The head of the African Methodist Church in Bermuda has vowed to follow church policy when the issue of a minister convicted of sexual assault arises at the weekend, it emerged yesterday.

AME Bishop the Rt. Rev. Phillip Cousin made this statement when The Royal Gazette approached him during a tour of the newly renovated Matilda Smith Williams Seniors Residence.

Bishop Cousin is on the Island to attend the annual district conference on Friday and Saturday.

And it is expected that he, in addition to normal church business, will delve into all matters pertaining to the conviction of the Rev. Trevor Woolridge for sexual assault.

Mr. Woolridge has appealed his conviction and is out on bail pending the outcome.

Bishop Cousin said:"I will do what the church law expects of all persons.'' When asked to elaborate, he repeated himself and rushed off to continue the tour.

So far the Progressive Labour Party and members of Mount Zion AME Church have shown support for Mr. Woolridge who is an MP for Hamilton East.

Both Opposition Leader Jennifer Smith and Opposition Senate leader Milton Scott attended Mr. Woolridge's court hearing on Monday morning.

His sentencing was put off at that time pending the outcome of the appeal against his conviction for sexual assault.

A standing room only court watched the 15-minute process and at the end converged on Mr. Woolridge, shaking his hand and wishing him well at his appeal.

Ms Smith and Mr. Scott were among a slew of persons who came forward with expressions of greeting and support.

Last week, Mr. Woolridge was found guilty of exposing himself to a female parishioner and grabbing her breasts in September, 1996.

Acting Magistrate Michael Smith said that he accepted both lawyers' submissions that credibility was the premier issue in the case.

Moreover, he said that on the complainants' version of the facts, Rev.

Woolridge exposed himself to her and put his hands on her breasts.

Conversely, he said that Rev. Woolridge testified that this never occurred because he went to the woman's home to deliver a grocery voucher and promptly left.

But Mr. Smith said that Mr. Woolridge's evasiveness during the cross examination tainted his own credibility.