Juanita Bynum discusses marriage on Divorce Court

Just when the media spotlight was fading on national evangelist Juanita Bynum, the pastor found a new forum where her star could shine again —reality TV.

Footage of Bynum’s two-part interview on Divorce Court, a courtroom reality show that settles disputes between feuding couples, has been posted on www.divorcecourt.com in anticipation of her appearance Thursday.

Bynum will be visiting the show to talk to Judge Lynn Toler about her troubled marriage to Bishop Thomas W. Weeks III which is heading toward mediation next month. The pastor also will give advice to another couple on the show that is dealing with domestic violence issues.

A spokesman for Bishop Thomas W. Weeks on Wednesday said he turned down an invitation to appear on Divorce Court. The bishop was unaware that Bynum had accepted the invitation to do the interview, anyway.

During the interview with Toler, Bynum, who is described as a domestic violence survivor, talks about her decision to end the marriage to Weeks.

“I said to myself, I love him, but I love me more,” Bynum said on the Web posting premiere.

Later on the show, Bynum gives advice to a woman struggling with abuse in her marraige.

“That spirit of survival is in you,” Bynum tells the woman.

Judge Toler thanks Bynum for helping with the abuse case. “Dr. Bynum .. you said some things I didn’t think of.”

Bynum accused her husband Weeks of beating, choking and kicking her as they argued outside an Atlanta hotel on Aug. 21. Weeks was sentenced to aggravated assault as a first offender for the attack. He received three years a of probation, 200 hours of community service and ordered to anger management classes.

• Faith & Values articles in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution can be found in the Living section.

Previous entry: Court applies Law of Return to Messianic Jews because of fathers
Next entry: Workers’ tipsheet on FLDS sparks outrage

More articles about Juanita Bynum