HIV-positive pastor in court for having sex with members, doing drugs

An Alabama based pastor, Juan McFarland, was docked after admitting to doing drugs and having sex with members of his church while being HIV-positive.

After admitting to his crimes, the issue has been greeted with a lot of criticism and calls from the members of the church, Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church, for him to step down as pastor, which he has refused.

Juan McFarland in court on Monday, December 1 argued that his challenged pastoral position is protected by his church's constitution which prevents him from being fired.

According to AL.com Juan McFarland said that the only way he'll therefore leave is if he resigns on his own terms or if he dies.

The church attorney countered that McFarland's defense is out-dated because it relies on a 2013 amendment in their constitution that is no longer valid. The church say that a 2003 version of the church constitution allows them to fire the pastor by a vote by the congregation, which they did in September, resulting in an 80-2 vote.

The church is also questioning some of the attitude of the pastor — which allegedly includes him changing the church’s locks and control of the church bank accounts after he was asked to leave. Juan’s lawyer, Dwayne L. Brown, has asked the judge to drop the case and allow his client to resume his pastoral duties at the church.

The judge argued that he was not deciding on religious matters but the church constitution and said that he will decide the case within a week.