Alabama pastor who slept with church members wants his job back

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — An Alabama minister was back in court Monday, fighting to keep his job after confessing he had sex with church members and did not tell them he has AIDS.

Circuit Judge Charles Price says he’ll rule within a week on whether the Rev. Juan McFarland can return to Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church in Montgomery or whether a temporary ban from the church will become permanent.

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McFarland’s attorney argued that the church approved bylaws in January 2013 giving him his job for life, and that a vote to fire him in October was improper.

An attorney for the church’s deacons and trustees argued that McFarland pushed through the 2013 bylaws improperly and the October vote was valid.

McFarland had served the church for 23 years before confessing to his congregation.