Mega-church pastor comes out of the closet... for the right reasons.

[Courtesy Flush]

ROCKDALE COUNTY, Ga. -- The pastor of a Rockdale County megachurch has publicly announced he is gay.

Jim Swilley, bishop of Conyers’ Church in the Now, said he hopes his coming out will change attitudes toward homosexuality.

“I know a lot of straight people think it is a choice. It is not,” Swilley told Channel 2’s Diana Davis.

http://www.wsbtv.com/news/25568419/detail.html

[Dappleganger]

1. Good that he finally came out.

It's too bad a lot of people had to suffer along the way, however. I do appreciate his reason for coming out as well--hopefully everyone involved can move forward and learn something.

[Courtesy Flush]

3. I'm about his age

And I live in the South. Trust me, coming out of the closet 30 years ago would have taken more bravery than most people have.

I have known many married gays who stayed in the closet, including some who elicited snickers because everyone knew they were gay when they got married. But that's the way it was back then.

BTW: None of the married gays I knew are still married. The South is better now, and people can come out of the closet with relative safety.

[Mimosa]

2. That guy set off my gaydar a few years ago

That church is HUGE. It looks like mall building and is in a very conservative exurb northeast from ATL. I saw the guy on TV shortly after we moved here. I sort of read him even though I knew nothing about him. Considering the type of conservative parishioners out that away, I'm guessing the 'Church of the Now' will lose some members.

[CurtEastPoint]

4. I emailed him and got a response back

from his secretary who said that he has received OVERWHELMING SUPPORT. That being said, of course, some members of his church have left. I say fuck'em.

Good for him.

[Mimosa]

5. That's cool!

Maybe the Church will gain a reputation for being openminded and inclusive! That's good. :D

[otohara]

6. Twice Married

Geeze Pastor Jim....

[AspenRose]

7. Good for him.

And screw the people who left.