should remain as it is.

In a weekend poll conducted by The Royal Gazette : Pastors with the Living Epistle Ministries, the New Testament Churches of God (Pentecostal), the Calvary Gospel Chapel, and the Mormon Church all said the law should remain as it is.

Those with the Church of Christ and the Church of the Nazarene said legal questions are outside their domain.

And pastors with the Presbyterian Church of Scotland, the First Church of God, the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada, and the Bermuda Methodist Synod said they would issue statements on the controversial issue this week.

Some churches either declined comment or could not be reached for comment.

Earlier, the bishops of the Anglican and Roman Catholic churches -- Bermuda's two largest -- said gay sex between consenting adult males should be decriminalised. But the AME Church, the third largest on the Island, remained staunchly opposed to repeal of the law.

Rev. Harlyn Purdy, president of the Bermuda Christian Ministerial Association, with representation from the broad spectrum of Christian churches on the Island, said he had only been able to conduct a partial telephone poll of members, but the issue will be discussed at a meeting on February 2.

Of members polled, "the overwhelming majority response was not to change the law,'' he said.

Rev. David Long of First Baptist Church in Devonshire said homosexuality is a sin and he did not agree with the homosexual lifestyle.

"However, I do not believe that homosexuality should be viewed as a crime,'' Rev. Long said. "Somehow the church must find a way to minister to the homosexual.

"The example of Jesus was to hate the sin, but love the sinner.'' Pastor Gwendoline Wallace, founder of the Living Epistle Ministries, said: "God is dead set against homosexuals. It is wrong and it is a sin. "I think they should not allow it to be legal.'' At the New Testament Churches of God (Pentecostal), Overseer and Bishop Rev.

Dr. Goodwin C. Smith said he was disturbed by talk of legalising gay sex, just as recent talk about making marijuana legal disturbed him.

"We have to be very careful in Bermuda that we are not constantly legalising so many things,'' Rev. Smith said. "There are very few cases that have come before the courts in many years,'' which suggests the gay sex law may act as a deterrent, he said.

"If that's the case, then why bother with it?'' Pastor Mark Hall of Cavalry Gospel Chapel said he was concerned by the position taken by the Anglican and Roman Catholic churches. "It certainly should be a crime that we keep on the law books,'' he said.

At the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (the Mormon Church), branch president Mr. Vincent Olson said his personal view is that homosexuality is a learned activity which must be stopped.

"We certainly do not believe in legalising something that we believe is against the laws of God,'' he said.

Brother Derek Hamlin of the Church of Christ in Devonshire said homosexual behaviour is morally irresponsible and the gay community should be cautious about lashing out at heterosexuals.

"Were it not for heterosexuals, then homosexuals would not be here on this planet,'' Mr. Hamlin said.

But "whether or not the legal community should execute judgment on a person committing a homosexual act is something only the court system can answer,'' he said.

At the Church of the Nazarene, Rev. J.R. Chavier said homosexuality is a sin.

"God did not create Adam and Steve; he created Adam and Eve,'' he said.

Rev. Chavier said he did not believe "we need to legislate morality,'' but under a democracy it is up to all Bermudians to decide what should be legal.

He said he would be opposed to any law which would permit a homosexual couple to raise children.