Deacons at Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church in Alabama have launched a lawsuit to oust their minister, the Rev. Juan McFarland, after he first admitted to several affairs with parish women — and then confessed he has AIDS.
The deacons had previously voted 80-1 to fire him. But Mr. McFarland then refused to leave, and even changed the locks on the church’s buildings as well as the numbers on the church’s bank account, The Associated Press reported.
The deacons then announced they had kicked off a lawsuit to give him the boot, AP said.
Court documents fault him for “debauchery, sinfulness, hedonism, sexual misconduct, dishonesty, thievery and refection of the Ten Commandments,” AP reported. At the same time, Mr. McFarland hasn’t been charged with any crime — though he could face up to a year in jail for the misdemeanor offense of knowingly spreading a sexually transmittable disease.
In their lawsuit, the deacons ask that the judge block Mr. McFarland from serving as minister and order him to return control of the church building, its bank accounts and the Mercedes Benz that the church allows their pastor to use, AP said.
“We are just trying to minister to the flock and get the church back in order,” said James Long, vice chairman of the board of trustees, AP reported.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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