BRENTWOOD: Bishop Reid - 'Show me someone who has not made a mistake'

By exclusive iain johnson iain.johnson@gazettenews.co.uk

BISHOP Michael Reid has broken his silence to apologise for cheating on his wife.

In an exclusive interview with the Gazette, the founder of the Peniel Church offered a full apology for his adultery with another church member and said he "fell into a trap".

The 67-year-old, who still lives with his devoted wife Dr Ruth Reid, just two doors away from his former flock in Coxtie Green Road, Pilgrims Hatch, believes he took the appropriate action at the time by standing down from the pulpit, for what he was expecting to be a temporary break.

He said: "I did fall into sin, I did have an affair, that is fact and I am sorry it happened.

"When it did happen I realised I should step down for a time."

He added: "I am human, I am not super-human, and I am able to sin.

"I fell into a trap, I did commit adultery, I did confess it, I did step down, I do believe in restoration.

"I am still the same minister I always was.

"I sinned, big deal, it happened. I am sorry it happened, it shouldn't have happened, but if anyone has never made mistakes in their life I would like to meet them."

Mr Reid also took the opportunity to quash rumours he was involved in two other affairs.

He said: "There was only one affair, there was never any more and I went to the church and said I will step down for a time which is normal within proper Christian churches."

He added: "I didn't try to destroy the church."

The grandfather-of-five, who is still preaching in Africa, the USA and at a church he set up in Seven Kings earlier this year, alleged he and his family were threatened after he apparently "point blank" refused to accept a £500,000 pay-off to leave the Peniel.

The threats allegedly included attacking him with iron bars if he dared to return to his Brentwood home following a trip to the US in 2008, an alleged attempt to run over his daughter, and a message that he would be "forcibly removed" if he attempted to enter the church grounds.

He said: "I am not going to be terrorised out of my home, why should I be?

"This is meant to be a civilised country, I am Christian.

"I have been married 40 years to the same woman and we are happily married and the whole thing we have been through has been a trauma."