Deacons of Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church in Alabama have filed suit against their pastor Juan McFarland after he admitted to having sexual intercourse with several women in the congregation without informing them he had AIDS. The pastor also confessed to drug use and misuse of church funds.
According to the lawsuit, "The Defendant Juan D. McFarland attempted to change the by-laws and constitution of the Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church by deception in an attempt to prevent the Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church from terminating him as Pastor, in the event the church members discovered his debauchery, sinfulness, hedonism, sexual misconduct, dishonesty, thievery and rejection of the Ten Commandments.”
McFarland has refused to step down from his leadership position despite a church vote that resulted 80-2 in favor of terminating the pastor.
The church has also filed suit against McFarland’s ally, church member Marc Anthoni Peacock. The Christian Post reports Peacock threatened the deacons with taking advantage of the so-called “castle doctrine” if they would return to the church. The lawsuit states that doctrine is in reference to shooting as self-defense.
"The vast majority of the members of Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church are afraid to go to church for the fear of violence," the lawsuit against Peacock says.
McFarland has not yet been charged with any crimes; it is a Class C misdemeanor to knowingly spread a disease in Alabama.
Publication date: October 15, 2014