Alabama Pastor's Confessional Sermons: Sex on Church Grounds, Drug Abuse and AIDS Diagnosis

By Michael Walsh
New York Daily News
October 9, 2014

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/alabama-pastor-admits-sex-church-grounds-article-1.1968497

Well, I guess the truth will set you free.

An Alabama pastor reportedly kicked off a few sermons with litanies of confessions that shocked his congregation at Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church in Montgomery.

From the pulpit, Juan McFarland allegedly admitted to adulterous sex romps with longtime congregates on church-grounds, taking church money for business trips and not bothering to go, abusing illegal drugs while pastor, contracting HIV in 2003 and receiving an AIDS diagnosis in 2008, according to local media.

It is not clear whether McFarland, who has led the church since 1990, told his numerous sex partners about his STD status, but at least one of them plans to take an HIV test, WSFA reported.

"Who does this to people and you are the leader? Who does this?" a church member told the NBC affiliate. "I know a young lady who is a member of the church who says she has slept with him … and she running out now trying to find out if there is anything wrong with her."

The first jaw-dropping sermon took place on Sept. 14, but two more followed. On Sunday, the deacons unanimously voted to remove McFarland as pastor.

Nathan Williams Jr., 80, who has attended Shiloh since he was just a boy, confirmed that many church-goers were stunned, but not everyone was angry, AL.com said.

Church-goers say they were not prepared to hear about Juan McFarland's sinful behaviors.

"As Christian people, we wanted him to get well," he told the news site. "I thought of him as one of my sons."

Williams added that he does not know whether McFarland still has his other position as moderator of the 34-church Alabama Middle District Missionary Baptist Association.

About 160 people attend Shiloh every Sunday.

Contact: mwalsh@nydailynews.com