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.

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, physically 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

Is disbarred lawyer Javier Bailey speaking for Bishop Brandon Porter?

The strange case involving Bishop Brandon Porter, Supt Linwood Dilliard and Pastor Frederick Smith took another strange twist with a statement by disbarred Memphis attorney Javier Bailey regarding the matter. After just a week of Report COGIC Abuse posting the story, Porter had Smith and his church’s name scrubbed from the Tennessee Central website. See here.

No stranger to controversy himself, Bailey posted on an October 1st Facebook discussion about Smith and Porter that he needed to correct a misconception by Memphis radio host Thaddeus Matthews.

“I want to briefly correct this post. I am officially stating that Frederick Smith , nor his Church, are operating under the supervision and authority of Church Of God In Christ . Sup. Linwood Dillard is not the person that told me that. Pastor Smith admits that he is not under the authority and supervision of COGIC. It is my opinion that Pastor Smith is very distraught . I spoke with him as a fellow clergic [sic] and in hopes of some healing in this matter.”

If Linwood Dillard didn’t tell Bailey that, then who did? Bishop Brandon Porter? How can a disbarred lawyer “officially” speak for Tennessee Central Jurisdiction without the approval of its official leader? Perhaps what Bailey isn’t saying is more important than what he is saying.

A tale of two policies

COGIC seems to have a flexible release policy when it comes to certain situations its ministers are caught in. Policy A deals with those who legitimately want to transfer jurisdictions or leave the denomination because of the abuse of a bishop. Policy B deals with clergy sex predators.  Using Policy A, such cases are stridently opposed and prosecuted sometimes in civil courts. If the case involves property and money the denomination wants, they enforce COGIC “constitutional laws” with few exceptions.  Just ask Elder Ronald Stidham whose father Joshua Stidham, founded and built Emmanuel COGIC in Wichita, Kansas.

Policy B seems to cover men who are caught in sexual scandals. These individuals are given a quick release to leave the denomination with nothing more than a meaningless statement like the one above. Officials, like Porter and Dillard, remain tight lipped, adhering to Bishop Charles Blake’s mandatory silence edict unless a lawsuit forces their lips open. Sexual wolves are set free to roam as long as they drop the COGIC name. They can keep property, money and whatever else they have acquired while members of the COGIC.

With Policy B, COGIC can easily distance itself from any sexually immoral pastor. For example, when  Orlando Wallace an elder at Lakeview Community Temple was arrested and charged with aggravated statutory rape and sexual exploitation of a 15 year old girl, the church’s pastor quickly invoked Policy B. “He`s a minister, but he don`t work here.  He`s just a preacher here.” Wallace had been an elder at the church for seven years.

Although disbarred and discredited, Bailey said he still advises COGIC entities. “Finally , I do advise several jurisdictions across the nation on ecclesiastical matters. However I am not a part of the Southeast District of Central Jurisdiction. It is my hope that there be clarity and that all of your viewers and FB Friends know that COGIC has nothing to do with this matter.”, he said.

We asked how much did Porter and Dilliard know about Smith’s sexual proclivities and when did they know it. That may never be answered by the involved parties, but God allows deception to eventually ensnare the deceivers.

Bailey is the former attorney for Tennessee Headquarters Jurisdiction, where Frederick Smith was also a member in 2007.

TN Central removes New Life Holiness from jurisdictional website

Just a week after Report COGIC Abuse published the story of  COGIC Pastor Frederick Smith and allegations of financial malfeasance, misrepresentation on a legal document and gross sexual immorality , it appears that Bishop Brandon Porter has taken some action against the pastor and church.

The screenshot of the website taken before and after the report shows Smith and New Life Holiness church now removed from the official jurisdictional website which lists its member pastors and churches.

Its unclear at this point whether this action is to be viewed as punitive or evasive. Neither Porter nor Smith’s immediate supervisor Supt Linwood Dilliard (also president of COGIC International Youth Department) have made any public statements although the situation has received widespread attention. Has Smith been booted from the denomination? If so, it would seem to verify all the allegations against him.

Has Smith been put on lay low status until the controversy dies? If so, it could indicate his leaders are avoiding dealing with the obvious breaches to COGIC’s policy and doctrine.

Covering or Coverup?

How much about Smith’s sexual proclivities did Porter and Dillard know and when did they know it? Is this situation like many others in COGIC where even though leadership is aware of the serious moral and ethical failings of its pastors, they ignore it in their quest to build district and jurisdictional clout within the denomination? Or ignore it because a person has a position and can deliver emotional orations like deceased Bishop JD Husbands?

Records we found show that Smith initially began his COGIC career as a member of a district under the late Bishop JO Patterson, Jr as early as 2007. At some point, he transferred to the Tennessee Central Jurisdiction.

Serious sexual immorality charges emerge on Memphis COGIC pastor; no response from Linwood Dilliard or Bishop Brandon Porter

Serious charges of sexual immorality and possible financial malfeasance by a Memphis pastor have emerged but so far there’s been no response from the pastor’s immediate denominational supervisor nor his bishop.

Last week, popular Memphis “shock jock” Thaddeus Matthews made public information given to him about Pastor Frederick Smith of New Life Holiness Church alleging the pastor paid for numerous sexual encounters with another man.

Matthews published a profanity laden letter sent to him by church members who say someone placed it on their car windshields in the church’s parking lot. The anonymous writer alleges Pastor Smith initially picked him up and paid him $100 for sex. After that, the two met frequently for the same. Due to the graphic language of the letter, Report COGIC Abuse has chosen not to repost it.

The website of Tennessee Central Jurisdiction lists Smith and the church as members of the Memphis Southeast District under Supt Linwood Dillard.

In addition to the charges of gross sexual immorality, Matthews alleges that Smith lied or misrepresented New Life Holiness’s affiliation with the Church of God in Christ. An official bankruptcy document filed in 2012 with the Western District of Tennessee and signed by Smith identifies the church as a member of the Church of the Nazarene. But Report COGIC Abuse found a 2007 JO Patterson Memorial District Calendar  which lists Smith and church as members.

Smith’s activities became public after he filed a report with Memphis police alleging he had been robbed, beaten and his wallet stolen.  The incident happened around 930p on May 17th. Smith claimed he was at the Harbor Island Apartments because he thinking of moving there when a young black male came up behind him and struck him in the face, took his keys and wallet but not the car and ran.

Police arrested 22 year old Hezekiah Webb who admitted to the incident. Smith refused to press any charges against Webb. Webb now alleges the scuffle took place because Smith attempted to get sex from him.

Its not clear whether Smith is still operating as pastor of the church.

 

WATCH! Bishop Charles Blake KO sexual sins in WIC message

The undercover sex wolves in COGIC are NOT going to like this.But COGIC Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake deserves some much needed praise for putting the sword to sexual sins during his address at COGIC’s 64th International Women’s Convention in Louisville this past week. The teaching is masterful and befitting instruction from the office of the Presiding Bishop especially in times like these when adultery, fornication, homosexuality and sexual manipulation sins are cresting IN the church.

Not only did Bishop Blake methodically hit the biblical, moral and physical consequences of said sexual sins, he laid out factual statistics as well.
Now, if he would just do a repeat at the Men’s Conference. Watch all three excerpts below.

Your voice, your vote, your turn