Pastor Beaten After Blunt Eulogy

The Carolina Channel ^ | 21 June 02 | AP

[aomagrat]

LOXLEY, Ala. -- Authorities in Loxley, Ala., are investigating the alleged beating of a preacher by funeral mourners who didn't like his blunt eulogy.

Glynis Bethel told The Associated Press that her husband -- the Rev. Orlando Bethel -- was attacked during a June 14 funeral and dragged out of the church.

That's because Bethel told mourners the deceased was in Hell and that they were headed the same way.

The dead man was Glynis Bethel's uncle.

Orlando Bethel referred to him as a "drunkard and a fornicator."

Glynis Bethel, who's also a preacher, says "the fornicators didn't like what he said so they got up and beat him."

She says police didn't make any arrests, so she and her husband -- who may have a broken nose -- are taking out warrants.

[aomagrat]

If you can't stand the heat...

Beat up the preacher.

[savedbygrace]

Tough crowd.

[HairOfTheDog]

That's because Bethel told mourners the deceased was in Hell and that they were headed the same way.

I don't think that is really what he is supposed to say at a funeral.... But then I have been to so few drunken fornicator funerals.

[RGSpincich]

If you are going to preach to the choir make sure they are the only ones there.

[Orual]

Orlando Bethel referred to him as a "drunkard and a fornicator."

Glynis Bethel, who's also a preacher, says "the fornicators didn't like what he said so they got up and beat him."

The drunkards must have gotten the message.

[wheezer]

"the fornicators didn't like what he said so they got up and beat him."

LOL...priceless.

[SteamshipTime]

Only in Alabama.

[Alabama_Wild_Man]

Welcome to the Town of Loxley, Alabama, often referred to as the "LITTLE TOWN WITH THE BIG HEART." We are located in South Alabama in beautiful and progressive Baldwin County on State Highway 59, also known as Gulf Shores Parkway about 25 miles from Gulf Shores to the South, Mobile to the West and Pensacola to the East. This gives us access to big city services that might be needed and still allow living in a rural area. We have an excellent school system, churches of all denominations as well as outstanding hospitals less than an hour away.

We appreciate your visit to our web site and hope you enjoy what you see. Please feel free to contact us with questions and/or suggestions. Sincerely, Billy Middleton Mayor

[Jemian]

Right, as long as you discount Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina, and 46 other states.

[babylonian]

A shoot the piano player ping!

[another cricket]

I don't think that is really what he is supposed to say at a funeral.... But then I have been to so few drunken fornicator funerals

I am guessing that he was not a member of the church in good standing?

a.cricket

[aculeus]

She says police didn't make any arrests, so she and her husband -- who may have a broken nose -- are taking out warrants.

Police force overrun with fornicators?

[BigWaveBetty]

Who knew fornicators could be so testy?

[johnny7]

Well, even a fornicator/drunkard deserves a few nice words before the big, dirt sleep.

Maybe like this; “Glynis' uncle had a lust for life and his spirits could not be quenched... Amen.”

If I was the preacher, I would have left my car running and had on my dress Nikes.

“Feets, don't fail me now!” : ^ O

[jla]

Damn good thing for the 'Stripper mom' that she didn't belong to this Church!

[verity]

funeral mourners who didn't like his blunt eulogy and 'dueling banjos' as background music.

[parsifal]

The Rev. Orlando Bethel's next sermon topic: Fornicators, drunkards, and people who beat up preachers are all going to hell. brother parsy.

[apochromat]

In the "LITTLE TOWN WITH THE BIG HEART"?

Well it's no wonder. They had to do something to keep out the riff-raff that motto would attract.

[Quigley]

What ever happened to all the bodies at the crematory in Georgia? It was all you heard on the news for weeks and then nothing. Only in Georgia.

[BigWaveBetty]

Do you think we could get the Rev. Orlando Bethel to give blubba's eulogy, when that glorious time comes?

[WVNan]

Awww man, this is going to be my favorite thread of all time. Keep those pithy comments coming. I'm saving them for posterity.

[Libertarian_4_eva]

We are located in South Alabama in beautiful and progressive Baldwin County

Ok now I know something is up. Progressive? A keyword for follower of Marx. I think I admire this preacher.

[WVNan]

BUMP

[shuckmaster]

Orlando & Glynis? 'nuff said...

[cynicom]

Dog...

I have been to one such funeral. The minister painted such a saintly halo for the guy that I ran outside, to check the address to make sure I was at the right funeral. I laughed all the way home. He was trying to fool St. Peter or someone.

[RipeforTruth]

I was in your beautiful town (Loxley) while I was working in the town to the south (Foley) for two days last year.

The whole area down there is beautiful.Folks, Alabama's Gulf Shores is a wonderful visit. The highway to it ranks among the nicest I have ever been on!

But it was the people I remember. Southeners have a basic hospitality to strangers.

[Gritty]

Do you think we could get the Rev. Orlando Bethel to give blubba's eulogy, when that glorious time comes?

Now you've gone and done it. It will take me at least 1/2 an hour to get the coffee spray off my keyboard!!

[Ann Archy]

HAHAHAHAHAAHA!!! I would PAY to hear THAT eulogy!!

[HairOfTheDog]

Well, at least the pastor gave you a laugh, and he didn't end up with a broken nose! I went to one too I suppose... The pastor did his best to say something good, and then they played a Led Zeppelin song. It fit ;~D

[Jerry_M]

Check out this thread.

Doubt this guy is a Calvinist (his wife is also a preacher), but he has seen that the world really doesn't want to hear the truth.

[SarahW]

HAHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHahhaha

[sweet_diane]

Ya'll just keep on having your little fun making fun of south Alabama and Baldwin County. If you knew how little it bothers us it would spoil your fun. Anyway, we get to make fun of all you Snowbirds who decend in mass on us every winter... making us more and more grateful we live here and not from where you come from!! lol

While his message may have been the truth, I believe it would have been more effective had he delievered it a bit differently or at another time.

[dighton]

Rev. Bethel should work at the Telegraph, obituary desk, Wicked Earl Department.

[BigWaveBetty]

I would PAY to hear THAT eulogy!!

Who wouldn't?! :-) Then we could take a collection and give some to Gritty for a new screen.

[john in missouri]

Probably wasn't what he said, it probably was the way he said it.

If you're going to tell an audience of mourners that they're going to hell, it pays to use a little... make that a lot... of diplomacy.

[Yeti]

Orlando Bethel referred to him as a "drunkard and a fornicator."

The guy's kids were probably there, and while it is easy to laugh at something like this when it didn't happen to you, such a heartless assault on the memory of a loved one while grieving is despicable. Can you imagine what the kids at the funeral were thinking? Telling his grieving kids that he was in hell?

Even if we haven't a whit of compassion for the mourners, this behavior is in such apallingly bad taste as to boggle the mind.

I would sue for intentional infliction of emotional distress, as well as breach of agreement and/or fraud.

If the deceased is indeed in hell, we can be sure that he will be afflicted with the company of this "preacher" in due time.

[DugwayDuke]

Actually, if you check the Red/Blue map, Baldwin county went for Bush.

[Texas Mom]

Funny.. I'm going to forward the story to a couple preacher friends of mine.

[Lessismore]

But it was the people I remember. Southeners have a basic hospitality to strangers.

Apparently it's pious kinfolk they can't stand.

[DugwayDuke]

"I would sue for intentional infliction of emotional distress, as well as breach of agreement and/or fraud."

Who you going to sue, God?

"If the deceased is indeed in hell, we can be sure that he will be afflicted with the company of this "preacher" in due time."

So, you think preaching the Bible will get you sent to Hell?

[CCWoody]

I've heard of "hell-fire-and-damnation" sermons, but I've never seen a pastor preach a "hell-fire-and-damnation" Eulogy

Eulogy -- A laudatory speech or written tribute, especially one praising someone who has died.

What a sad state of a man when speaking well of someone is telling his relatives the he is in hell. As a greek expert, isn't the greek word for eulogy translated bless in our Bibles?

[Cultural Jihad]

Actually, they are authors:

---

Be a Model for the Gospel : Sex Talk! Questions and Biblical Answers about Sex

Author:	Glynis Bethel, Orlando Bethel
Format:	Paperback
Published:	July 1998
ISBN:	0967573807
List Price:	$6.00
Pages:	80
Dimensions:	13.970cm x 20.320cm
Reading Level:	12-UP

---

[Yeti]

Who you going to sue, God?

Don't be silly these words were spoken to these people by a man. I would sue the man who emotionally assaulted this grieving family.

So, you think preaching the Bible will get you sent to Hell?

Could you show me where in the Bible it says that this guy in Georgia who just died was a drunkard and a fornicator. Then show me where it says to say that to his family at a funeral.

People like you give Christian fundamentalism a bad name. "Little Suzie, your Dad was a bad man, and right now he is on fire and the Devil is poking him with a pitchfork." While she is grieving the recent loss.

And you are on his side.

[marron]

I remember a funeral in which the preacher basically told the mourners the same thing, that their beloved was probably in hell, and they were probably all headed there too, unless they turned themselves around. But he said it in such a way that they all came up and thanked him afterward.

Sometime hard things need to be said, but if you clearly love, and respect the dignity of the people you're talking to, you can get out the door without a broken nose.

[Cultural Jihad]

Curiouser and curiouser... For whatever it's worth, that website listing their paperback book shows this as the preferred font format:

FONT face=Arial color=#666666

[southern rock]

So, you think preaching the Bible will get you sent to Hell?

No, but neither will being a drunkard and a fornicator. You are either saved or you are not. Once you are saved it's a done deal. Even future sins are wiped away. If this preacher knew the Bible, he would know there is no way of knowing who is in hell and who isn't. By preaching a false works salvation gospel, one must wonder if the preacher himself is saved or not.

[Cultural Jihad]

The man who preached is the deceased individual's nephew, according to the acticle. The materialists would assume the man lashed out for being forgotten in the will, one supposes.

[Cultural Jihad]

... one must wonder if the preacher himself is saved or not.

"Allah alone knows who is a true Muslim and who is not."

[RnMomof7]

but he has seen that the world really doesn't want to hear the truth.

I remember sitting at my brother in laws funeral..he was a drunk and a vile man that never went to church..The priest waxed on how Johnnie loved God ,his family and the church...and how we wili all "see " him again!

Standard fair..I thought well lots of YOU folks may see him again but I will not "Thank God"

Isn't interesting that if you ask most people (even "christians" )why they believe they will go to heaven that standard thought is that they are "good " or they "try" to do what is right..BUT If you then point out the carnal reprobate is in hell they get angry..

In their heart most men are univeralists they want to believe you can live like hell here and get rewarded anyway...Go figure