Disturbing news comes from Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama. From the bible to bedsheets, Pastor Juan Demetrius McFarland has confessed from the pulpit to his parishioners he has slept with church members without notifying them that he has AIDS. On another note, good news, a growing number of states pass same-sex marriage. Also, Sweetwater has a similar Hollywood storyline in film production on church corruption involving confessing from the pulpit in her film 'The Hollywood Conspiracy,' based on the true story of Pre-production scandals and the current full-blown scandal of Sweetwater's Jett Durango Trilogy.
Picture of McFarland at the pulpit.
A congregation was informed their pastor had sex with his church members in the church building, knowing he had AIDS, and committing adultery at the same time. Pastor McFarland, who is also the head of the Alabama Middle District Missionary Baptist Association Inc., a 34-member church association, admitted that he contracted HIV in 2003 and was diagnosed with AIDS in 2008. The pastor who has served at the church since 1990, also admitted that he had misused church money and abused illegal drugs while pastor.
Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church has hired legal counsel. Nathan Williams Jr., who has attended the church for more than 70 years, says “Our moves are going to come directly from counsel. We want peace and we want to do things right, legally. We are not looking to hurt him. We are looking to get the church back. That’s our theme, to get the church back. We want the church back. That’s it.”
Deacons put it to vote on October 5 to remove McFarland, but there’s some internal debate raging among members over the decision of McFarland's removal from the clergy. Police were called to the church when Williams stated that he believes someone called authorities on those who voted for McFarland’s removal. No one was removed from the church during the incident of infighting over the unanimous decision. Church leaders tried to change the locks on the door, but were confronted by McFarland and a supporter who said they were banned from the premises and would face "castle law" if they tried to attend services, reported by the deacons' lawyer. "They're worried if they show up to church, they could get shot," the lawyer said. "Unless the pastor steps down voluntarily, this will end up in court."
The locks that were installed on the doors were changed by McFarland and some of his new appointees Monday morning. The church’s old deacons are in conference with lawyers about how they can take back control of Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church.
Although some at the church want McFarland removed and brought up on charges and held accountable for his ungodly sins, others are backing the embattled preacher. "Don't we know the feeling all too well? Religion and faith at all costs, the motto of this modern-day of corrupt organized religion," Sweetwater says.
In Alabama, spreading a sexually transmitted disease is a low-level misdemeanor.
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