Support NeoGAF

[Lionel Mandrake]

EDIT: Thread title should probably say "Exposed," or something similar, as opposed to "Infected," as that implies confirmed cases of AIDS. Sorry. That didn't occur to me until after I posted.
EDIT2: Thanks, mods.

This has been a pretty big deal locally, and I've seen it pop up on national sites recently, but I haven't seen a thread on GAF yet. (Searched: "Juan McFarland" and "Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church" and got nothing)

I'm going to link some stories, but I'm also going to give you a quick rundown of what's happened so far, so you don't have to look through all four links to know what's going on. I apologize in advance if my writing is sloppy. I'm really tired.

Juan McFarland is the preacher of Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church in Montgomery, AL. One day, while at the pulpit, he decides to confess some sins he had committed. He claimed to have done a lot drugs and misused the church funds for his own purposes.

"He was on marijuana, cocaine and all the drugs you can think of," Williams said. "Those are his words."

Williams said that McFarland also acknowledged that he had used money given to him for conventions on having "a good time."

But most importantly, he revealed he had been sleeping with multiple members of the congregation, and that he had been diagnosed with AIDS in 2008.

McFarland said that he was diagnosed HIV positive in 2003 and then was tested again in 2008, which was when he was diagnosed with AIDS, Williams said.

Williams said he did not know how many women McFarland might have slept with.

Needless to say, people were horrified. A vote was quickly held to remove McFarland from the position, with the results being 80-2 for getting rid of him. But....

McFarland since has changed the locks on the church and changed the church's bank account, leaving other church leaders without access, Williams said.

He then made himself scarce, avoiding media and churchgoers. And as expected, he decided to lay low.... Until he actually showed up on Sunday and led another service, and weirdly enough, he had a decent number of supporters.

Amid heated controversy that has spread worldwide and a vote among church leaders to oust him from his church, Pastor Juan McFarland led Sunday morning's worship service at Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church in Montgomery.

A fervent congregation of around 50, taking up a fraction of the pews, sang loudly and encouraged McFarland throughout his sermon. Though the choir loft behind him was empty, the pastor appeared to be full of the spirit.

Including one who apparently implied that if anyone tried to interfere he would shoot them.

The deacons have said that McFarland and church member Marc Anthoni Peacock changed the locks on the church to prevent them from entering and have changed the names on the church bank account.

The lawsuit states Peacock threatened to use "castle law" to keep the deacons out of the church.

Attorney Julian McPhillips, who is representing the deacons, said that reference was a threat to shoot the deacons if they tried to enter the church.

He preached about faith healing and such while his supporters praised him. Meanwhile, the rest of the church wanted the guy gone. But, apparently at some point before all of this, McFarland had hastily altered the church's constitution (Yes, that's a thing. Southern Baptists are all about some bureaucracy) that gives him seemingly unlimited power.

Deacons dispute the legitimacy of a church constitution that grants McFarland wide-ranging powers, including immunity to being removed as pastor by vote. In fact, the constitution states that the pastor "may only be removed by resignation or death."

So now, not knowing what else to do, the deacons are seeking legal help and finally taking the pastor to court on Thursday (Tomorrow). But so far, there's still been no sign of McFarland.


http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/story/news/local/2014/10/09/pastor-admits-sex-church-members-aids/16979455/
http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/story/news/local/2014/10/12/ousted-shiloh-pastor-still-leading-worship/17175505/
http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/story/news/local/2014/10/14/deacons-file-lawsuit-oust-shiloh-pastor/17251261/
http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/story/news/local/2014/10/15/shiloh-pastor-dispute-court-thursday/17325769/

Normally, I avoid making threads on touchy subjects like AIDS and religion, but this story is so weird, and happens to be happening relatively close to me, so I felt some obligation to.

 

[Charles Foster Kane]

That is all sorts of fucked up.

 

[SteveWinwood]

this is the strangest thing ive seen this week

 

[Nostremitus]

What the fuck?

 

[Permanently A]

He got up and confessed all that? By his own volition?

What did he think was going to happen?

 

[CronoShot]

 

[ItIsOkBro]

He got up and confessed all that? By his own volition?

What did he think was going to happen?

They'd forgive him like they're supposed to.

 

[Gattsu25]

I heard about this earlier today but didn't know all of these details. What the bloody hell?

 

[adj_noun]

Needless to say, people were horrified. A vote was quickly held to remove McFarland from the position, with the results being 80-2 for getting rid of him.

There's always that fifth dentist.

 

[OrlanisWorks]

Sounds like a guy who needs a good teeth-kicking.

 

[todd360]

Religion is scary.

 

[Soonri]

"Fucked up" is a pretty good way to describe this.

 

[PhineBuyM3]

Fuck this guy.

 

[Ninja Scooter]

Needless to say, people were horrified. A vote was quickly held to remove McFarland from the position, with the results being 80-2 for getting rid of him. But....

two people voted to keep him?

 

[Sho_Nuff82]

I love the part where he asks for forgiveness but isn't really sorry and won't accept his punishment in this life.

 

[dr3upmushroom]

It's strange that he would confess and then still fuck over the church... This makes it seem like someone was going to call him out and he decided to do it first.

Also about the money (because really it's all about the money), I wonder how much they have stocked up, and would they're funds run out without the donations of the majority who don't want him there. Maybe he's just hoping to have a nice slush fund.

 

[gdt]

Goddamn. This preacher knows how to party.

 

[makingmusic476]

Fuck this guy.

Why?? You'd get aids.

 

[Vermillion]

What the hell

 

[TheBaldEmperor]

two people voted to keep him?

Maybe they were still banging him?

 

[braves01]

He's gonna need that money for aids treatment.

 

[neogaffer1]

So now, not knowing what else to do, the deacons are seeking legal help and finally taking the pastor to court on Thursday (Tomorrow). But so far, there's still been no sign of McFarland.

How will this work with a church and state thing? Is it a civil suit or something? Genuinely asking.

 

[dr3upmushroom]

two people voted to keep him?

He's got the best connect in town.

 

[Nemesis121]

Wait he knowingly gave people AIDS and isn't behind bars? that right there should be grounds to have him arrested..

 

[Air]

That's pretty bizarre.

 

[Serra]

Erm, isn't knowingly spreading HIV a crime? Why has this man not been arrested?

 

[Jedeye Sniv]

I love the part where he asks for forgiveness but isn't really sorry and won't accept his punishment in this life.

The best thing about asking for forgiveness from an imaginary character is that you can imagine the forgiveness pretty quickly.

 

[davepoobond]

Sounds like he's on drugs

 

[Shaanyboi]

Firstly, the guy is a piece of shit for sleeping with other people while being fully aware of his own condition.

Secondly, who are these two people wanting to keep him around?

Thirdly, what the fuck is with this dude threatening to shoot people if they come close?

Lastly, what the fuck is wrong with the people showing up in support of this asshole?


They all have to be completely fucking nuts...

 

[Miles Quaritch]

Isn't knowingly infecting or attempting to infect someone with AIDS a criminal offense?

Why hasn't he been arrested? People too scared to come forward?

 

[Velikost]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6szE_qmzavQ


On a serious note, that's insane. Dude should do time

 

[Symphonic]

Religion is scary.

Come on, dude. AIDs can be spread anywhere at anytime and any kind of dumbasses can stand up and admit it.