(10/30/2010) It’s not often that men of the cloth come out of the closet without being pushed out due to scandal. But Pastor Jim Swilley of the Conyers, Georgia “megachurch†Church in the Now has come out in light of the many recent suicides related to LGBT youth. This story as being reported by WSB-TV in Atlanta is certainly not only one of becoming true to yourself but in Pastor Swilley’s case acceptance by his own family and the large extended family of worshipers in his church. As he told WSB-TV, “As a father, thinking about your 16, 17 year old killing themselves. I thought somebody needed to say something,†Swilley said through tears. Swilley who is twice married with four children, was encouraged by his recently divorced wife Debye to stop living a lie, one they shared together during 21 years of marriage as he entered into their marriage with Debye full knowing her husband was attracted to men. It’s not often that men or women who come out later in life and leave a marriage do so with the friendship and caring of their former spouse intact but then to also have someone like Debye to offer her support and encouragement to come out.
I bet folks are going to say, this is the reason I don’t go to church now. Chile please. What are your thoughts?- Another post by www.twitter.com/IamCourtneyLuv
Sooo..he lied to his congregation and because he came out he’s redeemed? hell no, He should have been straight forward with his followers all along..his wife has to be mad to marry someone who is gay and have kids with him and let him live this lie in the eyes of God…this isn’t stoppin me from church on the whole, just his own…smfh
What is wrong with these so called men of God? But then again Ga. loaded with down low brothers, on fire with aids, and cross dressing. WOW!!!!!
It is crazy.
Bishop Swilley is entitled to a private life. What he does sexually with another consenting adult is nobody’s business but his.
That is the reason people dont go to church.
Sounds like a good place to go to church on Sundays. As a gay black man, I’d want to be in an inclusive environment where I don’t have to be on guard all the time.
I think that coming out does send a message, but his actions here on out should be filled with that message. Coming out as a church leader is one thing, doing anti-gay-suicide work is another.
He’s just another republican liar. He’d condemn gays from the pulpit, make loads of money….and have sex with men in his spare time. Hopefully, though, he was not into raping children, which is what the catholic priests are SO good at……..
Religion is divisive and evil.
OK…..Bahamas……..if you are a truly religious person…you would not call for death unto this guy and his entire family…right?
Oh…you must be a muslim extremist……so then, it is OK to call for the death of someone who offends your ‘religion’? God help us indeed.
1 Cor 6:9 -10 ” 9 Do you not know that the unrighteous and the wrongdoers will not inherit or have any share in the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived (misled): neither the impure and immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor those who participate in homosexuality
10 Nor cheats (swindlers and thieves), nor greedy graspers, nor drunkards, nor foulmouthed revilers and slanderers, nor extortioners and robbers will inherit or have any share in the kingdom of God.
This pastor is deceived. Homosexuality is a choice just like any other sin you commit. Pray for this mans restoration to Jesus instead of casting stones at him. Jesus said in Matthew 24 that deception is what you have to guard your hearts from in these last days. This is just the beginning.
Eddie Long… Now this, I don’t have to hold my breath. NEXT.
THE LORD THY GOD WILL NOT MOCK
gay gay gay
WOW
The devil is a liar, he will use anything to get his way. The pastor need to repent and ask for forgivness. Jesus will forigve not only him but anyone who ask. This pastor preaching what he calls the “truth”, is scary. It will be heard by thousands and those thousands will listen, believe and be sent to a eternity of damnation , seperate from GOD.
That man MUST leave that pulpit and stop pretending to be a man of God. He is living a worse lie by preaching to that congregation or anyone at all. God is Love and loves everyone, but he detests sin and will not allow anyone who does not repent and follow his ways into heaven. Homosexuality is a sinful lifestyle. It is a perverted lifestyle, no matter how you look at it. Just to think about it makes me sick to my stomach. How on earth can a man be attracted to another man, or a woman to another woman. It is not normal and I think those individuals who are commiting suicide must have other issues as well. They are weak and most likely would do it regardless of the situation. If these individuals who say they know they are gay since they are children would get the proper counseling when they think they know the are gay, perhaps they would realize that it is not NORMAL. Instead now they are being told that it is okay and they need to be true to themselves. How sad. God help humanity because we are definitely on the road to destruction.
OK REALLY PEOPLE, SOCIETY IS SO JUDGMENTAL, IF U DONT GO TO HIS CHURCH WHY ARE U EVEN WORRIED, WHEN U GO TO CHURCH ITS TO HEAR SOMETHING FROM THE LORD NOT MAN SO IF HE IS HOMOSEXUAL THE BIBLE STATED GOD WILL SEPARATE THE TAFT FROM THE WHEAT AND THE LAST TIME I CHECKED GOD DOESN’T NEED MANS HELP!
Well, I have gone to the church in the now a couple of times, and I must say that I think it had a pretty good word and great worship. I’m sorry that this guy ever shared to his congregation what his sexual preference is. He pretty much split that church up to say the least. I think about four or five thousand people left, maybe more, and there are about a thousand hanging on.
As for Eddie Long, somehow I don’t believe that Long, after preaching against homosexuality so long, did what he is accused of. What if four homosexual men got together and decided they would bring him down? I’m not saying that I am sure one way or another, nobody knows except Eddie Long and the four accusers. But it would not be the first time that somebody falsely accused someone with alot of money, preacher or not.