A hate-filled message on Rev. David Chisling's church door has fuelled fears he was targeted in a vicious witch-hunt.

The sign read: "Everyone ought to know, Chisling has to go!''.

It was placed on the door of Wesleyan Methodist Church in Somerset.

Yesterday an accusing finger was pointed at parishioners hell-bent on ousting the Canadian minister.

One parishioner, who did not wish to be named, hit out: "I think it's terrible what he has been subjected to.'' Chairman of the Bermuda Synod's pastoral relations committee Dr. Don Campbell also voiced disapproval.

"It's certainly not very Christian and not very charitable.'' Dr. Campbell said he was aware of the sign and believed "someone in the Somerset church'' was probably responsible.

But his committee did not investigate since Rev. Chisling had already announced his intention to leave Bermuda.

"There was not really any point in doing so,'' he added.

AIDS activist Rev. Chisling, pastor of the Southampton and Somerset Methodist churches, is quitting at the end of September when his contract is up.

Members of his Somerset congregation were believed to be enraged at his refusal to cast judgement on gays. And they delivered a critical report on him to a meeting of Methodist churches.

It is understood some Bermudians have objected to having a white Canadian minister.

Meanwhile, yesterday members of the community rallied around Rev. Chisling.

They followed the lead of Health Minister the Hon. Quinton Edness.

Mr. Edness was appalled at reports Rev. Chisling was being kicked out of Bermuda.

He described Rev. Chisling as "God's champion'', and urged him to rethink his decision to quit.

The unit co-ordinator at Agape House, where Rev. Chisling is a chaplain, heaped praise on him.

Mrs. Hilary Soares applauded Rev. Chisling for his "excellent work'' at the hospice, which cares for the terminally ill, including AIDS patients.

"We will certainly miss him. He has been very good, and has always come down to the hospice when we need him.

"He has always been excellent from our point of view.'' Mrs. Soares said she had twice asked Rev. Chisling to reconsider his decision to go, but without success.

"I'm not sure whether it's in his hands now. It's a shame. We will miss him because he is a good Christian gentleman.'' Mrs. Soares said Rev. Chisling had never spoken about any campaign to get rid of him.

"He is a man of great integrity.'' Told about the sign on the church door, Mrs. Soares exclaimed: "That is quite incredible.'' Rev. Chisling also helped set up the Sandys Rotary Club's AIDS Education Fund.

He was behind two concerts which raised cash to form the fund, which helps Bermuda gain access to latest AIDS information.

Yesterday former director of community services for Sandys Rotary, Mr. Stephen Lake, paid tribute to Rev. Chisling.

Mr. Lake, who also helped launch the Education Fund, said: "David was instrumental in establishing it.

"Without his initial impetus, I don't know whether it would have got off the ground.'' Mr. Lake said Rev. Chisling had made a "significant contribution'' to AIDS education.

"He was a leading light, and he did a great deal to make the public aware of the need to care for AIDS sufferers and educate the community at large.'' Dr. Campbell said he was aware of some "animosity'' among Somerset parishioners towards Rev. Chisling, pastor of the Port Royal circuit.

But this was not unusual, he added.

"In any church you get some people dissatisfied with their minister, and some who are happy.'' He added race was a "minor issue'' in Bermuda's churches.

Dr. Campbell said a special six-member committee had been set up in the Port Royal circuit to choose a successor to Rev. Chisling.

The replacement would be from Canada, with whom the Methodist churches are controversially linked.

"We are near to making a decision as to who it will be. But we are still in the process of deciding,'' said Dr. Campbell.

He added two Bermudian ministers had been approached, but both refused the appointment.

Rev. David Chisling.