A Connecticut pastor seeking to cleanse his soul for a long-past
infidelity met fire and brimstone, then forgiveness from his flock
before reportedly keeling over from a suspected heart attack.
Bishop
Bobby Davis, pastor and founder of the Miracle Faith World Outreach
Church in Bridgeport, kept parishioners after services Sunday, saying he
wanted to come clean about an apparent affair he'd had, one congregant
told the Connecticut Post. Although police are investigating the
incident, indications are that he suffered a fatal heart attack after
getting a mixed response.
"After the service on Sunday, the
bishop's family asked us to remain in the church and the bishop
confessed to us something that happened long ago," parishioner Judy
Stovall told the newspaper. "He wanted to come clean with all of us. He
wanted to ask our forgiveness."
Davis, who served as pastor since the church was founded in 1967, reportedly dropped to the floor during the screaming.
"We
were shouting, `We forgive you, we love you,' but the stress of all of
it -- he had a heart attack," Stovall told the paper. "I held his head
as he lay on the floor ... Our congregation is hurting now."
Davis,
of Monroe, founded the church with his wife, Christine. The couple
celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary last June, the newspaper
reported.
Davis was pronounced dead at Bridgeport Hospital. The
cause of death is still under investigation, according to police sources
who spoke to the newspaper.
The official cause of death is still
being determined, according to the Office of the State Medical
Examiner. Police spokesman William Kaempffer told the paper that a
detective has been assigned to the case. "The circumstances are under
investigation," he said.
The Christian Post cited an unidentified
church member who said the bishop did not decide to come clean on his
own. The member said Davis confessed to his wife earlier, and she
insisted that he tell congregants, The Christian Post reported. The
revelation triggered outrage from Davis'' children, who "got physical,"
the outlet reported.
Police have interviewed dozens of witnesses
and are reportedly reviewing video from inside the church that was taken
by a member.
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