Megachurch Pastor Comes Out

[davidinalameda]

The pastor of a megachurch in Conyers, Ga., told his congregation last week that he’s gay, saying that while he knows his announcement might ruin his career, the recent rash of suicides pushed him to speak out.

Jim Swilley, 52, founded Rockdale County’s Church in the Now 25 years ago. His wife, Debye, was the associate pastor, and together they had four children.

Swilley says he’s known that he’s gay since he was a boy, and his wife knew when they got married. Jim and Debye are now divorced, but they kept his secret for more than 21 years. Earlier this year, Swilley says, Debye told him she thought it was time he stop living a lie.

Swilley says he decided she was right after reading stories about kids being harassed by antigay bullies and committing suicide.

http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2010/10/29/Megachurch_Pastor_Jim_Swilley_Comes_Out/

[Steakman1989]

1. I only hope that

his rhetoric as a Pastor did not include the same kind of language that creates the atmosphere that allows for tragedies like suicide.

[joeybee12]

3. Same here...although it sounds like he did accept it a while back, just wasn't

open...this could be a good thing, one hopes.

[notadmblnd]

2. did the congregation get up and walk out?

[SocialistLez]

4. Very good question. He did acknowledge it could ruin his career.

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

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[Ian David]

6. If I could pull down a megachurch-salary, I could pretend to be gay.

Why are people so surprised when these charlatan whores live their lives pretending to be straight?

There is a LOT of money at stake.

[HillWilliam]

7. Apparently he's one of the few who hasn't been

preaching anti-gay bs, from what I can tell. From the posts on his FB page, his congregation are like, "So? He's full of love and we love to have him."

If all that's so, then cool. One for our side.

And he's one damnhandsome bear, if ya like bears. And I do :)

[jesus_of_suburbia]

8. Better to come out than be outed. Good for him.