QuoteBy Jim Schoettler, The Times-Union
A high-profile Jacksonville pastor has resigned while facing an ongoing criminal investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct with a church member's daughter.
The Rev. Darrell Gilyard resigned Friday from Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church, where he preached for 14 years to a ministry of thousands in a huge sanctuary just west of downtown.
Gilyard had been on a voluntary paid leave of absence from the church since Dec. 21, three weeks after a mother's report to the Sheriff's Office that she found obscene text messages on her daughter's cell phone. The messages were sent from a phone number belonging to Gilyard, the mother said in a complaint filed with police.
Full article: http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/010808/met_234051386.shtml (http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/010808/met_234051386.shtml)
I had to laugh at this one; Gilyard quoted as saying,
Quote"In life, there comes a time when the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the one, and the church and its ministry are larger than just me."
ROFLMAO! I guess he wasn't thinking about the "needs" of the "many" when he was getting off on sending dirty messages and having affairs with parishoners, eh? D'OH! Poor attempt at trying to divert negative attention. As if that statement would make anyone believe he was committing some kind of selfless act taking the needs of others into consideration ::). I can't wait for the day when one of these pervs actually stands up on their soapbox and tells the truth; 'yes, i sent the messages, but can you blame me? She was HAWT!!' LOL.
Sounds like the girl in question is underage. If the allegations are true, they should lock him up and throw away the key.