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Black Church Group: Suspend Bishop

Section: Religion

Paul Crawley/11alive.com

The first call for discipline of an Atlanta Bishop charged in the beating of his wife has come from a group that represents 16,000 African-American and Latino churches.

The National Black Church Initiative, based in Washington, D.C., calls the alleged actions of Bishop Thomas Weeks III, "morally wrong and reprehensible".

Weeks was freed on a $40,000 bond after being indicted on charges of aggravated assault and making terroristic threats. His estranged wife and fellow evangelist Juanita Bynum accused him of beating, stomping and threatening to kill her during an argument outside an Atlanta hotel on August 21.

The Global Destiny Church, which Weeks co-founded with his wife, does not belong to the NBCI. But the organization believes he should be suspended from the ministry for three years. NBCI is urging its members not to support Weeks' ministry or recognize him as ordained clergy. "We're just not going to tolerate this kind of behavior," said NCBI President Rev. Anthony Evans. "He has hurt the cause of Christ".

Bishop Weeks has not reacted to the NBCI's call for censure, but his attorneys have insisted the whole story of what happened between him and his wife has yet to be told, but will be in court. The couple married in 2002 in an elaborate televised ceremony. They have been separated for about three months, but Weeks' lawyer says his client wants to reconcile.

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