A SEVENTH Day Adventist church has closed down a language school for international students, migrants and refugees because its founder publicly supported gay marriage.

Gateway Adventist Centre, the church's university outreach, closed the English-language school on April 15 as soon as its leadership became aware of Keith Paulusse's support for gay marriage, published on his Facebook page, Mr Paulusse said yesterday.

Keith Paulusse. Credit:John Woudstra

Gateway's chief elder, Johnny Wong, told Mr Paulusse, a celibate gay man, in an email that he would give the church a bad name. Mr Paulusse, 62, a retired pyschologist, said another Gateway elder later told two friends that he was a paedophile, which he intended to pursue in court. He said church leaders also asked his former business partner, a psychiatrist, whether he had psychological problems.

Mr Paulusse, a member of Gateway, said police were called after he tried to address the mostly student congregation at its worship service on April 21. He was arrested and ordered not to attend for four months, he said. ''I have been completely ostracised and stigmatised.