DECATUR, Ga. (AP) — The 80-year-old leader of a suburban Atlanta megachurch is at the center of a sex scandal of biblical dimensions: He slept with his brother’s wife and fathered a child by her.

Members of Archbishop Earl Paulk’s family stood at the pulpit of the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit at Chapel Hill Harvester Church a few Sundays ago and revealed the secret exposed by a recent court-ordered paternity test.

In truth, this is not the first — or even the second — sex scandal to engulf Paulk and the independent, charismatic church. But this time, he could be in trouble with the law for lying under oath about the affair.

The living proof of that lie is 34-year-old D.E. Paulk, who for years was known publicly as Earl Paulk’s nephew.

“I am so very sorry for the collateral damage it’s caused our family and the families hurt by the removing of the veil that hid our humanity and our sinfulness,” said D.E. Paulk, who received the mantle of head pastor a year and a half ago.

D.E. Paulk said he did not learn the secret of his parentage until the paternity test. “I was disappointed, and I was surprised,” he said.

There is a saying in AA that we are only as sick as our secrets. Lie after lie after lie, the church aggressively going after women who came forward claiming sexual abuse…

Earl Paulk was born to into a Pentecostal family and went to a Methodist college. He was ordained ‘bishop’ by International Communion of Charismatic Churches. He is a prosperity gospel teacher and dominionist.

Paulk’s nephew son took over leadership of the church about a year and a half ago.
The church has been rocked by scandels for over 10 years. More here.

I feel for this son. The family secrets will affect him the most. Any of us who have had to chase our parentage know the confusion, sorrow, and anger. The hardest thing to come to terms with is that secrets (even when held for good reasons) impact us the rest of our lives. I hope he has the opportunity to receive more than just spiritual help.

Earl Paulk - Apologetics Index
The Church of the Painful Truth - a blog started to expose the wrongdoings at Paulk’s church shut down because people didn’t want to face facts. By 1992 seven women had come forward with allegations of sexual misconduct and Earl Paulk kept denying. In the 1990’s the church claimed 10 thousand members, 24 ministers, a 12 million dollar sancutary, 100 acres of land and a multi million dollar media business.
According to the Associated Press, about 1800 people currently attend the church. 
D.E. Paulk - MySpace page
Cathedral of the Holy Spirit at Chapel Hill Harvester Church homepage Warning: flash, music, slow load
Charisma Magazine, October 19th, 2007

Earl Paulk could face charges for lying under oath.