COGIC sexual abuse policies: mandatory or suggestive?

Has the Church of God in Christ made any significant progress in getting its clergy sexual abuse problem under control? The answer to that question may lie with two key factors. (1) The consistent implementation of church policies at the local church level and (2) the denomination’s enforcement mechanisms.

Without these two working in tandem, its only a matter of time –if not already– that another child or defenseless person is raped, molested, sexually abused or worse murdered by a COGIC representative.

In the past, although there have been small steps to address the issue, COGIC leadership under the administration of Bishop Charles Blake has rarely risen above what could be termed convenient “window dressing”. Eager to keep the church name, image and assets out of controversy, church leaders have made shoddy stitches without seeming to take serious the nature of sexual predation and the countless victims it leaves in its wake.

Its missive to the COGIC faithful, entitled “Keys to Reducing Litigation and Avoiding Liability“  may be telling about the denomination’s real motives in dealing with sexual abuse.  Based on 11 key points, the goal seems  purely legal and business oriented.  Its devoid of the concern for vulnerable human life connected to these real tragic crimes. This attitude is typical of those who view victims as “problems” rather than as people who need the church’s love and protection.

Not to mention strange coming from an organization which purports to uphold “holiness” as a standard.

1. Churches must have a comprehensive, written Sexual Misconduct program that includes and explains child sexual abuse issues

2. Workers who have direct contact with minors (this includes jurisdictional officials, pastors, employees and volunteers) must attend regular seminars and forums that disperse pertinent information regarding all ways in which their church can prevent cases of sexual misconduct, especially that of child molestation. Attendance at such sessions should be documented and kept on file.

3. The pressing need for volunteers and/or workers should not negate the need to be diligent as it relates to hiring practices within the Church.

4. There must be a comprehensive application process whereby individuals seeking to be volunteers or employees would be subject to an extensive investigation. Any person seeking a position (paid or unpaid) within the Church must have been a member of the local assembly for at least six (6) months.

5. Overnight trips should be very carefully planned and monitored with an appropriate number of screened adults.

6. Youth leaders must be mindful to avoid even casual, physical contact with a minor child in their care. Touching, hugging, fondling or kissing any young person is strictly prohibited.

7. Sunday school teachers, daycare providers, other youth workers must be alert to mood changes in minor children.

8. Never take light an allegation made by a child. All claims must be investigated immediately and with a great deal of discretion to clearly protect the rights of the child and those of the alleged tortfeasor.

9. Each childcare worker, Sunday school teacher, daycare provider and pastor must know the reporting requirements of their state for suspected child abuse.

10. Each jurisdiction and local church should have one individual responsible for dealing with the press, the police and the congregation at large as it relates to responding to the publicity that surrounds alleged sexual misconduct cases.

11. The local jurisdiction and the National Church can all be held liable for of the acts of one individual.

Its unclear if this was written by someone with a legitimate legal background. None of the policies are ever attributed to any single person, perhaps because they know they are under scrutiny.  For instance, the rigid command word must is mentioned several times, but there is nothing in place if a church, through neglect, ignorance or refusal fails to implement the denomination’s policies. But then in the same document, must is mixed with the suggestive identifier “should” leaving open the option of compliance. The final point is almost bizarre considering that COGIC’s legal representative Enoch Perry has argued —under oath— in numerous cases that the national church has no legal connection with a local church in these matters. See his Sherman Allen deposition.

COGIC tightens up office holders screening

After successive years of “looking the other way” on sex criminals and other assorted leadership undesirables matriculating into COGIC offices, some emerging signs indicate Presiding Bishop Blake may be slowly tightening up the reigns of access.

Perhaps this has also been influenced by the newly elected Elder James W. Hunt, Sr., Chairman, General Assembly and Bishop Lemmuel Thuston, Vice Chairman. Thuston was bishop over one of the key front men in the massive Kansas-Missouri black church ponzi scheme. Thousands of people were bilked out of millions of investments dollars. The church was a major recruiting ground.

Report COGIC Abuse reviewed the Application for Elected Office and found that several questions helped to determine whether or not a person was actually qualified to hold high influential offices. COGIC’s ineffective tradition of allowing popular men who were the beneficiaries of nepotism,  preaching gifts and money to get them into places they didn’t deserve to be should come to and end for the good of the church. One way to weed out those whose unresolved sexual issues and potential criminal issues is to at least tighten up the screening process.

The categories of applications include: laymembers (terrible term), ministers and missionaries, Elders, Pastors and Bishops. Thankfully, none of the serious questions are altered for any of the categories.

Of interest, the following questions:

Question 10. Do you, or have you experienced any physical, psychological, or emotional conditions which requires treatment?  If yes, has this condition impaired your ability to function, or make sound executive and judicious decisions?

A person with unresolved emotional and psychological issues are a real danger behind the pulpit and in office.  It should be expected that a person would seek God and gain peace through obeying the will of God, but its been proven that many leaders will not admit when they have problems. They hide and delay seeking help and ultimately exacerbate the problem with hidden sins. The church should require the applicant to produce a doctor’s report stating a clean bill of health particularly on psychological and emotional health issues.

Question 11. Has any disciplinary action (i.e. removal from an office or position, suspension, termination, etc) ever been taken against you in the church, whether local, jurisdictional, national or other denomination? If yes, explain.

Have you been arrested or convicted of a felony? If yes, please explain.

Is there anything in your past that could possibly bring reproach against the Church Of God In Christ? If yes, please explain.

In addition to the applicant’s response, the church should review ALL church files and conduct extensive interviews to determine if all  infractions were properly and biblically resolved. If it was not, the applicant should be required to resolve each situation before the application can be further processed. While it should be assumed that each applicant is prima facie who they purport to be, cases like Thomas A. Wiggins, Charles Brown and JD Husband stand as stark reminders that a lax attitude towards excellence in office produces disastrous results for the church.

These questions allow the applicant to be honest and that is a good thing. In fact, one would think that a person seeking high office in the Church of God in Christ would at a minimum be honest, but that is in our opinion, an immature assumption.

Bishops seeking election to the General Board should also face even tighter questioning and screening than the average person to include ethics questions.  Compare that with a US Senator or President. Unfortunately, elections to high office are a political function and the scrutiny of one’s personal life is part of the process.  Moreover, the high offices ought to be deemed worthy enough to ensure that only men and women of high quality, integrity and service are allowed to hold them. The church should reject the tired good ole boys attitude that most if not all the current crop of contenders perpetuate.

Update: COGIC Elder found not guilty of boy’s rape

A jury in Chattanooga, TN found Elder Ronnie Powe, Jr. not guilty of statutory rape. See our report on Powe’s arrest here.  The Chattanooga Times Free Press reported that although Powe did have sexual relationship with the boy, it wasn’t proven that he knew the boy’s age.

The son of a Chattanooga pastor has been found not guilty of statutory rape, a jury decided Friday in Hamilton County Criminal Court.

Ronnie Powe, Jr. had been accused of masturbating and briefly performed oral sex on a 15-year-old boy on Feb. 15 after a Chattanooga Police Officer found the two in a car together behind the old East Lake Middle School.

Though Powe’s defense acknowledged that the encounter took place, they had contested that Powe did not know the teen’s age.

Throughout proceedings, Powe’s attorneys referred to the profile the boy had created a profile on an adult black gay website, which indicated his age as 18 at the time Powe met him.

“We felt that the jury understood what we were arguing. We said at the very beginning of this case ‘our client is a victim.’ I think the jury agreed,” said Bill Speek, one of Powe’s attorney.

Powe is the son of Ronnie Powe Sr., the pastor of Chattanooga’s United Tabernacle Church of God in Christ.

Powe, Jr.’s attorneys assailed the victim’s character showing evidence that he frequently misrepresented his age on gay sex sites. Also, the victim admitted under oath that he had made false accusations against his own brother. Nevertheless, testimony did not dispute that Powe, Jr. was active online with the gay sex hookup sites, or that  Powe had sexual contact with the victim. The strength of the Powe case was that his attorneys were able to plant in the mind of jurors that the victim misrepresented his age to Powe, Jr.

Another report said Powe’s legal defense team painted him as a victim.

Under Tennessee law, the aggravated statutory rape charge requires “knowingly penetrating a person” older than 13 but younger than 18.

“We felt that the jury understood what we were arguing. We said at the very beginning of this case, ‘Our client is a victim.’ I think the jury agreed,” said Bill Speek, one of Powe’s attorneys.

Throughout proceedings, Powe’s attorneys referred to the profile the boy had created on an adult black gay website, where Powe first came in contact with him. In the profile, the teen said he age was 18.

Report COGIC Abuse unsuccessfully attempted to contact the church’s pastor Ronnie Powe, Sr. at his home and church phones for comment.  Powe, Jr’s attorney said he “lost his position at the church.”

Dunamis Word Broadcast interviews DL Foster on clergy sexual abuse

OK COGIC Pastor who boasted “nothing will change” plea bargains on sex charges

***Updated, scroll to bottom
Report COGIC Abuse has learned that in early September 2011, Pastor Edwin House entered a non technical guilty plea to two counts of lewd molestation according to Logan County, OK District Court records. [source]. House’s charges were later amended to assault with intent to commit a felony per Oklahoma law statue 21.OS-681

“THE DEFENDANT PRESENTS HIS PLEA OF NOLO CONTENDERE TO THE CHARGES AS ALLEGED IN COUNTS 1 AND 2 OF THE AMENDED INFORMATION. THE DEFENDANT IS SWORN AND TESTIFIES. THE COURT FINDS THAT THE PLEA IS ENTERED KNOWINGLY, VOLUNTARILY, WITH FULL KNOWLEDGE OF RIGHTS, WITH ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL, AND WITHOUT OBJECTION BY THE STATE. THE COURT ACCEPTS THE DEFENDANT’S PLEA AND SENTENCES HIM TO FIVE (5) YEARS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS WITH ALL FIVE (5) YEARS SUSPENDED CONDITIONED UPON HIS GOOD BEHAVIOR, PAYMENT OF COURT COSTS, AND REGISTRY AS A SEX OFFENDER. THE DEFENDANT IS TO BE UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS. THE DEFENDANT IS ADVISED OF HIS RIGHT TO APPEAL.”

Pastor Edwin House and his wife Louvenia were arrested by police in Crescent, Oklahoma  and charged with five counts of lewd molestation allegedly perpetrated on two underage foster girls under their care. House is pastor of the Lighthouse COGIC north of Oklahoma City. The Oklahoman reported that the two were released on bail the following day.

Edwin House is accused of sexually abusing two 14-year-old girls in his home.

She told investigators Edwin House laid on top of her while she was sleeping and put his hand down her shirt. He also put his hands on her chest while she was in his car, she reported. The girl was removed from the home and taken into protective custody, court records show.

Lovenia House told investigators her husband touched the girl’s chest to teach her how boys might act if she continued to dress provocatively. A female foster child who lived with the couple from November 2003 to December 2004 told investigators Edwin House would lay on top of her after he tucked her into bed at night.

House is a member of the Oklahoma NW jurisdiction with Bishop Lee Vicker Broom.  But upon his release, House made an unusually defiant statement to the media. Was it to the media or to his denominational leaders?

Edwin House said Wednesday that his church is aware of the allegations against him and his wife. He is pastor of the Light House Church of God in Christ in Crescent.

“Nothing is going to change at the church,” Edwin House said. He said congregation members and friends have rallied to support him.

EPILOGUE

With House guilty of the charges, per the COGIC “zero tolerance” policy,  has there been disciplinary actions against him?

RCA contacted Louvenia House (charges against her were dropped) who contended the Light House COGIC in Crescent, OK, is still under Oklahoma NW Jurisdiction, but the jurisdiction’s redesigned website no longer lists the church name. Compare to a 2010 church roster.

A church official told us that per a letter released in December 2010,  Light House COGIC is no longer under their (OK NW) jurisdiction.  Additionally, the church had left the denomination altogether but the official was unaware whether the Houses and the church left due to disciplinary action or if it was a voluntary move. We were unable to confirm either position.

If the House’s indeed left COGIC after disciplinary action, why was he allowed to keep the church property? And if a pastor leaves the denomination due to disciplinary actions, does the church’s constitution allow for the continued use of the denominational name?

UPDATE JAN 11, 2012
Bishop Vickers Broom confirmed with a RCA staff member that Lighthouse COGIC of Cresent City “voluntarily” removed their membership from COGIC due to approaching disciplinary action. Broom also stated that COGIC will take no legal action (property) against the Houses. Broom did not say whether the Houses are free to continue using the “Church of God in Christ” name without any penalty.

This brings up several issues of selectively applying the church’s constitution. It seems that when the pastor has committed a crime, COGIC waives all rights to property. But when a pastor and congregation wants to leave the denomination for other reasons, they are taken to court and sued without mercy. RCA will explore this more in a separate post.

RCA praises COGIC action against confessed NC child molestor

Report COGIC Abuse (RCA), a victim’s advocacy ministry, today praised COGIC’s presiding bishop and general board for taking appropriate action against confessed child molester Thomas A. Wiggins, Jr.  This blog reported the shocking story on December 3rd after multiple news outlets in Wilmington, NC said that Wiggins, an “Administrative Assistant” in North Carolina 2nd jurisdiction,  had confessed to molesting a 14 year old boy in his home some 16 years ago.

An official letter dated December 15th, Bishop Charles Blake placed Wiggins on “administrative leave” effectively suspending him from all pastoral and superintendent duties.

The letter restated that COGIC has a zero tolerance policy for sexual abuse offenders within its ranks.

Its welcome news to see the church’s leadership (1) take action based on its stated policies and (2) publicly acknowledging the action. This is something  not seen prior to Report COGIC Abuse monitoring of clergy sexual abuse cases in the nation’s largest black pentecostal denomination.

RCA was founded in 2009 to help assist members of the church break down the dark walls of silence and inaction involving leadership abuses.

The founder’s dream

Three months prior to my 50th birthday in September, I had a dream which included a  brief exhortation from the founder of the Church of God in Christ, Bishop CH Mason.

In the dream, I entered Mason Temple and began walking alongside the right corridor of the building. There were different doors there and one was an open door. I stopped and looked inside and there were a group of men and women there who appeared to be talking over some matter. As soon as I looked in the door,  they said to me almost in unison, “take these papers to bishop”.

They gave me a stack of papers of which the contents were unknown to me and I did not attempt to look at them. Dutifully, I took the papers and went back down the corridor to the sanctuary.

On the platform was a table which stretched the length of it. And seated at the table were men (whom I assume were bishops and church leaders). Since I was not told what bishop to give the papers to, I looked at each man to see who might be expecting me. But strangely, I could not connect with any of them as all were unfamiliar to me. When I looked again, there was a chair seated in the very center of the table, equally dividing the men. It was an old brown high back leather chair, worn from years of use.  In it sat Bishop Mason.

When I saw him, immediately a voice said to me, “give him the papers”. I walked up to him and without a word, handed him the papers. He looked at me, then began reading through the papers.  All this time, every person was silent and still.  After he went through the papers, he looked again at me and said, “Don’t judge them, but you tell them the truth”. He never told me what was on the papers, nor did he return them to me.

At that point, the dream ended.

If you believe God has given you insight into the meaning and application of this dream, I welcome you to share it here or with me privately if you feel that is what should be done.

In his graces,

Pastor DL Foster

Born Again molesters: COGIC church is home to 2nd serial child molestor

BREAKING NEWS – COGIC SEXUAL MOLESTORS STRIKE AGAIN; OFFICIALS REMAIN SILENT

In September 2009, the Winter Haven, FL News Chief  broke news of the shocking crime in which a young girl was  sexually assaulted multiple times by Minister Clevon Ghent, 35 and his nephew Genard Jones both members of Born Again Church of God in Christ in Auburndale, FL.  The paper identified Ghent as a paid employee/supervisor of the church’s for profit janitorial service.   Despite Ghent being convicted and sent to prison, the church’s pastor Theadore Hall, Jr. and the bishop of the jurisdiction Matthew Williams,  made no public comments decrying sexual crimes by ministers of the church. This is typical behavior of COGIC officials since we began documenting child sex crimes in COGIC.

Now, two years later a second minister from the same church has been arrested on multiple child molestation charges. Police have identified at least three victims. Story via the Central Florida News 13:

 A 25-year-old youth ministry leader at an Auburndale church is facing lewd molestation charges.

Lakeland Police arrested Darryl Leonard Taylor, Jr. Monday night.

According to the website for Born Again Church of God in Christ in Auburndale, Taylor is listed as the Ministry Leader of musicians as well as David’s Anointing Youth Worship Team Coordinator.

Taylor is charged with:

• 3 counts of lewd molestation of a child under 12
• 8 counts of lewd molestation of a child 12 to 16
• 2 counts of lewd battery of a child under 15

According to police, the investigation began on November 14, 2011, when a father contacted police to report his child had been sexually molested by Taylor. Police say the victim had revealed to an elder at the church that he had been molested by Taylor and the elder contacted the child’s father.

Police say an investigation revealed three other victims. Detectives say most of the assaults occurred at Taylor’s previous home and the last incident occurred at his current home.

Over and over, COGIC churches continue to make headlines –not because of good works– but because child molesters, in positions of influence and with access to children continue to work their wickedness. But after 3 years with over 15 cases of sexual abuse,  Bishop Charles Blake has yet to enact any meaningful or significant policies to clamp down on offenders who are heaping shame and reproach upon the church’s name.

Taylor’s arrest brings known clergy child molestation/sexual abuse cases involving COGIC ministers to a total of five in 2011. It comes on the heels of  the November 14th arrest and confession of Supt Thomas Wiggins who sexually abused a 14 year old boy.

No more rumors, no more lies

The time has come to put an end to rumors and lies. And you can count on Report COGIC Abuse to help bring an end to it. You can depend on us to report and document the truth without respect of persons. You can depend on us to cry aloud and spare not because an enemy is silently among us and the sheep are in grave danger.

Rumors and lies are part of the enemy’s tactical assault to keep the church in a state of confusion and superficial religion, not to mention superficial relationships.

Open offenses are deep among us, but instead of confronting in love and in the power of the Spirit, many spread seeds of the rumor and lies.

Many people have been led to believe that concealing the sins of leaders is “covering” them. This may be the case in some instances, but it is detrimental to the health and well being of the church and the leader if those sins remain unresolved.

Even the world exposes those who’s corrupt actions endanger others and threaten the common good.  The most significant problem is misinformation. When information is verifiable and true, then those who are in danger should be kept aware and alert so that they may protect themselves and what God has entrusted to them.

Leaders who have unresolved and unrepentant sexual sins –not to mention crimes— in their lives are a threat the the spiritual health of the church. Those who travel frequently because they have a “gift” to speak carry the most risk because their corrupt spirits are influencing others into sin. Rumor and lies inhibit the truth from rising to the surface so that the threat is contained or stopped.

Join with Report COGIC Abuse to help end the rumors and lies. God is not pleased and while we can continue to have “good church” we stand to risk the departure of the Spirit of God thereby leaving us branded with the name ICHABOD.

Bishop Charles Brown “remanded” on nearly $1million bond

A stunning development in the case of COGIC bishop Charles Brown of New Orleans. The New Orleans Times-Picayune posted on December 2nd that the allegations against Brown have deepened.

With supporters packing a courtroom gallery like a church nave, Bishop Charles E. Brown pleaded not guilty Friday to sex crimes against three juveniles dating as far back as 1977. Judge Karen Herman remanded Brown, the 59-year-old spiritual head of a local Pentecostal church, to jail Friday in lieu of $900,000 bond from a grand jury indictment handed up last month.

Several of his supporters, many of them women who dressed up and wore hats, appeared ready on Friday to chip in for the bond. Brown is scheduled to return to court Monday with the paperwork.

Brown faces a count of forcible rape and two counts each of sexual battery and committing a lewd act on a juvenile in three alleged crimes all dating back at least 30 years.

Police originally booked Brown with aggravated rape on June 28, after an unidentified 39-year-old woman called the NOPD’s child abuse unit in March to report that Brown had molested her between the ages of 14 and 16. According to police, the woman said Brown had been her aunt’s boyfriend and committed the acts at his home.

Since then, at least two other people have come forward with accusations against him, according to the indictment. One of them, now 47, claims Brown committed indecent behavior and sexual battery sometime between her 13th and 17th birthdays, according to the indictment.

Brown forcibly raped another woman, identified only as “G.H.,” in 1977, when she was 17, the indictment states. A brief police report says that woman reported the incident Sept. 28, after The Times-Picayune reported on the first allegation.

Brown, who was a long time personal friend of  current Presiding Bishop Charles Blake, Sr was handcuffed and jailed on the judges orders.

The news report said that COGIC officials “suspended” Brown after learning of the first allegation.

No word on whether COGIC has suspended Supt Thomas A. Wiggins, Jr. of Wilmington, NC who on last week confessed to multiple sex crimes against a 14 year old.