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Bynum-Weeks
Marriage is Over for Real
(Juanita Bynum Admits they had Sex During their Separation)
 They appeared to be a match
made in heaven, but toward the end not even prayer could keep them
together. The stormy marriage of national evangelist Juanita Bynum and
Bishop Thomas W. Weeks III —- temporarily calmed by a night
of passion —- was dissolved Friday in a Gwinnett County
courtroom. Both Bynum and Weeks expressed relief and a measure of joy
that their marriage, marked by an elaborate televised wedding, a
high-profile ministry and a parking lot fight, was over.
Bynum
filed for
divorce in September. On Friday, about a month shy of her sixth wedding
anniversary to Weeks, Bynum said she was at peace with the divorce.
"It's not a sad thing," she said. "I always said that, 'This too shall
pass,' and it just did."
The traveling minister wore a casual cotton top, khaki pants and a
sweater tied around her waist. She smiled broadly soon after her ties
to Weeks were severed.
Weeks, on three years' probation for assaulting Bynum last summer, also
appeared to be happy. He wore a grin, a bow tie and a brown pinstriped
suit. He said he will always have a "special love" for Bynum but is
moving on.
"It feels like a new day —- a brand new life, a brand new
time," Weeks said.
For some tense minutes Friday, it appeared that the divorce would be
derailed.
Superior Court Judge Debra Turner asked Bynum if she had been intimate
with Weeks since they separated. She seemed surprised at Bynum's answer:
"Yes, once," Bynum said. "I believe it was in August."
Turner grew concerned about moving ahead. "My understanding is you can
no longer have marital relations based on the date of separation that
you file," she said. Bynum said in court that she and Weeks separated
in May.
The judge called for a recess so Weeks' attorney, Randy Kessler, could
check case law. Kessler argued before the break that the interlude
shouldn't halt the process. "She filed for divorce after that sexual
encounter," he said. "They have been living in a bona-fide state of
separation.''
Bynum did not say whether that rendezvous occurred before or after
Weeks pushed, kicked and beat her in the parking lot of the Renaissance
Concourse Hotel on Aug. 21. During the break from proceedings, Bynum
and Weeks stared down at their instant messaging devices. Bynum was
typing feverishly. Weeks was reading and scrolling through a message.
When Bynum finished her note, she slid the device into her purse, flung
aside her hair and stared off at a corner. Weeks continued to read on
and then gazed up at the ceiling sighing. It is unknown whether the
couple was communicating with each other. When asked, Weeks would not
answer the question.
The divorce was finalized at 10:46 a.m. after Turner and Kessler agreed
to change the couple's separation date to September, the month Bynum
filed.
According to a 14-page settlement agreement, neither party will receive
alimony. They have divided all bank accounts and will retain ownership
of the debt and individual assets they had before marriage. Bynum also
asked for some sentimental antiques she collected seven years ago,
including a harp and a sculpture of a woman. Weeks gets the couple's
2004 Land Rover, his international ministry and the church the couple
started together in Duluth, Global Destiny.
Bynum agreed to pay $40,000 in attorney fees for Weeks.
Bynum said she doesn't have time to waste on moping. She said she has
been hired as a regular adviser on "Divorce Court," and two weeks ago,
was permanently added to the cast of "Lincoln Heights," an ABC Family
network series. She still continues her ministry.
Weeks said he will focus on building his church and "healing" his
broken heart.
"You have to deal with the trauma," he said. "I didn't marry her to be
here today."
Source: Atlanta
Journal-Constitution
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