For years Moriel & Jacob Prasch warned of Bishop Mike Reid, a figure in a group many regarded as cultic that literally dressed up like the pope. Reid was the British bishop, Harry Westcott the Australian bishop, the late Nigerian money preacher Benson Iahosa was the African bishop, and Earl Paulk the American bishop in this peculiar movement that blended a form of Pentecostalism with an unbalanced emphasis on healing, dominion theology, and the outward trappings of Roman Catholicism. It seemed to swallow persons one never would have ordinarily expected to be drawn to it such as Jonathan Fiddy.

Earl Paulk whose ventures into occultic practices was exposed in national American media for gross sexual immorality. Now his British counterpart in this strange movement Mike Reid has resigned following disclosures of adultery.

The BBC carried the following announcement:

Family Values Campaigner Resigns After Admitting Adultery

8 Apr 08, 12:38 PM

One of Britain's best-known "traditional values" campaigners has resigned from the leadership of his church in Essex after admitting to an extra-marital affair.

Michael Reid founded Peniel Pentecostal Church more than thirty years ago (though the church was recently renamed "Michael Reid Ministries"). In 1982, he also founded Peniel Academy, a Christian school, and until his resignation operated a satellite TV ministry. He co-presented "What God Can Do for You" with his wife, Ruth. He has served on the Board of Advisors for Oral Roberts University, and recently became a patron of the English Constitutional Convention.

All the websites associated with Michael Reid Ministries were taken down this weekend, and an announcement was made to Peniel Church members that Michael Reid's resignation had been accepted by the church's governing body. Pastor Peter Linnecar has already taken over the leadership of the church.

Mr Reid is a founder member of the Christian Congress for Traditional Values (CCTV), which campaigned last year against the UK's new sexual orientation regulations. You can see him interviewed, below, as part of a protest outside Parliament (hat-tip to Ruth Gledhill of The Times).
Anne, Brown, a spokesperson for Peniel Church, is interviewed here about the details of Michael Reid's resignation.

Pastor Reid has made this statement: "It is with great sorrow and regret that I have resigned from the church board and have stepped down from official duties. I confess that I have sinned by committing adultery. I recognize that I have failed in my duties and acted in a way that harmed the Church. I take full responsibility for my actions and so I resigned. I apologize to my wife and family and all of you whose trust I have betrayed and ask for your forgiveness and prayers."