The leadership of the prominent 6,000-member 2819 Church in Atlanta has made the difficult decision to dismiss Associate Pastor Kenneth McFarland. This follows his arrest on charges of second-degree child cruelty, linked to an alleged incident involving his stepson and a school suspension.
Following McFarland’s arrest, church leaders immediately reached out to his family, emphasizing their support and concern. In their statement, they noted, “Last week, church leadership learned that Kenneth McFarland was arrested and charged with a serious crime involving the physical harm of a child in his family. After learning about his arrest, we immediately reached out to his wife to offer our unwavering support and commitment to them.”
The church addressed the situation by suspending McFarland while investigating the facts. They concluded with his termination on November 18th, citing a violation of both Biblical scripture and church conduct standards.
According to the Stockbridge Police Department report, the alleged abuse took place at the West Campus of Creekside Christian Academy in Hampton, Georgia. The incident was reported by Lawrence Gwyn, the assistant secondary principal, after a concerning conversation with McFarland’s stepson.
Gwyn’s concerns arose when the student, in suspension, asked him if there was blood on his pants. The report detailed the student’s claim that he was disciplined with an extension cord, leading Gwyn to contact the authorities. Officers noted visible bruises on the boy’s body.
McFarland was arrested, later securing release on a $2,500 bond. The church, led by Philip Anthony Mitchell, emphasized its zero-tolerance policy towards violence, stating, “We want to be very clear that 2819 Church will not tolerate violence of any kind, from any member of our team, especially involving children, as this does not reflect our culture and values.”
In addition to their internal response, the church pledged ongoing support to McFarland’s family and any community members affected by the situation.
This article was originally written by www.christianpost.com
