Preacher's Wife Warns of Adultery in the Pulpit

Just when you thought the shock had worn off from all those stories about sex and the church, a preacher's wife comes out with a guidebook for straying ministers, their spouses and their mistresses.

In an interview with Essence.com, Dr. Betty Price, wife of megachurch televangelist Dr. Fred K.C. Price, discusses her new book, 'Warning to Ministers, Their Wives and Mistresses.' The inspiration for this tome about temptation came from the paramours:

It was 20 years ago when I started receiving letters from women of various churches who were having illicit affairs with powerful married ministers. I was flabbergasted. ... Then my phone began ringing off the hook. I couldn't understand why these women were reaching out to me. I think it was because they saw my husband, Dr. Fred K. Price, and his televised preachings and were captivated by his message.

Price, who is a minister in her own right, has been married to the founder of Los Angeles' 22,000-member Crenshaw Christian Center for more than 50 years. She holds no punches in describing her own experience of a woman bent on having her husband:

Years ago this woman came into mine and my husband's lives like a whirlwind. She called herself a prophet. ... At the time, my husband was new to the ministry and he was very interested in hearing messages from God. This woman always needed to see him after church and preferred to talk with him alone. My woman's intuition kicked in. ... My husband, however, was caught up. I knew he wasn't doing anything with her physically because I was taking care of him at home. But this woman was very charismatic.

Dr. Betty Price and Dr. Frederick K.C. Price

Speaking up to her husband and taking a stand was the way she diffused the situation, Price says. She did not make the mistake of going after the other woman:

In my situation, it didn't go as far as him sleeping with another woman. I recognized something was wrong, and I spoke up. My husband listened.

Years later, Price says, letters from two women who were having affairs with preachers affected her deeply:

I received two anonymous letters within a week apart. Both women shared their involvement with very high-profile men of God. ... They expressed how they never intended on being involved with a minister and each woman was desperately seeking a way out. ... Both ministers have threatened and coerced these women. They told them if they stop the affair then they would be dishonoring God. However, both women expressed they were benefiting financially in the relationships. They were stuck. ... After reading those two letters, my daughter said I had to write a book.

Price says keeping adultery among the clergy a secret is "very harmful" to the church and must be addressed head-on.

Whether you are studying for the ministry, already serving as a pastor or bishop, supporting a spouse in ministry, or in the midst of an affair with a minister ... I think it's time this behavior is exposed. There are so many families being destroyed because of these women and men of God.

It must have taken steely courage for Price to not only speak up as a minister but to also share her own personal story as a woman, wife and first lady of a church. Adultery is a very sensitive topic, and it wreaks havoc on both families and congregations. Since it destroys reputations and effaces one's credibility, all of those involved -- wife, mistress and clergyman -- often keep it a secret.

Occasionally, the truth comes out. Some well-known men of the cloth have had their names sullied from extramarital affairs or accusations of having strayed.

Jimmy Lee Swaggart, of the Assemblies of God Church, publicly admitted to "transgressions" 21 years ago, proclaiming, "I have sinned against you, my Lord." Eight years ago, Rev. Jesse Jackson came forth to admit that he not only had an extramarital affair, but had also fathered a child. Last year, Elizabeth Payne, a former executive assistant at one of Rev. Jeremiah Wright's churches, came forward to claim that she had an affair with the controversial reverend. Payne lost her job and her husband.

Clearly, Price is on to something here. By bringing the issue front and center, she encourages both clergy and churchgoers to have honest discussions about how adultery begins and how to stop it. Price concludes by stating:

I challenge ministers and their mistresses to ask themselves, where is God in your life? What is your commitment to God? Where is your conscience?

Amen to that.

Read her full account here.

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Popular in the Pulpit

People around the world look to clergy for spiritual guidance and inspirational nourishment. Popular clergymen such as Bishop T.D. Jakes, Prophetess Juanita Bynum and Rev. Al Sharpton are held in high esteem and have much influence within the black community. Take a look at them and other influential black spiritual leaders.

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Influential Black Spiritual Leaders

Influential Black Spiritual Leaders
People around the world look to pastors, preachers, bishops and reverends for spiritual guidance and inspirational nourishment. In the black community, popular clergymen such as Bishop T.D. Jakes, Prophetess Juanita Bynum and Rev. Al Sharpton are held in high esteem and have much influence over congregations and countless followers alike. Take a look at them and other influential black spiritual leaders.

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Bishop T.D. Jakes, The Potter's House
AGE: 51 HOMETOWN: South Charleston, West Virginia ABOUT HIM: The entrepreneur and chief pastor of the The Potter's House, a 30,000 member non-denominational megachurch church in Dallas. FACTOID: Jakes, who was named among America's "Top 10 Religious Leaders" by 'Time' magazine, has recorded Grammy- and Dove Award-nominated music projects. He also produced the movies 'Woman Thou Art Loosed' and 'Not Easily Broken.'

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Reverend Jeremiah Wright, Trinity United Church of Christ
AGE: 67 HOMETOWN: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania ABOUT HIM: For 36 years, Wright was the Senior Pastor of the Chicago megachurch -- which boasted around 8,500 members. Controversial remarks made during his sermon shed negative light on the popular church, and one of its most well known parishioners: Illinois Senator and U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama. FACTOID: Named one of 'Ebony' magazine's top 15 preachers, Wright has received a Rockefeller Fellowship and seven honorary doctorate degrees, including from Colgate University, Lincoln University, Valparaiso University, United Theological Seminary and Chicago Theological Seminary.

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Juanita Bynum, televangelist
AGE: 49 HOMETOWN: Chicago, Illinois ABOUT HER: A former beautician, flight attendant and drug abuser, Bynum transformed herself into one of the most popular celebrity clergywomen after being introduced to the masses by Bishop T.D. Jakes. With a highly rated TBN show and a thriving television ministry, she gained national attention in 2007 when her estranged husband, Bishop Thomas Weeks, III, allegedly attacked her in a hotel parking lot. FACTOID: Bynum, a best-selling recording artist and author, has crossed over into entertainment. In 2008, she starred on episodes of the hit ABC Family network TV series 'Lincoln Heights' and will also appear in the big movie adaptation of the off-Broadway musical 'Mama I Want To Sing,' alongside Ciara, Lynn Whitfield and Patti LaBelle.

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Bishop Eddie L. Long, New Birth Missionary Baptist
HOMETOWN: North Carolina ABOUT HIM: He first served as pastor in 1987 for a congregation consisting of just more than 300 members. Now the Lithonia, Georgia-based megachurch's membership has totaled to over 30,000 members. FACTOID: Long has authored numerous books, including 'What a Man Wants, What a Woman Needs' and 'The Blessing in Giving.' The bishop is also featured on rapper Ludacris' latest album, 'Release Therapy,' and appeared on the hit Bravo reality show, 'Real Housewives of Atlanta.'

Johnny Nunez, Wire Image

Rev. Al Sharpton, National Action Network
AGE: 54 HOMETOWN: Brooklyn, New York ABOUT HIM: Mostly recognized as a staunch civil rights activist for people of color, the former James Brown tour manager is the founder the National Action Network, a nonprofit, civil rights organization with over 40 active chapters nationwide. FACTOID: A 2004 U.S. Presidential candidate, the divorced father of two daughters has written a memoir (with Karen Hunter) hosted his own TV show (on TV One) and nationally syndicated radio program.

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Bishop Noel Jones, City of Refuge Church
AGE: 57 HOMETOWN: Spanish Town, Jamaica ABOUT HIM: In 1994, Bishop Jones founded Noel Jones Ministries (NJM), formerly known as Jesus Alternative Ministries, in an effort to address religion's inability to offer real relevance to the changing climate of the times. His Gardenia, California-based church boasts 7,000 members. FACTOID: One of seven children born to Bishop Robert and Marjorie Jones, Bishop Jones attended St. Jago High School and went on to attain a B.S. in Theology from Aenon Bible College. He is the younger brother of entertainer Grace Jones.

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Jamal Harrison Bryant, The Empowerment Temple
ABOUT HIM: Bryant founded Baltimore's Empowerment Temple in April 2000, which became the fastest growing church in the A.M.E. denomination with over 11,000 members. Prior to his role as pastor, he served as director of the NAACP's youth and college division. FACTOID: Despite dropping out of high school, Bryant later obtained a GED and went on to further his education, receiving a degree from Morehouse College, a masters of divinity from Duke University and doctorate in ministry. Today, his 'Power for Life' broadcast is heard weekly across the United States, the Caribbean, England and throughout the continent of Africa.

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Pastor Cynthia Hale, Ray of Hope Christian Church
HOMETOWN: Roanoke, Virginia ABOUT HER: Hale is the founding and senior pastor of the Ray of Hope Christian Church in Decatur, Georgia, which has an active membership of 5,000 and an average of 1,500 in worship each Sunday morning. FACTOID: In 2004, Hale established a mentorship program to assist in the spiritual as well as practical development of pastors and church leaders. She has been recognized by Ebony magazine as one of the greatest black women preachers in America.

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Bishop Larry Trotter, Sweet Holy Spirit Church
HOMETOWN: Chicago, Illinois ABOUT HIM: Since 1981, Trotter has expanded his congregation at The Windy City's Sweet Holy Spirit Church from 22 members to over 5,000. FACTOID: In addition to his preaching ministry, Trotter is also an accomplished musician who was nominated for a Stellar Award in 2003 for his rendition of 'Jesus is the Best Thing that Ever Happened to Me.'

Douglas C. Pizac, AP