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Bishops and janitors
Last night I dreamed of Bishop Charles H. Mason, the founder of the Church of God in Christ. Its only the 2nd time in about 9 years that I have dreamed of him. You can read about the first dream. I decided to use this forum as a place to chronicle those dreams for anyone who might see the significance of them.
In the dream I was given the task of transporting Bishop Mason’s body out of Mason Temple to an undisclosed location where it would be reinterred. For some reason a decision had been made to remove it from Mason Temple where he had rested since his death in 1961.
I was surprised when I looked at the body that it looked alive as if he had just passed away. I took the body and placed it in a truck. The casket was fully open and he laid face up. On the way, I received instructions to take the body to a COGIC church which was along the route. I stopped at this church and took the casket in still open. The church was hosting its “district meeting” and it was packed. I left the casket in the foyer and went inside. The service was in “high praise” mode. I told the pastor that I had Bishop Mason’s body in the foyer and had been instructed to bring it to his location temporarily. At this news, everyone began to rejoice harder. The pastor told me to bring the body into the sanctuary. When I went to get the body, Bishop Mason had turned on his face in the casket. I took it in and placed it up front.
The rejoicing continued. Then suddenly, Bishop Mason arose out of the casket and stood up. When he did, the music stopped. He told them that they didnt need all the noise to rejoice. He began to sing a song, clap his hands and dance before the people. Everyone remained quiet and watched but didnt join him. Then, the pastor ordered the musician to get the music started again. They tried in vain to get the organ to play but it wouldn’t. No sound would come from any of the instruments. Bishop Mason continued to dance and clap his hands. The pastor sat down in his seat and with a disgusted look on his face and put his hands in his head. They called for technical specialists to get the music started but could not.
Finally, the pastor ordered Bishop Mason to leave. I escorted him out and took him to another church. A very small church. I left him there. When I came back to check on him the next day, they had put him in a gray jumpsuit and made him the church janitor.
Texas federal judge finds NM COGIC Bishop Jones guilty in 2016 sexual abuse lawsuit
According to the Daily Mail, a prominent news organization in the UK, in 2016 the Church of God in Christ organization and its Bishop of New Mexico was hit was a 12.2 million dollar lawsuit alleging sexual abuse of a minor. Now, that bishop has been found guilty in a Texas civil court and ordered to pay his victim $750,000.
A bishop at one of the largest African-American Christian churches in the United States has been accused of grooming and sexually assaulting a female member of the denomination for more than 20 years.
Kimberly Pollard, who is now 37, filed a $12.2-million lawsuit against the Church of God in Christ (COGIC) and Bishop James L’Keith Jones, accusing the church of allowing her to be sexually assaulted by the high-ranking bishop for 20 years, according to court papers obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com.
Pollard claims that Jones not only groomed her into what became a 20-year sexual relationship and extra-marital affair, but also tried to groom her six-year-old daughter, telling her she looked ‘sexy’ and that he would wait until she was 18 to date her.
The mother-of-one from Lubbock, Texas, says that the relationship between her and Jones turned sexual in or around 1995, when she was still a minor.
In 2019 Pollard won her lawsuit against Jones but the COGIC organization its board of bishops was dismissed from the suit. Jones was ordered by a federal judge to pay $750,000 but is still denying that he owes or committed any crime. He told a Albuquerque news station KRQE via email that he served a “one year suspension” imposed by the church. In typical fashion, COGIC, its presiding bishop and its PR representatives have all refused to respond to requests for clarification on Jones current position in the denomination. Watch the video of Jones telling a 6 year old girl she looked “mighty sexy” in a nightgown and a video clip he sent to Pollard using his fingers to simulate performing oral sex on her.
An Albuquerque Bishop was ordered by a federal civil court judge to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to the woman who accused him of being a predator.
However, the Bishop, who’s still on the job, claims he doesn’t owe a dime.
Bishop James L’Keith Jones of the Church of God in Christ, or COGIC, in Albuquerque, says he’s done nothing criminal. But that doesn’t change the fact that a federal court has now ordered him to pay $750,000 after a civil lawsuit was filed.
Jones has been preaching in Albuquerque for years, leading the Albuquerque chapter of one of the largest nationwide churches. But on Special Assignment in 2016, KRQE News 13 reported on Texas woman Kimberly Pollard’s lawsuit against the Bishop that revealed another side of him.
Pollard claims Bishop Jones made the comment, “You lookin’ mighty sexy in your nightgown,” to her 6-year-old daughter in a video message.
That comment was just part of a series of video and text message exchanges between Pollard and Jones that the lawsuit centered around. Some images in the messages are too explicit to show on television.
Pollard claims Jones preyed on her when she was a teen 20 years ago, and says he sexually assaulted her in a hotel room when she was 16 years old.
Then as he worked his way up the church ranks, she claims he used his authority to keep preying on her, “using coercion, threats, and his position as a spiritual advisor.”
The Bishop denies any sexual assault occurred. Still, court documents show Pollard won a $750,000 judgment in the case.
Her attorneys say Jones hasn’t paid a dime and instead claims the case was thrown out.
Recently, legal assistants on the case made the trip from Texas to hold up a large sign for Sunday parishioners.
The sign read, “COGIC Bishop James L’Keith Jones has been found liable by a federal district court of having a sexual relationship with a child. And he is still in good standing with the Church of God in Christ.”
One of Pollard’s attorneys told KRQE News 13 via email, “It’s concerning that COGIC allows Jones to continue in such a high profile position.”
Jones declined an on-camera interview and called this a case of a “woman scorned.” Jones told News 13 via email that he served a year suspension with the church, and doesn’t owe Pollard anything because the judge didn’t sign the document ordering him to pay.
He also argued the judgment was by default since he missed a deadline to report to the court.
“So I {sic} am in err for failing to respond to the court and not any damages or harm done to Ms. Pollard,” Jones wrote in an email.
But KRQE News 13 called the Northern District of Texas courthouse where the judgment was filed and were told a judge doesn’t have to sign the document. The writ of execution is valid with a clerk’s signature, meaning Jones still owes $750,000 plus $20 per day in interest.
Both the Church of God in Christ and the Board of Bishops were dismissed from the lawsuit. News 13 called the church’s headquarters in Memphis to ask if Jones is still in good standing with the church. The church did not respond.
COGIC General Board Member marches in National Marriage Protection March
Give honor to whom honor is due. And COGIC General Board Member Bishop Brandon Porter of Memphis is due honor for breaking the mold and marching with supporters of natural marriage aka nonsurgically altered,biological male-female marriage which is under severe attack from within and without. Its not just marriage. Behind the attack on marriage, is that age old satanic rebellion against the authority of God. No matter what face the rebellion takes, men of God ought to be the first to lead the counterattack. Those who will not speak out and stand up should not be trusted.
Porter, one of the featured speakers at the rally, told thousands of participants:
Son of SC Bishop adds his voice of warning to COGIC leadership
Competing with the din of punching hammond organ music, shouts of praise and punctured preaching in Church of God in Christ congregations around the country, are voices that don’t get praise or prominence. Its the few who have spoken out about the strong spiritual and moral current in the denomination which is carrying the church downstream away from its holiness roots and previous adherence to biblical mandates. Generally such individuals are quickly branded as “troublemakers” and characterized as “fighting leadership”. That diminishes the impact of their words and allows for the pentecostal praise fest to continue among the rank and file members. After all, acknowledging the words of a prophet who speaks truth to leadership would give them legitimacy and its appears COGIC leadership has mastered the art of denying such voices a place to be heard. The show must go on.
But still they speak because the Spirit of the Lord commands it.
In South Carolina, the son of the jurisdiction’s bishop is speaking out and in the process risking his all important place and “legacy” in COGIC.
Dr. Edward Lee Johnson, son of Bishop Johnnie Johnson and brother of COGIC scholar Dr. Alonzo Johnson, took his message public after a letter decrying the treatment of Supt Earl Carter to COGIC leadership went unanswered.
On March 3, Johnson launched his “Prophetic Argumentative Essay” and contended that COGIC’s Presiding Bishop had supported, openly endorsed and had given authority to speak corruption from the pulpit of West Angeles. On the list were the Rev. Peter Gomes, Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Sen. Mark Ridley-Thomas, Congressman Bobby Rush, and self proclaimed gay performer Tonex aka “B. Slade”. The common bond with all the men? Homosexuality.
In just the past 108 years God raised up the Church Of God In Christ with the purest Biblical practices since the birth of the New Testament Church. Even racism was brought to its knees for a brief period in Bishop Mason’s ministry. Magic Johnson, a “poster child” for the LGBT community has officially infiltrated our ranks as a (COGIC member). (Listen to his admitted statement with Anderson Cooper during the Donald Sterling debacle.) All it takes for the Church Of God In Christ to change its position against same sex marriage is for enough of the Johnson and Rush types to “creep” into our church. And trust me, there are many that are not highly visible but believe just like them among us. If people will not obey the Bible—what makes you think they will obey your constitution?
We all should be taking a lesson from the US Supreme Court on this grave issue; you only need one deciding vote. I am literally ashamed of the current leadership of our church in this area. Black people are blaming White conservatives for not being compassionate, and having a racist slant—but the Black churches have bought into the liberal agenda of the country, and have almost completely “sold out” on “good morals” and biblical principles. That may not have been the intentions when the church took sides with the political parties—but it’s the reality of where we are presently. And guess who is taking the brunt of the suffering in their communities as a result of poor leadership on the national level among people of color?
Read the entire commentary JUDGMENT-COGIC General Assembly.
Guest writing spots available
COGIC Abuse Watch blog has three (
3) guest writing spots available for qualified writers. Guest writers will receive full byline credit and opportunity to become a permanent contributor to this influential online, COGIC-oriented information source. Writers should be mature, articulate, passionate and responsible. No anonymous guest writers are acceptable, although pseudonyms are acceptable under some circumstances. Current members preferable but will accept non-members with COGIC backgrounds. Written subject matter must be exclusively connected to the Church of God in Christ. If interested, send an inquiry email to cogicabuse@gmail.com.
Presiding Bishop releases letter further decrying Holy Convocation message
This is hopefully the last salvo in the war of perspectives pitting the COGIC Presiding Bishop Charles Blake against Elder Earl Carter. Carter’s message on homosexuality (and other sins) and the failure of COGIC leadership to deal with it, angered some but was also met with widespread praise. It did not impress the Presiding Bishop. This official —but undated— letter was released by the Office of the Presiding Bishop and addressed to the COGIC constituency at large.
Bishop Blake wrote in the letter, “Normally, I would not continue to discuss an issue once I have addressed it. But in this particular instance, for the best interest of the Church, I feel compelled to elaborate further, and in greater detail to ensure my message is fully understood and not misrepresented.”
You can review RCA related articles here, here and here. The letter can be downloaded from our Letters and Documents section.
Dr. Earl Carter drops scathing rebuttal to Bishop Blake’s apology video
Prescript: I still love the COGIC, but its at the crossroads and unless the helm is wrested from the closet inclusionists and hirelings, it will crash into the same brick wall all the other pro-inclusion denominations have. Dr. Carter’s unedited response published in full below.
To the Beloved Saints of the Church of God in Christ:
This communiqué comes as an informative document. Included is my response to the apology video released by presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake Sr. Further, addressing the state of the church and finally, my duty as a gospel preacher. As you all know, I was the key note speaker for Saturday night during the 107th Holy Convocation of the Church of God in Christ. 147 souls were saved and set free! The glory cloud came into the sanctuary. Thousands remained after the sermon for hours as Bishop Brandon Porter stayed and prayed on the altar with them until they were delivered. On Monday while waiting to board my plane I called Bishop Blake to tell him that I enjoyed his message on Sunday and to thank him personally for the opportunity to preach on Saturday night. His response was, “I heard that the Lord really moved on Saturday night and the saints are going home blessed!” I thanked him again and said goodbye.
After arriving back home my phone began to ring off the hook; expressing that the Saturday night service had gone viral. By Tuesday evening I realized exactly what had transpired with the testimony of Andrew Coldwell. I had a missed call from Bishop Blake and I returned his call. Finally, we talked as he was getting off the plane in L.A. he stated that he would call me back in about 40 minutes. He indeed called me back in about 30 minutes. He stated that we had a ‘situation’ and I interjected with, “what can I do to help the situation and make it more palatable or acceptable? I’m willing to write a statement because I don’t want you to lose any sleep and placate your emotions because I love you and I love the church; whatever I can do to help”. Then Bishop said, “Thank you man for your spirit! Listen, don’t write anything yet-I’ll have my “PR” people to call you and help you with your statement to be sure we are all on the same page and so we don’t open anything up any further”. He thanked me for my kind spirit again and hung up. I never heard from Bishop Blake or his “PR” people. The next thing I hear is his YouTube webcast throwing me under the bus!
When Bishop Blake apologized on a national stage for the strong words of the “Prophet” he literally rejected the word of God!
Further, perpetuating and advocating the in- your- face actions of weakness and fleshly dominance! Now that he has done this un-godly thing, the invitation for those who practice such, has been re-instated; they are coming back with a vengeance and reprobate spirit to further invade the church even more. The first chapter of Romans says, “I will give you over to your vile affection;” which means morally despicable, physic
ally repulsive and foul. Homosexuality is an abomination!
And you mean to tell me that our Presiding Bishop finds the message and language offensive, repulsive, disrespectful, violent, unloving and un-civilized? Well, I found bringing my son to a so called Holy Convocation and being inundated by sissies, homosexuals, gays, down-lows or whatever you choose to call them – offensive! These folk are standing in the way of sinners and sitting in the seat of the scornful. Also, a mother from North Carolina wrote me and said that her 7 year old saw so much from the homosexuals during some of those after hour services: crazy colored hair and hair styles, long stiletto nails, eyelashes and makeup and ridiculously tight pants with purses (so called pouches) till the mother had to explain to her that it was not Gods way and that their behavior was sinful and that God is against them. Can you imagine coming to the Holy Convocation and having to explain how the effeminate men or homosexuals get to serve, sing, shout and dance without any correction? Listen, Ungodly men have crept in unaware and have turned the grace of God into lasciviousness – which is nothing less than a license to sin.
Jesus said, “I didn’t come for peace but I came with a sword – I came for war”. The reason the real saints of God are so outdone and upset with the apology is because they understood the message that I preached. It sounds like Bishop Nimrod whose pasturing a Babylonian church with a Wal-Mart marketing system, which cuts the price to keep the folk coming. Because of the state of the church, the Babylonian church (compromise) pastured by Bishop Nimrod, the church today in modern America tends to be easy, upbeat, convenient and compatible with the world. It does not require self sacrifice, discipline, humility; a zeal for souls and a fear as well as love of God. There is little guilt and no punishment and the payoff in heaven is virtually certain. What we now have might best be labeled “consumer” Christianity. The cost is low and customer satisfaction seems guaranteed (remember the candy man makes the world tastes good). If we were only customers of Almighty God we could be selective in our faith and reject anything we didn’t like. But that is not the idea we get from Jesus. He (Jesus) pointed us to a cross and not to a spiritual checkout counter. He said if anyone desire to come after me let him first deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it (Luke 9:23-24). Christ died on the cross for our sins and not for our satisfaction. He calls us to trust in him and then follow him with a life of self denial. In a world where the customer is always right it takes radical obedience to God to keep from buying into “consumer” Christianity.
THE STATE OF THE CHURCH
Read Isaiah 30 “Speak lies to us…” The Homosexual Agenda is Iconoclastic
Destroying the image of an icon and the veneration (reverence) of a religious movement or organization is the definition of iconoclasm. Don’t misunderstand me: the church is a hospital; anyone sick ought to be able to come. But please stay in your bed with your thermometer in your mouth and don’t take an unauthorized white jacket and go around taking other peoples temperature. That is to say: stay out of the choir, stay away from praise and worship, stay out of the youth departments and for heaven sake stay out of the pulpit, and please don’t even think about serving communion to the Lords people. There has been too many victims of sexual abuse in our church. The Church of God in Christ has been inundated with all types of sexual misconduct; from molesting boys and turning out young girls. The wicked struts when the vilest of men are promoted! The homosexual agenda is exactly what is happening – it is now working just fine in our church. They have slowly but surely changed our tolerance and now forcing our acceptance of their lifestyle; Thus, attempting to shut down the un-cut gospel. God forbid. The whole priesthood of the Church of God in Christ can be fired! For the lips of a priest should keep knowledge, and the people shall seek the law from his mouth for he is the messenger of the Lord of host. But you have departed from the way. You have caused many to stumble from the way. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi says the Lord of host. Therefore, I have also made you contemptible and base before all the people for you have not kept my ways, but have shown partiality in the law (see Malachi 2:7-9). What you tolerate you perpetuate. Babylon means compromise; when you have hot and cold coming together it causes lukewarm-ness which creates an environment for germs to fester. God hates lukewarm! Listen, when the church creates an environment for wickedness such as whoremongers, pedophiles and homosexuals (including lesbians) that is a Babylonian church.
These homosexuals have invaded our convocation to the point where people do not even reverence or respect us anymore. They not only crept in but someone boldly invited them to come in and rule, reign, serve and participate in our holy services. Our church is now a “Lesbian Friendly” “Gay Friendly” “Bi-Sexual Friendly” “Trans-Gender Friendly” (LGBT) in other words “Homosexual Friendly” church! What do I look like going into a Gay Bar and forcing them to change their environment and behaviors to suit my heterosexual beliefs and lifestyle? My message was not to the world really; BUT an indigenous message to the homosexuals that are a part of or member of our church. They are claiming salvation and hold leadership roles, serve in our choirs and praise and worship – my message was inclusive of these. I loved them enough to tell them the truth. If I were headed over a cliff (hell) I would rather someone tackle me and even bruise me to keep me from falling to my death (hell). In Hosea 4:6-9 my people are destroyed for the lack of knowledge because you have rejected knowledge I will also reject you from being priest of my people. God fires not only by death-but you can be fired and still on the job. “The elder and honorable, he is the head; the prophet who teaches lies, he is the tale. For the leaders of this people cause them to err, and those who are led by them are destroyed (Isaiah 9:15-16)”.
Finally, God was so bad in the Old Testament until Jesus has to come in the New Testament to give him a better reputation. God is sick of this lukewarm recidivistic church! Men with Identity theft issues are stealing the characteristics of women and destroying the Identity of our once great church. But trust and believe me, God being my help and strength I will not stop preaching the un-cut gospel. Just as the writing of a martyr from Rwanda was forced to either renounce Christ or face certain death. He refused to renounce Christ and he was killed on the spot. However, the night before he had written the following commitment which was found in his room:
“I’m part of a fellowship of the unashamed, the die has been cast, I have stepped over the line, the decision has been made-I’m a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure. I’m finished and done with low living, sight walking, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed vision, worldly talking, cheap living & dwarfed goals.
My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my guide is reliable, my mission is clear. I won’t give up, shut up, let up until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up for the cause of Jesus Christ. I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till everyone knows, work till He stops me & when He comes for His own, He will have no trouble recognizing me because my banner will have been clear.”
For the Un-Cut Gospel – NO APOLOGY NECESSARY!
In HIS Service,
Rev. Dr. Earl W. Carter Sr.,
107th Holy Convocation Saturday Night Keynote Speaker
Dreams and Visions II
The events (a summary in case you are clueless) of the past several weeks involving the COGIC, its Presiding Bishop and the issue of homosexuality caused me to remember a dream I had on May 15th. I shared it with a select few on facebook at the time and asked for some insight. Aside from some obvious meanings, some elements of the dream puzzle me. I want to share it here with you. Feel free to comment as you feel led to do.
In my dream, I attended the funeral for a major church leader in a black Pentecostal denomination. When I arrived at the service dressed in what I would say was the clerical garb of a bishop, the processional for the clergy was already lined up. The denomination’s new bishop was at the head of the procession and right behind him in line was OC Allen, the gay Atlanta bishop. He (Allen) appeared to be in greater regalia than the “presiding bishop”. As I approached, an assistant was sent to me. In my hand, I held two glass roses. The assistant told me to go to the back of the line and I did. Then the assistant followed me back, got in my face and said “A carry on? Really? A carry on?”. He repeated this to me several times with a tone of disappointment as if I had embarrassed every one.
Related:
Bishop Blake and the ministry of apologizing
Over 60% of the people polled on our survey of the Blake vs Carter issue, support Supt Earl Carter’s preaching. Notwithstanding, Carter used words and phrases many would call unacceptable, the truth still produced repentance and change. Only 23% said Bishop Blake was right to repudiate Carter’s message and apologize. Still, 17% felt both were right to say and do what they did.
But an IL COGIC pastor is calling out Bishop Charles Blake’s selective apology-mongering with challenges about other more serious issues Blake has ignored or failed to give an apology for while acting as Presiding Bishop. Calling the massive PR disaster “a sad day for COGIC”, Supt. Harvey Burnett elaborates on six serious issues in the COGIC that Bishop Blake has neglected to take responsibility for.
SIX APOLOGIES WE ARE WAITING TO HEAR FROM BISHOP BLAKE
#1:
Since we are apologizing or in an apologetic mood…I would like to know when our Presiding Bishop will apologize to me and the nearly 12,000 member churches and pastors for signing us on the section of the UDHR (Universal Declaration Of Human Rights) which affirms gay unions. May we remind the people that the UDHR is currently a document used to affirm gay unions and the rights of gay to marry all around the world? In fact this document is the pathway to gay rights as gay advocacy holds it, delivering gay rights to the gay community all over the world and the United States.
#2:
Since we are in an apologetic mood…WHEN will COGIC apologize for the neglect of ALL the victims of clergy and church related sexual abuse? When will COGIC apologize for our church’s failure to implement, create, or act upon a SOLID Victim’s Advocacy plan? I mean it has only been about 7 to 8 years that I have been after the church about implementing a plan to address the fallout that victims and those who have survived sexual abuse have experienced within this church. In fact, I personally delivered a topical proposal into Presiding Bishop Blake’s hands, in Joliet, IL. with a tentative agreement to personally meet with he certain church and representatives in STL. during the 106th Annual Holy Convocation (last year)…Well that meeting NEVER happened. Is there an apology for either me or more importantly to the victims and survivors for our church’s apparent failure to act since we have been so keenly made aware of the problems?
Bishop Charles Brown
LA.
We are proud that we have planted flowers in STL, gave folk blankets and haircuts and even read books to children while we were there, but what about the terrible weeds that have been allowed to grow around our victims such as those stemming from the alleged perverted actions of a Bishop from Louisiana for example whom the church has never tried in adequate council? I could name many other places and persons. They are self evident and additional information thoroughly posted on ReportCOGICAbuse.com….Are we saying that “flowers” and cleaning up neighborhood garbage is more important that these souls that have survived one of the worst type of attacks from the enemy?
In conjunction with that, I wonder and listened for additional apology to the church in general for waiting so long to openly address alleged clergy and member pedophiles and sexually immoral persons that use our name and our pulpits to take advantage of the sheep. we have NEVER apologized for the sexual immorality of former General Board Bishop JD Husband, yet alone anyone else. I know that some of those we need to apologize for have nothing to do with homosexuality, but relieving them (the offenders) from office or at least trying them in front of their accusers in an open and fair forum SHOULD be the standard. Now, shouldn’t it? Yet only SILENCE? Why???
#3:
To the issue of the message at the convocation, As our Bishop states, there were over 15 messages delivered. There was one delivered at a round-table banquet that Bishop Blake annually sponsors for COGIC Charities. The message at that banquet was delivered by a West Angeles member who openly affirms gays and their “right” to marry. I didn’t hear an apology to anyone for allowing Earvin “Magic” Johnson to speak to folk who otherwise believe that what he affirms as OK, is condemned by the church. Although we certainly love Earvin, has he ever apologized for his support of gay inclusion in the face of our church’s supposed teaching and “stance” on the issue? Did Earvin ever apologize for wanting Prop 8, the gay marriage ban of CA. approved by the citizens of CA, overturned? I still remember what he said in his call:
“This is Magic Johnson calling to ask you to join me and Barack Obama in opposing Proposition 8. Prop 8 singles out one group of Californians to be treated differently – including members of our family, our friends, and our coworkers”…. “That is not what California is about. So this Tuesday, vote no on Proposition 8. It is unfair and wrong. Thanks.
I know that’s over, (yea right) and the courts of California overrode the will of the people and the legislative branch of the system of government and approved gay marriage, but did the church ever apologize for Earvin’s support of gay marriage in any way especially since we are hailing him as a great leader among our ranks?
It seems to me that IF there is going to be apologies issued, that some of them should be based on this and things like this that the church has allowed.
#4:
The bible says:
2 Tim. 4:2 ~ Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
Now, which and whose is a greater command or commendation? The command to preach the truth or the command of men, to preach something, nearly anything, that accommodates men and their desires? What should Carter have done? Cowered to public opinion, even that of the Presiding Bishop, and the world who doesn’t care about the church or God anyway? Should there be an “apology” for a “harsh, un-compassionate, disrespectful spirit, on the part of that speaker” ?
I wonder if how “harsh” and “un-compassionate” they thought Ezekiel was when he was commanded by God to deliver a message to Israel and their leaders while laying on his side eating cow maneuver mingled with certain food and wasting away? I wonder would our church and those who agree with the Bishop’s apology tell the prophet that he was being “harsh, un-compassionate, disrespectful spirit”? So it sounds like that the “prophet” as Dr. Carter called himself, may need an apology as well, for being called names when his claim is that he was only delivering a message that he received from the Lord?
#5:
Further, I would like to know when, since a message is given or delivered under the rights of free speech in AMERICA, the land of the free, that the message needs to be apologized for. In a free and civil society when no threat was made a person, a group of individuals either based on religion, creed or anything else, would a church associate statements with
“violence against and the subjugation of any person to verbal or physical harassment on the basis of their sexual stance.”
It seems that an apology is in order for the violation of the guaranteed and protected right of free speech. Then, when I examine our church we find that this church has a history of people who have taken the church’s largest stage and have either inadvertently or purposefully said something wrong. YET the statements and presentation of a preacher, delivering a message in the pulpit is apologized for??? WHAT IS THAT???
#6:
In addition, I would like to know why Bishop Blake felt a need to apologize to a person that claims that they need nothing from the church. Andrew Caldwell, like him or leave him, has not asked the church for anything to my knowledge but for a book sale, CD sale and prayers…Why is this church in the habit of apologizing to folk who are not asking for an apology, while overlooking those whom we should REALLY and SINCERELY apologize to? According to the Bishop, it was because we “think” we have arrived when we are criticized by a comic like Jimmy Kimmel? (whom I’ve NEVER watched nor considered a source of entertainment)
COGIC Abuse Watch 
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