Supreme Court decision which bars his followers from the Grace Methodist Church.

The Church was divided after a majority of the congregation, led by lay preacher Willard Lightbourne, protested a Methodist affiliation with the United Church of Canada (UCC).

The UCC supports liberal policies, one of which is the ordaining of homosexuals. After a failed attempt to share Church premises, the factions sued and counter-sued for control.

Last week, a Supreme Court judge ruled in favour of the Lightbourne group and granted it the exclusive right to hold services. But the Rev. Ronald Vincent, chairman of the Synod of the Wesleyan Methodist Church, said the decision to appeal had been reached in a meeting held by the Synod on Thursday night.

"The decision was to proceed with an examination of the judgment with a view to appeal,'' said Rev. Vincent.

"We're going to ask as well for a stay of execution of the judgment,'' he added. Rev. Vincent also expressed regret that the church dispute had had to go before the courts. But he said he had support from UCC members in Canada.