Charisma Magazine". Archived from the original on October 9, 2008.
  11. ↑ Message from Rev. Michael Jenkins regarding Rev. Moon's 50 state speaking tour
  12. ↑ We Will Stand!
  13. ↑ Seattle, WA—March 9 - Unification News 03/2001
  14. ↑ "Letter to President Bush on Religious Freedom in Iraq". February 9, 2004. Archived from the original on August 8, 2007.
  15. ↑ "Orthodox Catholic Bishops "B" Directory". American Orthodox Church. Archived from the original on 2007-12-07. Retrieved 2008-01-19.
  16. ↑ Marla A. Goldberg (July 7, 2007). "Church buys Masonic temple". The Republican.
  17. ↑
  18. ↑ "Church Acquires Historic Masonic Temple". BusinessWest. July 9, 2007. Archived from the original on February 4, 2009.
  19. ↑ "Former Springfield Masonic Temple to be sold at auction". The Republic. January 23, 2012. Retrieved 2013-12-12.
  20. ↑ "Former Springfield Masonic Temple, used by church for past 5 years, sold to mortgage lender for $724,000". The Republic. January 26, 2012. Retrieved 2013-12-12.
  21. ↑ "Springfield's Holy Communion of Churches to relocate headquarters to Maryland". The Republican. January 24, 2012.
  22. ↑ "Martin Luther King Jr. made a saint by Orthodox Church". Premier.org.uk. September 14, 2016.


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