Judge Rules In Favor of Church Deacons, Pastor Juan McFarland Must Leave the Church
At a preliminary hearing today in the case of a Montgomery pastor accused of behavioral issues, Judge Charles Price ruled in favor of the Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church Board of Deacons, saying ousted pastor Juan McFarland MUST leave the church…for good.
The Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church congregation traded church pews for seats in the Montgomery County Circuit Courthouse.
“You’re telling me that the Pastor can run the church like Sodom and Gomorrah and not be removed?” Attorney Kenneth Shinbaum argued.
After a morning full of testimony by deacons and other church members, Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge Charles Price ruled Thursday afternoon that Pastor Juan McFarland must turn over the keys to Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church. Church members were thrilled.
McFarland must also return the keys to the church vehicle, change the church bank accounts back to the way they were on October 1st, and McFarland is now barred from going on church grounds.
“We’re happy, elated that we are now able to go back and have church,” says Deacon Nathan Williams.
In a lawsuit filed Tuesday morning, the board of deacons named Pastor Juan McFarland and church parliamentarian Marc Anthoni Peacock as defendants. Peacock resigned his membership from the church and will no longer be a party in the case.
“It is very disheartening,” Peacock tells us. “Under the current conditions, I think this is the best thing for the church. I think that me and my wife will meditate and go into prayer in reference to what God will lead us to do.”
Pastor McFarland did not have legal counsel in the hearing. Instead, he represented himself but was never called to be a witness or testify. However, he had nothing to say while leaving the courthouse.
A final ruling on this case is scheduled for December 1st and 9am.
