Sex Scandal Hits Atlanta-Area Megachurch

Newsday ^ | November 19, 2007 | Dorie Turner

[Zakeet]

DECATUR, Ga. - The 80-year-old leader of a suburban Atlanta megachurch is at the center of a sex scandal of biblical dimensions: He slept with his brother's wife and fathered a child by her.

Members of Archbishop Earl Paulk's family stood at the pulpit of the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit at Chapel Hill Harvester Church a few Sundays ago and revealed the secret exposed by a recent court-ordered paternity test.

In truth, this is not the first -- or even the second -- sex scandal to engulf Paulk and the independent, charismatic church. But this time, he could be in trouble with the law for lying under oath about the affair.

The living proof of that lie is 34-year-old D.E. Paulk, who for years was known publicly as Earl Paulk's nephew.

"I am so very sorry for the collateral damage it's caused our family and the families hurt by the removing of the veil that hid our humanity and our sinfulness," said D.E. Paulk, who received the mantle of head pastor a year and a half ago.

D.E. Paulk said he did not learn the secret of his parentage until the paternity test. "I was disappointed, and I was surprised," he said.

[Zakeet]

You can find the church's website here, provided you have shockwave.
You may also want to turn down your sound before clicking the link.

[Wally_Kalbacken]

Thou shalt not get it on with thy son’s wife!

[r9etb]

"I am so very sorry for the collateral damage it's caused our family and the families hurt by the removing of the veil that hid our humanity and our sinfulness," said D.E. Paulk, who received the mantle of head pastor a year and a half ago.

Is there some rule that says megachurches have to follow a rule of dynastic succession? It seems to happen rather frequently....

[Coldwater Creek]

“Be sure that your sins will find you out.”

[Past Your Eyes]

Numbers 32:23.
I suppose this is Bush’s fault, too.

[Jane Austen]

Yet another scandal? Is Jimmy Swaggart still around?

[longtermmemmory]

well at least he was not a homosexual....(sarcasm off)

[Rb ver. 2.0]

If it’s a non profit corporation run by a board of trustees (hand selected by the pastor, of course) then it goes to whomever the majority of trustees votes for.

[JCEccles]

For all the Mormon-bashing at FR, I must note: the Mormon Church hasn't had such a scandal among its top leadership at any time during my long memory. Among individual lay leaders? Yes, sometimes. But most Mormons in high leadership positions are just as boringly predictable as Mitt Romney on this count. One wife, many kids, no affairs. But just boring, perfect fidelity. None of this sleeping with a brother's wife, no paying a prostitute to strip in seedy motel rooms, no hiring a male prostitute for a massage.

Mormons are by no means perfect. But it seems that "evil" Mormon cultists sure could teach some evangelicals a few things about fidelity, honor, and devotion in marriage.

[fishtank]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warren_Jeffs

[Stat-boy]

I agree. The Mormons I know are fine people.

And in 1992, Clinton came in third in Utah, behind Bush and Perot.

[Red_Devil 232]

I don’t know if Swaggart is still around but William Jefferson Clinton is. I really do think that Clinton studied the tactics used by these types of scam artists "I feel your pain". And AlGore is doing the same ... or took a lesson or two himself.

[krb]

Wow...this was on Law and Order:SVU last night. Of course, the son offed his nasty pregnant wife in the episode, so I guess it’s different.

[Hoodat]

I am amazed that Chapel Hill Harvester actually has any members remaining. I am curious to know who is their covering?

[Ramius]

Mormons are by no means perfect.

Yah. There's some goofy stuff in the theology, but you gotta admit they've got the whole "by their fruit..." thing down pat.

[Romneyfor President2008]

I hope he endoreses Klinton.

[smokinleroy]

But it seems that "evil" Mormon cultists sure could teach some evangelicals a few things about fidelity, honor, and devotion in marriage.

I dunno; Google
Warren Jeffs
Richard Kenneth Ray
Eric Patrick "Ricky" Avant
John Midgett
Art Phillips

Also, how many Mormons are there compared to Christians?

[Dan(9698)]

Warren Jeffs and others like him are not members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

They may be known as “Fundimentalist Mormons”, but there is not any such thing. They have no connection with the Church.

[Zakeet]

I must note: the Mormon Church hasn't had such a scandal among its top leadership at any time during my long memory.

Check out the Mark Hofmann affair wherein the master forger sold a bogus account of the First Vision to Mormon Church leadership, including Presidents Kimball, Bensen and Hinkley (see ablove). Interestingly, in this new version of the vision, Joseph was supposedly approached by an elf in the form of a salamander -- and current Mormon leadership bought both the story and the document.

Or, check out the Mountain Meadows Massacre monument where current Mormon President Hinkley dedicated the monument on 9/11/99 -- and perpetuated the continued Mormon cover-up of the worst robbery-homicide in U.S. history.

Or, do a Google search on "Warren Jeffs." He's a Mormon leader who's been in the news a lot these past few months.

Admittedly, these are a step down from the glory days of old -- when Joseph Smith was under indictment for "treason, murder, arson, burglary, robbery, larceny, and perjury" in Missouri and fraud in Ohio at the time of his death -- when Brigham Young was under indictment for murder at the time of his death -- when the Danites actively practiced "blood atonement" -- when Port Rockwell "used up" more than 150 persons -- when the Saints participated in eight named Indian wars (including the Bear River Massacre wherein more than twice as many Indians were slaughtered than at the tragedy at Wounded Knee) -- etc.

You can find out much detail about these and many other Mormon scandals, past and present, here.

Bottom line: I find your comment, It seems that "evil" Mormon cultists sure could teach some evangelicals a few things about fidelity, honor, and devotion in marriage quite amusing -- albeit not for the reasons you intended.

[Doctor Don]

Sadly, most lost people think this is typical of the church for which Jesus died! Chaucer described these guys, “if the gold rust, what shall the iron do?”