Methodist Church suspends Co-op bank's ex-chair amid drug claims The former chairman of the Co-operative Bank has been suspended from his ministerial duties by the Methodist Church, after allegations emerged that he had handed over money for illegal drugs. Paul Flowers, a Methodist minister, who presided over the bank's expansionary drive that ended in its rescue by its bondholders and the parent Co-op group, on Sunday apologised for his "stupid and wrong" behaviour after a video allegedly showed him giving money to buy illegal substances. A report by the Mail on Sunday appeared to show Rev Flowers giving £300 in cash for the substances just days after he was interviewed by the Treasury select committee about the Co-op bank's financial troubles. It also included a series of text messages believed to be sent by Rev Flowers, both before and after his committee appearance, which discussed drug taking. In a statement, Rev Flowers blamed his behaviour on the pressures of his role with the Co-op. He said: "This year has been incredibly difficult, with a death in the family and the pressures of my role with the Co-operative Bank. At the lowest point in this terrible period, I did things that were stupid and wrong. He added: "I am sorry for this, and I am seeking professional help, and apologise to all I have hurt or failed by my actions." A Methodist Church statement on Sunday said that Rev Flowers had been suspended from his duties for three weeks, pending investigations. It said: "We expect high standards of our ministers and we have procedures in place for when ministers fail to meet those standards." The allegations put unwelcome focus on the former chairman, who was replaced as the Co-op bank's chairman in the summer. Earlier this month, during a two-and-a-half hour committee session, Rev Flowers shocked MPs by admitting he did not know how much the bank lent. He also told the Treasury select committee that the Co-op's total assets were about £3bn, when they are actually £47bn. At the time, Andrew Tyrie MP, committee chairman, said: "Today we were provided with further evidence, if it were needed, that the chairman of a bank must have a good deal of financial experience and expertise." Just days before his appearance at the committee meeting, the Co-op revealed the terms of a sweeping debt restructuring aimed at saving its banking arm from collapse. The mutual will own just 30 per cent of the bank after a radical restructuring handed control to bondholders. A group of bondholders will own about 70 per cent of the bank, about half of which will go to hedge funds, in exchange for their debt and a new £125m cash injection. Of Rev Flowers, the Co-op Bank said: "We can make no comment on these allegations, which are of a personal nature and being made against a former board member."