Timothy Paul Baymon

Local roles

Paul is the senior pastor of the International Basilica in Springfield, Massachusetts and president of Epiphany Development Corporation which in 2006 announced the planned construction of a $10 million boutique hotel at the Epiphany Tower building on State Street in that city. The Basilica faced forclosure in 2009 as a result of owing $690,000 on its mortgage. After narrowly escaping foreclosure, the church lost its building in 2012 at a foreclosure auction. As of September 2016, following repayment by a partner developer of unpaid taxes, the planned hotel will be a Holiday Inn Express.

Paul is president of Springfield Christian College and Theological Seminary, a non-accredited institution for aspiring ministers that gives credit for life experiences. Paul is a native of Springfield. He is a member of the board of New England Partners in Faith, and in 2006, served his second term as president of the Council of Churches of Western Massachusetts.

World Bishops' Council presidency

Under Paul's leadership, the World Bishops Council has stood against universalism, in one case publicly criticising the teachings of United Church of Christ Bishop Carlton Pearson, which the Council judged to be heretical. In 2001, the Unification Church promoted an event called "We Will Stand!" where Paul introduced Sun Myung Moon, leader of the Unification Church and messiah claimant, as the keynote speaker on a 50-state 51-day tour. Paul signed a letter with twenty-eight other religious leaders in support of religious freedom in Iraq Representing the WBC at the United Nations' 60th DPI/NGO Conference, Paul urged Christians to "become greater stewards of the earth" by conserving energy, by reducing greenhouse gases and deforestation, and by creating public and private partnerships which will lead to renewable energy sources.

International Communion of the Holy Christian Orthodox Church

Formerly a pastor of the Praise and Glory Church of God in Christ in Springfield, Paul entered the autocephalous movement and was ordained in August 1999 by Carl Jimenez, Peter Brennan, James Lagona, and Joseph Grenier. The ICHCOC established its U.S. Headquarters in Springfield following the purchase of the historic Springfield Masonic Temple, renamed the Basilica of the Holy Apostles. The church aims to offer a place where the three major streams of conservative Western Christianity (Catholic, Evangelical and Pentecostal) can worship together.

Deposed Bishop Edward Chomba alleged that Paul on January 1, 2007 attacked him, accusing him of practicing witchcraft and brainwashing another man. Baymon was arraigned and plead not guilty. At the arraignment, Baymon's lawyer argued for dismissal of the charges, stating there were four witnesses to the fight and claimed the witnesses said Paul "didn't do anything."

In January 2012, following financial difficulties, the former Masonic Temple serving as the church's basilica was sold at a foreclosure auction to its mortgage holder in January 2012. The church subsequently announced that the 500-member congregation would relocate to Maryland.

In September 2016, Paul announced that his church had nominated the American Baptist minister and civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. for sainthood.