In a letter found on the Church of God in Christ web site, General Counsel Uleses Henderson gives what I believe to be a fictional account of the events which have occurred at Pacific Mount Olive Church of God in Christ. The letter ,titled “Statement On Pacific Mount Olive Church of God in Christ” has many discrepancies not supported by facts.
Paragraph 1: FALSE
On January 6, 2016 Bishop Blake sent a letter in which he stated;
“I, Bishop Charles E. Blake Senior, am the Presiding Bishop of the Church of God in Christ Inc., with the International Headquarters located in the City of Memphis, Shelby County Tennessee.
Pursuant to Article III, Part 2 Section A (1)(a) of the constitution of the Church of God in Christ as set forth in the Official Manual 1, you are ordered to cease all operations of Pacific Mount Olive Church of God in Christ, located 1385 East 21st Street in Los Angeles, California, by Saturday, January 9, 2016. You are further ordered at that time to turn over to Bishop J. Bernard Hackworth and the Metropolitan Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction, or his representative, all keys, papers, bank accounts and all property of any kind belonging to Pacific Mount Olive Church of God in Christ.
This order in addition is being made by the express approval of the General Board of the Church of God in Christ.”
In a January 16, 2016 Ex- Parte Application for Preliminary Injunction and TRO, General Counsel Uleses Henderson submitted a declaration to the under penalty of perjury. On page 2, paragraph 8 of that declaration he states; (Declaration)
“All members of the General Board voted that Defendant Joyner and his agents and affiliates must vacate and turn over all real property held by Pacific Mount Olive Church of God in Christ to Bishop Hackworth. There were no objections.”
RESPONSE TO THE BULLET POINTS
Bullet Point 1: FALSE
Pastor Joyner appointed to Mt. Olive by Bishop Murphy, Prelate of California Southwest Jurisdiction (Letter from Bishop Murphy)
Bullet Point 2: TRUE
Stated in a deceitful manner, Pacific Mt. Olive had been without a Pastor or Bishop for approximately two years, members voted on a Pastor because they had no Bishop at that time. In a letter dated July 17, 2012 Bishop Ealy put them out, for two years they had no Bishop, no jurisdiction and no Pastor. No COGIC official took any action until the letter from the ousted trustees.
Bullet Point 3: FALSE
Bishop Murphy appointed Elder Joyner as Pastor of Mt. Olive in January 2014. (Letter from Bishop Murphy)
Bullet Point 4: FALSE
Five Trustees, three of whom had been voted out of office sent Bishop Hackworth a letter claiming they represented the membership after they were voted out of office. These five people were not authorized to speak for the congregation. The Constitution calls for a vote of two thirds of the members to take this action. (Trustees Ousted) (Invalid Request)
Bullet Point 5: MISLEADING
If points 1, 3 and 4 were true this would be true. However, to make this statement knowing points 1, 3 and 4 are false, makes it appear as if the General Counsel is attempting to be deceitful.
To read the chronology of the struggle for Pacific Mount Olive, click the button below
Greedy dogs.
Comment by W. Graves — November 16, 2016 @ 8:03 AM |