Presbytery Asks Further Probe of Swaggart Acts
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SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — The Assemblies of God ruling body today ordered the Louisiana district council to investigate further charges that television evangelist Jimmy Swaggart consorted with prostitutes.
The church’s executive presbytery met for about 11 hours Thursday and today to examine disciplinary measures, said Juleen Turnage, a spokeswoman at the church’s headquarters.
“There will not be a final decision made at this meeting,” Turnage had said. It could be several days or weeks away. We just don’t have a time frame on that.”
Swaggart, who reportedly picked up prostitutes and frequented a strip of sleazy motels in suburban New Orleans repeatedly over a span of two or three years, was not invited to the meeting at church headquarters.
Monday night, the church’s Louisiana district council barred Swaggart from preaching for three months and ordered him to submit to two years of counseling. But that decision is not binding on the national council, and some members indicated they will dole out harsher punishment.
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