Perry Stone, a Tennessee-based evangelist with a history of homophobia has been forced to take a sabbatical after admitting to inappropriate behavior around women.
Stone founded Voice of Evangelism in 1979, a ministry group that has gone on to become a multi-million dollar organization. The group announced Thursday that Stone–who hasn’t preached in three months–took a forced sabbatical in April after a vote by the VOE board of directors.
According to the group’s spokesperson, John Rodriguez, two key reasons forced the board to take action. First, “Perry has encountered serious health issues related to spiritual and physical burnout,” Rodriguez said in a statement. The board forced Rev. Stone to undergo a comprehensive medical exam, which revealed he was at risk for a stroke.
Second–and more tellingly–Rodriguez also brought to light claims of harassment made by female employees against Stone. “A couple of employees at VOE requested to meet with the board of directors to address concerns of inappropriate words and actions,” Rodriguez admitted. “Upon review, the board determined that the issues were civil in nature and not criminal, but that the behavior deviated from the biblical standards set in place for VOE leadership,” he said. “So, the board unanimously initiated his current sabbatical. This action was not reactionary but with much prayer, and was set in place to uphold the highest standards of integrity and transparency.”
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Further details of Stone’s behavior with women have not been made public.
“I have asked God and my precious wife Pam to forgive me,” Stone added in Rodriguez’s statement. “And I humbly and sincerely ask those who are hurt or offended by my actions to also forgive me. It is my hope that by the grace of God we will all be able to walk in healing and restoration.”
Earlier this year, Perry Stone raised eyebrows in a sermon where he declared the COVID-19 pandemic retribution for marriage equality.
“The Bible talks about going after ‘strange flesh,’” Stone said in his remarks. “There is a reckoning because the courts of the land passed a law to take an infant’s life, that it was OK, and for marriage, as we have known it to be changed into something we have never known. Both of their laws, biblically in Leviticus and Deuteronomy, are what God calls an abomination. And the Bible teaches us that God is long-suffering, he is not willing that any perish, he wants everyone to come to repentance, but there will be a time when the Lord says, ‘Enough is enough.’”
linedrive
The issues were civil and not criminal… I’m guessing that means the women were paid to not file criminal charges. I despise religion. Hypocrites, hypocrites, more hypocrites.
novadude
Another evangelical hypocrite who, like most Repugnicants, cherry picks scripture to fashion one set of rules for himself and a different set for everyone else. How typical!
And why is it that such mini$trie$ are so good at raising money and so bad at following Christ’s example?
How these people don’t simply loath themselves is beyond me.
blackhook
Christianity is the biggest fraud in history
MISTERJETT
another hypocrite. typical!!!!!!
blackhook
Another morbidly-obese evangelical, homophobic, sexual-abusing loon. Who is dumb enough to $upport these freaks? Oh that’s right, it’s idiot Trumpanzees!
yup5hioop
The problem with all religions is that it’s always someone’s bad behavior and they all disagree on what qualifies. Meanwhile practical solutions (wear a mask) that would just end the problem have to take a back seat while the soap opera continues. It’s a weird mix of drama and learned helplessness. The fact that he’s a hypocrite means at some level he knows it’s fraud.
cuteguy
This is just another cult as all religions are. Religious hide behind a lie and mask their hate by using the Bible, which is blasphemous in and of itself. Religion segregates ppl, exactly the opposite of God’s teachings
GayEGO
Such stupid comments but no surprise coming from a religious cheater!
JohnnyBoy2
The title of the article says he was fired. But, the article itself says he was required to take a sabbatical. So, was he fired, or not? Was this just a clickbait exaggeration?
Cozmo2
Once again somebody else talking out of her ass who doesn’t know anything.
joeboyle49
YES IT DOES SAY HE WAS FIRED BUT THEN DOWN IN THE ARTICLE IT SAYS HE WAS TAKING A SABBATICAL?? SO WHICH IS IT??
Willabby
Very interesting