A defense lawyer says a Memphis pastor is pleading guilty to sexual battery of a teenage girl and his church will shut down.
Attorney Art Horne told WMC-TV that he and prosecutors have worked out a plea agreement for Pastor Michael Bryant of Hour of Restoration Church of God in Christ in Memphis.
The Church of God in Christ released the following statement:
Last week, Michael Bryant, pastor of Hour of Restoration Church of God in Christ in Memphis, Tennessee, was arrested on charges of sexual battery against his 16-year-old stepdaughter. Pastor Bryant has since been suspended indefinitely from all of his ministerial duties. The Church of God in Christ does not tolerate such acts.
There has been a fair amount of inaccurate information in the media regarding this matter. The Church of God in Christ has never told the media that it had not made a decision as to whether Pastor Bryant would be removed from the pulpit. There is an internal process to handling matters of this kind that is being followed. We ask for your continued prayers for all of those affected by this matter, especially the teenage victim.
The Church of God in Christ has no further comment on this matter.
