"We have become so suspicious of the power of words. . . the first assumption we make is that we're faced with spin of some kind, with an agenda being forced on us. So that the modern response to the proclamation, 'Christ is risen!' is likely to be, 'Ah, but you would say that, wouldn't you? Now, what's the real agenda?' "

"We feel strongly that the church should do all it can do to remove any barriers, real or imagined, that keep people from finding and expressing spirituality in church," says Fr. Perry

In his denomination, as in other branches of Christianity, the sacrament of baptism usually has two aspects, a prolonged period of study and the ceremony. In the early Christian church, those who had studied were baptized during the Easter Vigil.

They also say the head bishop of the Episcopal diocese, the Rt. Rev. Robert Ihloff, publicly questioned the validity of the new church and the credentials of its pastor, the Rev. Eliot Winks.

"It was intriguing to me that they went to these lengths to shut us down," Winks said. "I have seen some nasty things done in the past, but never anything like this. I never expected it."

The bill prohibits "any person involved in the registration of gay clubs, societies and organisations, sustenance, procession or meetings, publicity and public show of same sex amorous relationship directly or indirectly in public and in private." The bill has reportedly been approved in the Federal Executive Council but has not yet been submitted to the National Assembly.