I got a little something on the way.

Which of course they NEVER acknowledged.

Hope you blog about that. Whatever they are attempting to conceal, it must be pretty substantial to stoop to this level of dishonesty.

Thanks for the encouragement. You said: Enoch Perry author many of these polices but yet COGIC isn’t following their own procedures.

Enoch hasn’t authored anything! Enoch has cut and pasted info from other sources and I personally sent his office a packet regarding how to resolve these problems and never received a response in any form other than his posts “mysteriously” appearing.

The bible says this:

Prov. 28:13~“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.”

The New Living Translation spells it out a little more exactingly:

Prov. 28:13 ~ “People who cover over their sins will not prosper. But if they confess and forsake them, they will receive mercy.”

If these Saints want mercy all they need do is repent and say they’ve messed this thing up and it needs to be overhauled. That’s all. Some would rather die with things like they are rather than switch and assume that God is going to make it all right in spite of the wishes of the people. HE can do anything but he honors free-will and many of these are freely choosing corruption at the expense of the Saints.

That’s the sad part. When you get so overwhelmed with your sin until all you know is, “How many members you got doc?” there’s something wrong! This is one preacher that IS NOT impressed by that mess in the least bit.

I feel all the “new” programs and events (including the move to STL) set up by the PB are just distractions to keep the members from knowing what is going on.

Yet, God is not fooled. Bishop Blake should take a cue from the king of Nineveh and call for repentance.

I’m sorry I’ve been somewhat busy and not able to chime in on this. THIS IS A MESS!

Elder Perry OUGHT to be ashamed of himself! In no short sense. This is ridiculous.

WHAT is a “National Sexual Misconduct Cmte” and who is Melvin Williams and Gerald Harris? WHAT, WHAT WHAT???

I’ve been a part of this organization for almost 30 years and have never been made aware of such a committee. In addition this violates any and all structure of an investigative committee as you point out.

To Perry and designated “rag” watchers…,

You should know that the Spirit Of The Lord is against all liars and they shall have their part in the Lake Of Fire. This is ridiculous. Allen was yo-boy and you might as well fess up! Trying to backtrack and say that the relationship was so loose that there was no responsibility for his actions at the national church level is nothing more than smoke and mirrors. Just like a Blue and Gold card for $500 to $2,000 per year with no retirement or other benefits attached…SMOKE and MIRRORS!

We are sickened by cover ups and political wrangling and MOST importantly SICKENED by making the business of the church more important than the PEOPLE of the church. Your actions are not what Christ died for, nor did he leave any of you in this position to do what you’ve done and allowed and tried to cover. From the molestation at All Saints college which was settled for an undisclosed amount out of court, to that dealings of Sherman Allen to that of other reinstated criminals and pastoral molesters who serve in General Board member’s Jurisdictions…WE ARE TIRED of coverups and unethical and unrighteous dealings.

I may be nothing to you. I am but smaller than a blip on the radar, but my name is known in the heavenly council and I shall stand with or without you, not as a superior righteous one, but as one who has my sins forgiven and lives as a blood washed servant of Christ.

Elder Foster, keep this “RAG” going and continue to point to the inequity and sins that must be repented of IF this people is to find the truly significant place in Christ that belongs to us. Some of us, Pastors, Supt.’s and Bishops wholly agree that sin is sin and we must repent, not in word only but in deed.

Supt. Harvey Burnett

A church which bases itself on a house of cards cant expect to stand.

The pentecostal/charismatic affiliated movements do play fast and loose with structure and order perhaps at their own detriment in the weightier matters. Glossalia, praise, and all of the other external identifiers of pentecostalism seems to have eclipsed the real need to deal with serious matters of criminal behavior, sexual malfeasance, and dishonest practices among professed Holy Ghost filled folk.

I still believe that if you cant have common adherence to what the Bible says, its stands to reason you will not follow your paper trail of procedures, policies and regulations.

I will admit I have some (but limited) knowledge of the denom. I have done a lot of reading about all pentecostal churches for many years. It is a great interest of mine. I also collect manuals of some of these churches. Somoen may certainly know more than I. Perhaps Elder Burnett can add or correct info.

I agree with you, given the egregious nature and rise of sexual crimes against children and women in the church, its almost a common sense approach to have a universal sexual abuse policy and require that any church wanting to join or any new start adopt it. Further all existing churches should sign as agreeing to the policy.

Perry even says (page 19) “…all churches who become part of the Church of God in Christ, they agree to be governed by the rules and regulations of the church”.

(This, btw severely contradicts him saying that “everything in COGIC is voluntary”. Those two statements are at opposite ends of each other.)

Why wouldnt the “rules and regulations” be inclusive of the sexual abuse policy? Why is it seemingly the only regulation local churches can or cannot obey?

Per the document (ppgs 43-44):

Attorney: Is it your understanding that every employee is to receive a copy of this Employ– excuse me, this Sexual Misconduct Procedures, and to sign and acknowledgement that they have –fully understand with respect to the policy and the practice of the church, and they’ve received a copy of it?

Perry: This was designed specifically–as was the handbook– designed specifically for employees at headquarters. And what transpired was that they thought it was a good idea, and we start making it available to anybody and everybody that wanted to use it as a model to model in their jurisdictions and in their local churches. But initially, it was designed for headquarters and headquarters alone. If you read carefully, you’ll find that the process in this book is relegated to the National Sexual Review Board if there’s anything that transpires at headquarters. But essentially, this was just a model to be used by everybody, if they desired to use it.

Attorney: So essentially, it was not intended to go beyond Memphis organization –

Perry: exactly

Attorney: –area, and you designed it –or it was designed for that limited purpose?

Perry: exactly

Attorney: And what Im hearing you say is that if churches within the organization chose voluntarily to adopt it, that was their decision, but it was not mandatory?

Perry: exactly

So again, if churches agree to be governed by the rules and regulations of the COGIC, why were they exempted from the sexual abuse policy which is clearly a “rule and regulation”?

Also you have to understand why Perry is attempting to dissasciate the national church from local churches. If COGIC national has a connection, then they are liable for what happened with Allen. But Perry’s answers are stumbling over themselves in trying to play a lie on two ends.

Regarding obtaining a copy in this case, a deposition, once filed with the court, becomes public record. Copies can be obtained by contacting the overseeing court or clerk. Be prepared to pay.

How does the COGIC’s governmental structure compare with other large Pentecostal denominations, i.e., Assembly of God, Foursquare, etc?
Do they (AOG, etc) have more control over their local churches and pastors?
Also, do they have formal sexual abuse policies that apply to all their churches?
How can I obtain a copy of the deposition transcript you mention? I’m sure that there’s a lot more in in that COGIC members and leaders should know about. (This is quite disturbing)

It only makes sense to me that ANY large organization (church or otherwise) would have a strictly enforced sexual abuse policy in place. So(just to clarify), the policy COGIC published a couple of years ago was only a “suggestion”, meaning “optional”, not a mandate?!! COGIC appears to be treading on a very slippery slope!