SAVE OUR CHURCH: VOL. 1, ISSUE 1

Here is a new publication which I have come across which discusses COGIC current events.

(Click on this link to read the newsletter)

 

(Source unknown)

FEDERAL LAWSUIT FILED AGAINST COGIC

FEDERAL LAWSUIT FILED

There has been another lawsuit filed against COGIC.  This time however it has been filed in the UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS EASTERN DIVISION. Read the first page below,

Click here to read the complete FEDERAL COMPLAINT.

 

 

COGIC, A HIERARICHICAL CHURCH?

The other day I heard someone say, the Church of God in Christ is a “hierarchical church”.   The word “hierarchical” is used in more than one way.

One meaning is as the person said, the power is vertical, meaning the Presiding Bishop is over the Jurisdictional Bishop, who is over the Superintendent and the Pastor.

The other and most devastating usage is that used by the civil court.  The civil court does not care about the leadership structure.  They deal with property ownership.  To the civil court, in a hierarchical church, the National or parent organization OWNS the property and the local people purchase it and maintain it as a gift to the National Church.  The US Supreme Court used the labels Congregational and Hierarchical for the first time in the infamous case WATSON Vs JONES, and since it benefits the National Church, they all said Amen.

A Hybrid would use parts of both systems.  For property ownership, it could use aspects of the Congregational system.  Combining the two systems would give you the HYBRID

The General Assembly of the Church of God in Christ can define itself.  You can say what type of Government or as a lawyer would  say “polity” your church has.

Concerning property ownership, The Church of God in Christ lets it’s members believe the local church owns the property: (Congregational).  Concerning the leadership structure, I think Bishop Blake in his wisdom said it best

“Thus, the structure is not a pure hierarchy; it is a “hybrid structure”   in which power flows both upwards and downwards. Power flows upwards (not downwards like a hierarchy) from the delegates of the General Assembly to the General Board and Presiding Bishop. And then it flows downwards (as in a hierarchy) to the bishops and to those under their charge. It is episcopal in that it affirms the authority of the bishops who are those above. At the same time, it is governed by a constitution, and thus the constitutional rights of the pastors and congregations, who are those who are below, must not be abused or alienated from them.”  (page 4,  paragraph 2, of the book “WHY I STOOD FOR THE DEFENSE IN ORLANDO” )  Click this link to read the complete book by Bishop Charles E. Blake.

To see how the court views this word click this link THE HIERARCHICAL CHURCH.

For additional information or if you have questions contact me by using the contact form shown below.  No question or information will be posted from this contact form.

In case you think this can’t be true, here is a copy of the opinion of the Kansas Appeals court.   KANSAS COURT CASE involving a church in Liberal, Kansas

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DON’T TRUST THE TRUST CLAUSE!

There is a lot of confusion as to what the ‘Trust Clause” found in the COGIC, Inc constitution really means.  The COGIC Trust clause found in the Official Manual, Article III, Part II, Section D paragraph 9 on page 16 states;

“The said property is held in trust for the use and benefit of the members of the Church of God in Christ with National Headquarters in the City of Memphis. Shelby County. Tennessee, and subject to the Charter, Constitution, Laws and Doctrines of said Church, now in full force and effect or as they may be hereafter amended, changed or modified by the General Assembly of said Church”

How many people really know what that means?  To put it bluntly it gives the National Church ownership of your property.
In Wichita, Kansas, in 2005, in District Court, the former General Counsel said;
” The members of the Church of God in Christ are all members who are a part of the national organization from the headquarters down to the local assembly.”
Since the General Counsel in his official position stated this for the court,  that is the position of the Executive branch of COGIC, Inc.
Did you know you are holding your Church for everybody who is part of the national organization? And here you thought it was for the local members.

Black’s Law Dictionary gives the definition of a Trust as;

1. An equitable or beneficial right or title to land or other property, held for the beneficiary by another person, in whom resides the legal title or ownership, recognized and enforced by courts of chancery. See Goodwin v. McMinn, 193 Pa. 046, 44 Atl. 1094, 74 Am. St. Rep. 703; Beers v. Lyon, 21 Conn. 613; Seymour v. Freer, 8 Wall. 202, 19 L. Ed. 300. An obligation arising out of a confidence reposed in the trustee or representative, who has the legal title to property conveyed to him, that he will faithfully apply the property according to the confidence reposed, or, in other words, according to the wishes of the grantor of the trust. 4 Kent Comm. 304; Willis, Trustees, 2; Beers v. Lyon, 21 Conn. 613; Thornburg v. Buck, 13 Ind. App. 446, 41 N. E. 85. An equitable obligation, either express or Implied, resting upon a person by reason of a confidence reposed in him, to apply or deal with the property for the benefit of some other person, or for the benefit of himself and another or others, according to such confidence. McCreary v. Gewinner, 103 Ga. 528, 29 S. E. 9G0. A holding of property subject to a duty of employing it or applying its proceeds according to directions given by the person from whom it was derived. Munroe v. Crouse. 59 Hun. 248, 12 N. Y. Supp. 815.
Law Dictionary: http://thelawdictionary.org/trust/#ixzz2rGkq7QOw

In layman’s terms, what that means is; you give the beneficiary (the National Church) an equitable (think equity as in equity in your house) interest in your Church.  Their name does not have to be on the deed.  When you join, pay your National Reports, participate and go to the meetings you are on the hook.

The attorneys know this but they talk in legal speak where words have a different meaning to them and the civil court than it does to those not trained in the law.  This I think is done to deceive, when you want to communicate truth you speak the language your hearer will understand.

Different states also handle this differently.  Some states use the “Neutral Principle”, that means whatever name is on the deed, that whose it is.  Others states use whatever their state law says.  The third and the one that is most harmful to the local members is the “Hierarchical Principle”.  You should find out which policy your state uses but remember, it  could change with the stroke of a judges pen.

If the Trust Clause stated it was held for none but the local church members or congregation, it would protect the local church.

As it stands, every chicken dinner, every bake sale done for the church is for the National Church, because of the “Trust Clause.”

Because of the Trust Clause, you are owners in name only.  Which makes you a sharecropper.

THE ABUSE, OF THE COGIC SEXUAL ABUSE RESOLUTION

IS THE MISCONDUCT RESOLUTION BEING ABUSED?

The resolution granting the authority to suspend, presented and passed on November 12, 2002 is being used in a manner that causes due process for pastors and potentially all credential holders to be in jeopardy. (Resolution is found on page 2)

It was originally purported as way to protect the National Church from Misconduct involving Sexual Molestation (See the first and last Whereas).

From the Church of God in Christ online Sexual Misconduct course, the definition of Sexual Misconduct is;
Any conduct of a sexual nature that is non-consensual, including but not limited to sexual harassment and sexual assault, or any behavior that has the effect of threatening or intimidating the individual against whom such conduct is directed.  A minor or mentally incapacitated individual can never consent to conduct of a sexual nature.
From the Church of God in Christ online Sexual Misconduct course the definition for Sexual Harassment is;
Sexual harassment, which is a form of sexual misconduct, is unwelcome attention, advances, touching, or harassment of a sexual nature that includes a range of behavior from mild, implicit or subtle transgressions an annoyances to overt and blatant activity or conduct than can involve forced sexual activity in an employment environment.

November 12, 2002 Resolution

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This resolution has been misapplied and used as an excuse to deny Pastors their due process under the law of the Church of God in Christ.  It is an act of injustice to use this resolution to circumvent the pastor’s constitutional rights of due process when competent, consenting adults are involved.

One such case is at the Bethel Temple Church of God in Christ in Gary, Indiana in the Third Jurisdiction of Indiana, Bishop E. Bobby Warren is the Jurisdictional Bishop .

When you look at the picture of the church, one wonders if the true motive is the acquisition of the church.

An allegation was made of conduct between two consenting adults.  The accusation have to this point not been substantiated but have been categorically denied, a case of He said/ she said.  The pastor was denied the rights as shown here from ARTICLE VIII, Section B, paragraph 2, sub paragraph, pages 31-32 of the Official Manual;

2 The procedure for the trial of a local Pastor shall be as follows:
(a) When a majority of the members of the Church Of God In Christ have documented evidence that a Pastor of a local church has committed any or all of the offenses enumerated hereinabove, they may file charges against such Pastor specifically setting out the acts and things complained of The original copy of the charges shall be filed in the office of the Secretary of the Assembly of the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of which the Church and Pastor are a pan, or with which they are affiliated, and copies thereof shall be filed in the office of the General Secretary of the Church Of God In Christ at its National Headquarters in Memphis. Tennessee.

How will the General Council of Pastors and Elders respond?

Will the council require the law be followed?

As we prepare to celebrate the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., I am thought a line from his paper, ”Letters from the Birmingham Jail” where he wrote;

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” [Source ]

Bethel Temple Church of God in Christ, Gary, Indiana

[Source Google Maps]

NOVEMBER 3, 2013: THE STILL SMALL VOICE-BISHOP SAMUEL P. NESBITT

   TO READ THE LATEST LETTER WRITTEN BY BISHOP SAMUEL NESBITT, CLICK ON THE BOOK COVER

       TO:    The Presiding Bishop, General Board, General Assembly, Board of Bishops,
                  Council of Pastors and Elders, Officers, Members and Friends,
                  Church Of God In Christ, Inc.

TO THE PRESIDING BISHOP, et al; BISHOP SAMUEL P. NESBITT: THE STILL SMALL VOICE August 11, 2013

Here is the latest letter, written by Bishop Samuel P. Nesbitt, dated August 11, 2013.  Click on the book cover to read it.

PLEASE RESET YOUR CLOCK

Read this stunning article written by Dr. Lenard Lovett.  The subtitle is “A response to the Trayvon Martin verdict”.  Click on the image to read the Ebook.  Click here to read the PDF. Please Do Not Forget to Reset Your Clock

JOURNEY TO JUSTICE: THE STRUGGLE OF THE ORLANDO INSTITUTIONAL CHURCH IN 1999

The struggle for justice is not a new one.  Here is a struggle over church property the courts in Florida got right.  If someone with the clout of say a General Board Member had come to Wichita, Kansas to dispute the testimony of former General Counsel Bishop Enoch Perry the outcome would have been different.  Click on the picture to the left to read this book written by Bishop Charles E. Blake when Supt. Derrick Hutchins was at the Orlando Institutional Church of God in Christ?

Here is an account of the story written in the O.I.C. NEWS.  Bishop Blake showed a willingness to fight for the underdog, to go against the system to correct an injustice.  What has happened to that?   He did not show up in Wichita, Kansas.

Click on the image below to read the story

BISHOP THOMAS HOLSEY, ANOTHER CASE OF INJUSTICE?

Since 2010, we have heard accusations against Bishop Thomas Holsey of improper use of a Delaware Jurisdictions funds.  This jurisdiction had a reported 4 million dollars in its coffers of which a substantial amount has been depleted.  At first mention, it was rumored Bishop Holsey had converted some of this money for personal gain.  We then find he had loaned a number of people money and had given money for various reasons to others,  (see the letter from Bishop Holsey to Bishop Sheard).  He made a large investment of  $700,000.   It seems like the catalyst for the action against him was  the return of checks written on the Jurisdictions accounts to the National Church for credential holder reports.

Does the action of the General Board signal that all Bishops who write insufficient fund checks are now subject to have charges of misfeasance brought against them?

Bishop Holsey had a total of nine counts brought against him, of that nine the Board of Bishops found him guilty of of one; nonfeasance and misfeasance.  These were combined and considered one count, the fourth of the nine counts brought against him.  He was acquitted of the other eight.

Read these excerpts from The Whole Truth  written by Bishop Samuel P. Nesbitt.  Click here to read the complete article The Whole Truth

To read the original charges against Bishop Holsey, the order of the Board of Bishops and other documents click here and read the Case Against Bishop T. Holsey.

Whose report do you believe?

Definition from  Blacks Law Dictionary 2nd edition