ORGANISATION CALL FOR SUSPENSION OF BISHOP THOMAS WEEKS III FROM CHURCH DUTIES:

gospel | Sep 11, 2007 | Comments 4

Following Bishop Thomas Weeks III publicly assaulting and threatening to kill his wife, nationally renowned televangelist Prophetess Juanita Bynum, an organization believes Bishop Thomas Weeks, III shouldn’t step foot in a pulpit any time soon.

Nearly two weeks after the incident, the Washington-based National Black Church Initiative (NBCI) is calling for Bishop Thomas Weeks III suspension.

Although Global Destinies Ministries is not one of the 16,000 churches under the NBCI’s network, their reason for censuring Bishop Weeks supercedes the four walls of Global Destiny Ministries or organizational jurisdiction. In an Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC) article they point out that domestic violence is a root cause in the failure of black families and marriages and described Bishop Weeks’ conduct as “detrimental” to the entire Christian Church, “morally wrong and reprehensible.”

The woeful act took place in the parking lot of a Renaissance Concourse hotel in Atlanta following a meeting to patch up the relationship with his estranged wife, from whom he’d been separated for at least 3 months. Allegedly, the meeting did not go as planned, escalating to a torrid end, and consequently a violent outcome that forced a hotel bellhop to rescue Prophetess Juanita Bynum. By Sunday, August 23, Bishop Thomas Weeks III appeared before his congregation stating the devil caused his behavior. Before deferring the pulpit to a guest preacher he unabashedly solicited support for the legal expenses he would accrue in the months ahead, an AJC reporter attending the service wrote.

Bishop Thomas Weeks set a bad example for both the community he serves and the Body of Christ at large in the group’s estimation.

“We’re just not going to tolerate this kind of behavior,” the Rev. Anthony Evans, NBCI president, said Sunday. “He has hurt the cause of Christ.”

Ironically, according to Tiny Gilyard, a 41-year-old woman who attends Bishop Weeks‘ Global Destiny Ministries, Bishop Weeks told his church in early August that the Prophetess was going to stop preaching there after he alluded to the fact that there were issues in their marriage. Juanita Bynum and Bishop Weeks had previously operated as co-pastors.

“He explained that [Juanita Bynum] is not going to be preaching anymore. He said she was just going to come and sit down. …It was like he was jealous of her,” the woman told the AJC.

Having an individual “sat down” is commonly a disciplinary measure in many African American churches used to reprehend spiritually or morally poor conduct.

Incidentally, a staffer at the Global Destinies Los Angeles location confirmed that the disenchanted couple had not been teaching/preaching partners since the ministry was established there in January. Other sources report Prophetess Juanita Bynum would visit once monthly while services were held every Thursday evening.

The NBCI wants the pastor to be benched.

Not only have they come forth with a grievance, but also a suggested three-part punishment for the accused abuser as well:

1. The organization that provided Bishop Thomas Weeks’ ecclesiastical covering and governance should suspend him for three years
2. Global Destiny Ministries congregants should stop supporting his ministry
3. Bishop Thomas Weeks should not be recognized as ordained clergy

On the other hand they also require that the Bishop does three things to exert personal responsibility for the incident:

1. Give his wife the apology she is due.
2. Make an apology to the church at large.
3. Get counseling.

They hope their demands are a suitable reprimand for someone in the pastor’s situation.

“Whether or not he is restorable, this will be left to Almighty God …, “Evans stated.

The NBCI president further opined, “He is not mentally equipped to continue as neither pastor [or] bishop at this time.”

This is a high-profile, sensitive case that most Black Church leaders have avoided. Most noticeably silent are the sentiments of Bishop T.D. Jakes, a noted religious leader and author of numerous women’s empowerment best-sellers, whose Megafest platform catapulted Prophetess Juanita Bynum (who claims Jakes as her ’spiritual father’) into major popularity.

Evans admitted the decision to come forth and reprove Weeks was difficult and unusual for the entity he oversees. However, due to the negative impact of domestic violence on Black families, the issue was brought to their turf and they couldn’t ignore it. The primary objective of NBCI is to address racial health disparities and problems in the black family. (Some Hispanic churches are also a part of the coalition.)

“We cannot begin healing the black family without taking this action.”

More… At his arraignment in a Fulton County courtroom he has was indicted with charges of felony, aggravated assault and terrorist threats and two misdemeanor counts of simple battery.