To file a class action law suit RE: COGIC. A class action law suite attorney who is licensed to practice in all 50 states of less is the one who can file the claim in any State listed.
This is what happened with the catholic church.
The class action L/S covered many state whereas there were victims. Believe it; It got the attention of the Head of the organization as well as many others. It is called an unlimited
action. If you have an opportunity, research the case re: the catholic church organization. Millions and millions of dollars is documented as being paid to the victims and names of the sex offender is listed. Filing this claim action law suit (for what we know concerning the coGiC) is the only way that accountability will be forced.
Every Bishop of the national and international organization is and have been aware of this problem for the last 30 or forty years. Nothing have been done.
There is no excuse. After speaking with both an class action attorney as well as the united District Attorney office.
This is possible; and encouraged.
However, all facts must be gathered, and the victim must tell their story (all minors victim parents must be present)
Get facts, plan, then work the plan; The investigators will do the rest.

The reason I questioned you regarding the documentation is not just to create a “blacklist” of ministers who offend but to determine the church’s sense of responsiblity for these offenses. If they fail to document the offense and the action taken along with the restoration plan for the offended party then I must assume there is no true effort to help the injured party, family, etc. to find comfort and healing in the context of the church. If these issues don’t come to Memphis then how do they know the state of the church? Full disclosure is necessary in situtaions like these.
I understand your comment about the “word of mouth” but I also know that theword of mouth method of communication does even more damage to the victim who may wish to remain in the church. Not only do people know about the minister but the minister’s victim. This is why the church should have an archival system that includes the incidents and the action taken against the minister along with the attempts of the church to make it right for the victim.

GCMW: Youre absolutely right. The hundreds (thousands?) if not more of cases of unknown sexual abuse by COGIC clergy over the years will not be forgotten by God. If their system is one which allows predators and criminals to find sanctuary, then the organization will collapse in God’s time. However I believe that due to the times and due to the church’s corporate culture of silence and inaction, multiple lawsuits are needed to force accountability and protect children.

Elder Jimmy, you said this:“If an elder is disciplined for something you mean that that information does not come to the district level and if necessary to the general or national level for rememdy of intervention?”

It would depend on what he is disciplined for. In either case I know of no “blacklist” whereby a member (leader or not) is identified by his/her moral history.

Elder Jimmy: “Surely, the trial of a minister (if one becoms necessary) should be a documented issiue with facts, accusations, resolutions and recommendations.”

Surely it is, and according to the process the National Secretary and State secretary would receive such copies. What I think you want to know is do those items travel with the offender? I would imagine so, BUT again I know of no master list or blacklist of individuals

Elder Jimmy: “HOw elde will those in leadership track the patterns of misbehavior or sins of those who are liscensed and commisioned by the national church.”

That sort of tracking is done on a Jurisdictional or state level. Again IF there is a masterlist that makes it to Memphis, I am unawhare of it. (I guess that’s a good thing for me) People talk rather quickly about certain failures so it’s fairly difficult for someone who has been exposed to simply show up in another Jurisdiction without being able to be tracked even if that is word of mouth.

N’Catina said: “The cause for Christ is not served when explinations are presented for why complex denominational rules prevent the swift removal of confirmed predators over the safety of His people.”

I don’t think any argument or organizational structure I’ve mentioned provides protection for “confirmed” predators. What the rules do is actually provide a way to “confirm” IF someone is a predator by an organized and rational method that does not jeapordize the continued existence of the church or other members who were not involved in the incident. So if we’re dealing with the “natural” aspects of things there are many considerations that must be undertaken, but certainly no rule I’ve stated or written about protects a criminal. That would be an overstatement and misrepresentation of my statements and the rules as I know them.

Knowing the system and what we’re dealing with I take it upon myself to create a strong system of local church and personal accountability. I think given what we’re dealing with that’s the only thing that really can be done but that sort of thing is contingent upon the local minister possessing the necessary knowledge to implement such standards and controls.

Then, this is something that is often overlooked in these sort of conversations… COGIC is set up on a faith mission concept. IE: the National church does not (usually-though there are exceptions) start, own, purchase a church for it’s members. Usually ministers start churches as they are led or directed of the Lord. Unlike many organizational churches, within COCIG the local church pays it’s own bills, sets it’s own financial goals etc and independently operates.

Now there is a prescribed way to incorporate the church but the point I want to make is that the National Church is hard-pressed to usurp it’s authority (if any) where it has not laboured.That’s the catch. Now the cynic thinks that this is intentional and a deliberately obscure way to do business. However, the facts are that this structure has never been changed (only modified slightly) since the ealy 1900’s when it was founded. Now, again people say well all that could have changed by now…I agree it should have, BUT neither the General Assmebly or General Board have undertaken to bring certain rules from the “Jim Crowe” era of thinking.

The administration of churches vary, from place to place but the central theme is what is ascribed to by denomination. The church does not prohibit administrative styles and advancements at a local District or State level. That’s where the power is. A strong and well organized local church will overcome these sort of pot-holes.

In summary, my intents were not to discourage class-actions etc. My intent is to encourage those to distinguish the difference between criminal behavior and moral failures, and be willing to pursue remedies based on what the actual experiences are.

Granted none of these things should happen under any circumstance or administrative structure but no organizational system is exempt, granted some have made the process much more streamlined. In short there is much work to do but it will take an effort across the board to get it done.

Pastor H. Burnett

The average church-goer is (or should be) interested in learning the Word of God and how to please Him, not all of the man-made intricacies behind which leadership body is to remove a predatory pastor when sex charges have been made and substatiated. The catholic church has demonstrated how excrutiatingly difficult it is for sexual victims to see predators removed (not just shuffled around) from church leadership and punished.

At this present time, if a child or any other person has been sexually assaulted by someone in COGIC leadership, where is that person supposed to go? Who does s/he talk to first? Simply put, if the church polices itself properly, the argument of whether a class action lawsuit should be raised against the denomination would not have come to be.

To make a distinction in action between alleged and confirmed criminal behavior: if abuse is alleged, remove the accused from leadership TEMPORARILY until raised issues can be either confirmed or dispelled. However, if the abuse is CONFIRMED, permanently remove the person from leadership AND pursue criminal charges with the courts to quash any additional opportunities for abuse in that church and elsewhere.

To answer your question regarding where congregants can go when bad leadership is in charge, leave the membership, and begin the process of staking out another ministry where sexual abuse among the clergy is not an issue. To stay put after confirmed abuse is known is to be a silent endorser of such.

We are on the same page as far as looking to see prosecution come upon the guilty, with the victims receiving redemption and justice. My greatest interest is seeing the redeemed of God, and those coming to salvation, have a safe gathering venue that allows for their healing and growth in God.

The saints have suffered enough. The cause for Christ is not served when explinations are presented for why complex denominational rules prevent the swift removal of confirmed predators over the safety of His people. The time has long come to make God and His people priority and to have a true beacon of light shine in this increasingly dark world.

Do you mean to say that a church as large as the COGIC does not have an archival system that documents waht goes on in it’s convocational diocese or districts? If an elder is disciplined for something you mean that that information does not come to the district level and if necessary to the general or national level for rememdy of intervention? Surely, the trial of a minister (if one becoms necessary) should be a documented issiue with facts, accusations, resolutions and recommendations. HOw elde will those in leadership track the patterns of misbehavior or sins of those who are liscensed and commisioned by the national church.

Can I assume that the structure of the COGIC does not allow for the ordination of ministers on a local church level? If I assume correctly then are not the many convocational districts with the church responsible to keep records of things that are done (normal course and incidents) under their auspices?
What happend to the information that is revealed or exposed when ministers fail morally? Is there a record of the victim(s) and the follow up for them?
Please don’t tell me that COGIC keeps records on its numerical statistics and fails to do so on issues of much more importance. I am shocked and disappointed by your report that there is no record of such incidents as you understand it.

You said,
“NO PERSON should EVER have to step into a church with a thought to whether a corrupt person will be properly disciplined for CONFIRMED AND ALLEGED sexual offenses”

Sister we are on the same team here and I agree that these things shouldn’t happen AT ALL. However, there is a VAST difference between CONFIRMED and ALLEGED sexual offences.

I personally am aware of cases that members CONSTRUCTED to start a scandle on the Pastor. That was an alleged violation that certainly brought about irrepairable (sp) damage to the ministers name and ministry BUT wasn’t guilty in any sense of the claim.

What type of “disciple” should be levied upon the innocent?

So your dislike for the “institutionalization” of the church is understood, but what is the alternative? Simply throw out ever pastor for any accusation that comes forth? That’s not prudent or healthy.

I say investigate, pursue legal, ethical and moral remedys available and I believe that God will allow the truth to come forth either way.

For non-criminal offences the church should have maybe the first opportunity to correct the wrong. So I see the argument for that but if we’re talking about criminal offences, follow due process without regard…at least that’s my suggestion.

Thanks my friend for your questions. You asked:

1. Does COGIC require its member churches to keep records or documentation on any type of sexual abuse charges whether true or false?

To the best of my knowledge, this is not a requirement under any rule or regulation however it is prudent to do so and advisable in order to know who is in ministry leadership, eliminate abuse of the people and to minimize financial liability. I think you are also asking are these types of records kept in Memphis (hdqts)…I am unaware if any such records exist.

2. If it exists, does this paper trail lead to any form of law enforcement or applicable government agency?

I think this question rests in the answer to question 1. I still think it best that each person should pursue legal remedys through their respective local law enforcement agencies. Have criminals arrested and prosecuted like anything else.

The key here is that Pastors going to jail is just not a good PR move for the church. IF the church is only interested in PR as has been suggested, then I say prosecute the bunch when there is a problem or certainly pursue legal remedy. That may be oversimplified, but that’s the best statement against these criminals and those who through silence support criminal activity so far as I’m concerned. Listen the less criminals in the pool of leaders THE BETTER!

1. Does COGIC require its member churches to keep records or documentation on any type of sexual abuse charges whether true or false?

2. If it exists, does this paper trail lead to any form of law enforcement or applicable government agency?

To that end, this is among the very reasons why society-at-large has such a disdain for “the institutionalized church” and has abandoned it. The gross level of mistrust in the “us versus them” scheme of things has been turned completely upside down. It’s now become an institution where the violated are subjected to additional harm, through no fault of their own, and are stuck navigating a purposely difficult process for justice and redemption few congregants will ever know. NO PERSON should EVER have to step into a church with a thought to whether a corrupt person will be properly disciplined for CONFIRMED AND ALLEGED sexual offenses.

Until COGIC, and other “religious organizations” do what they KNOW TO DO absent all of the mind-numbing, man-made rules, I call for its collapse.