Who is Kenneth McFarland? Atlanta pastor arrested for child abuse; church reacts

Atlanta pastor Kenneth McFarland was arrested for allegedly beating his stepson; 2819 Church suspended and then dismissed him.

Updated on: Nov 21, 2025, 08:50:25 IST

By Shamik Banerjee

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Kenneth McFarland, pastor at 2819 Church in Atlanta, Georgia was arrested for child abuse after he reportedly beat his son, the church confirmed in a statement Thursday. The church said that McFarland was charged with "a serious crime involving the physical harm of a child in his family" and his services there were terminated.

Pastor Kenneth McFarland of 2819 Church in Atlanta, Georgia. (Facebook)

2819 Church said in a statement that they "immediately suspended" the pastor McFarland. "He agreed to step down until a decision was made about his future employment."

The statement added that McFarland was "dismissed" from the church as of Tuesday, November 18.

Chilling Reports Of Child Abuse Emerge: What Did Kenneth McFarland Do?

Pastor Kenneth McFarland's 15-year-old stepson reportedly went to school in Stockbridge, Georgia with blood on his pants. When the school principal asked him about what happened, the child revealed that pastor McFarland "disciplined" him. The principal then reportedly informed the police about the incident.

As the police questioned the child, he revealed that McFarland beat him with a power cord till the 15-year-old started bleeding, a report from the Stockbridge Police Department shows.

The report notes that the child said he was "struck with a power cord from his gaming system before coming to school." It added: "He further explained that he received in-school suspension, which led to him being disciplined."

The report noted that the police found bruises on the boy's thighs and arms.

Who Is Kenneth McFarland?

Kenneth McFarland served as an associate pastor with the 2819 church in Atlanta till the termination of his employment on Tuesday. A report on the website Roy's Report noted that McFarland was arrested on November 10 in Stockbridge and later released on a $2,500 bond.

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The report noted that the 42-year-old pastor has been charged with second-degree cruelty to children. He could face a sentence of up to 10 years if convicted.

2819 Church is led by Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell. It is located on Greenbriar Parkway in Atlanta.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shamik Banerjee
Shamik is a journalist covering the United States for Hindustan Times. He has more than four years of experience reporting on US politics, sports, and major breaking stories across fast-moving cycles. He previously worked at Times Now and Sportskeeda, building strong newsroom instincts and digital storytelling skills. At HT.com, he focuses on day-to-day coverage of US political developments while also handling high-impact stories that demand speed, accuracy, clarity, and context under pressure. Shamik has extensive experience covering NFL game days over the past two years, coordinating live updates, analysis, and explainers. He is particularly drawn to large news moments such as US elections and the Super Bowl, where he thrives at the news desk working alongside the team. He holds degrees in Media Studies from Jamia Millia Islamia and English Literature from Jadavpur University. Before entering journalism, he briefly worked in digital marketing and political consultancy roles. Currently a Senior Content Producer at HT Digital, he is driven by curiosity, discipline, and a constant desire to explore new and obscure topics. Outside work, he enjoys reading, films, sports, and learning continuously.Read More

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