Jeff Wright resigns as director of Green Pastures after stepping back from pulpit

Mr Wright resigned as director on May 1 but the filling at Companies House was only received today and made public shortly after 5pm.

Belfast Telegraph can now reveal that there are now four new directors, Derby Rankin (31), Suzanne Blair (51), Robert Kingston (42) and Mary Regan (73). 

 

The address for all four new directors is given as that of the church at Faith Avenue in Ballymena. According to Companies House filings, Mr Rankin is also the director of DMR Mechanical, a mechanical and plumbing firm in Magherafelt.

Their appointment follows last week’s resignation of four pastors who were also directors, Roy Todd, Jason Kennedy, Brian Somerville and Karen Kernohan. It’s understood two of them, Karen and Jason, are members of the eight-strong executive team which resigned last month. 

The church did not respond to requests for comment on the appointment of the new directors and whether it marked an attempt to move on from the church’s recent problems.

Posts on its Facebook page suggest it is trying to remain stoic. A post on Monday recalled a sermon from ‘Pastor Darren’ on Sunday, and featured the quote: “No matter how hard the waves crash, with Jesus in the vessel we can smile in the face of the storm.”

The Charity Commission in Northern Ireland, which announced an investigation into the church, a registered charity, said it “cannot speculate or comment on an ongoing case”.

“However, we can advise that in a case where new board members are appointed while a Commission investigation is ongoing, the Commission would not have to approve the appointments,” added a spokesperson.

Last year, the Belfast Telegraph revealed funds at the evangelical church in Ballymena climbed to £22m as the congregation welcomed another 64 people while raising money to pay for its new building, The Gateway on Faith Avenue.

A review into staff complaints about Mr Wright is taking place, as well as the Charity Commission investigation.

In an email to church members, the board said the review related to “alleged behaviours by Pastor Jeff Wright which have purportedly had a detrimental and significant impact on the mental and spiritual wellbeing of those staff”.

“This review is being carried out by Trusted HR Limited, who are an independent firm with expertise in this area and who have no connection either to the church or the board. The board await the outcome of this review,” the board said.

“At this stage the board do not believe that the complaints give rise to moral or financial failures on the part of Pastor Jeff Wright. Rather, we understand that they mostly centre around issues relating to the style of leadership adopted by Pastor Jeff Wright.

“The board has communicated with the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland in respect of the complaints received and the process that has been instigated. The Charity Commission has advised that the board has acted in accordance with the principles of good governance and has endorsed the actions taken to date.”

According to reports, Mr Wright announced his decision to step down from the church at a service on May 1.

Previously, an unreleased press release seen by this newspaper had only said Green Pastures was dealing with “an internal matter of church governance”.

The Belfast Telegraph has previously contacted Green Pastures for a comment from Mr Wright.