Category Archives: African American
CA COGIC lawsuit alleges unusual sex demands by pastor
**an exclusive report**
Report COGIC Abuse has obtained a copy of the civil lawsuits filed by two California women against a former Administrative Assistant to Bishop George McKinney, Southern California 2nd Jurisdiction.
The twin 28 page lawsuits names COGIC, Inc., Donald K. Barrett, his wife Ruth Barrett, So California 2nd Jurisdiction, Greater Gospel Center COGIC, New Directions COGIC and DOES 1-50 as defendants. Among the charges cited in the 1st suit are Assault and Battery, Intentional infliction of emotional distress, fraud and constructive fraud. The 2nd suit alleges assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence, breach of fiduciary duty, physical abuse of a dependent adult and financial abuse of a dependent adult.
Sadly, the Barrett case represents yet another unseemly blight on the reputation of the nation’s largest black pentecostal denomination. In 2009, COGIC presiding Bishop Charles Blake admitted to the church’s General Assembly that on average COGIC annually pays out almost 1 million dollars to settle sex abuse cases [source]. At the crux of the problem are male leaders who use their authority, influence, talents and at times brute force to rape, molest, and sexually devastate men, women and children of both genders. The problem is fairly expansive involving every level of leadership the church has in place. Additionally, COGIC clergy sexual abuse cases have been cited in 29 different states. See more here and here. Denominational leaders have not been aggressive in dealing with sexual crimes committed by clergy and in many cases have turned a blind eye. Recent developments still show an unwillingness to tender justice to victims via a more comprehensive victims advocacy policy. Instead, the church has an ineffective institutional policy advising churches on how to protect themselves.
What the suit alleges
The women who filed the lawsuits against Barrett allege that he coerced them into sexual relationships after one woman went to him in late 2009 for counseling and revealed to him that she had been sexually molested as a child. Ingar Jones’ complaint says that Barrett ensured her that COGIC, Inc was “in the business of protecting victims of sexual abuse, (2) that they intended to protect her from abuse and (3) that they could be trusted with the details of her most intimate and private matters relating to past instances of abuse. She alleges that Barrett further ensured her that he had extensive experience in helping victims of childhood sexual abuse. After she confided in him, she alleges Barrett informed her that she would have to “have sexual relations with another female parishioner, while he watched, in order to overcome the emotional issues caused by past incidences of sexual abuse.”
Some time later, another female member of the church was brought into the situation and at locations both on and off church property, Barrett engaged in sexual activity with the two women. The two women allege that Barrett forced them to perform lesbian sex acts while he watched. Over the course of a year, the woman alleges that Barrett became increasingly controlling and abusive. According to the suit, this culminated in September 2010 when Barrett punched and choked her while calling her “dyke” and b[expletive]. This resulte
d in “not less than $25,000 in injuries to the woman’s neck and torso”.
The lawsuit further alleges that after the fact, Ruth Barrett attempted to get them to sign a statement of release from liability signifying that she was aware of the crimes her husband had committed and was complicit in her attempt to cover it up.
According to additional court documents, the second woman, Barbara Harris (identified by California law as a “dependent adult”) was also a sexual abuse victim as a child, a victim of rape and at some point attempted suicide. Harris first met Barrett at his church in Harvey, IL where he served as the pastor. Harris’ suit further alleges that through blackmail and intimidation, Barrett forced her to make him her representative payee for her Social Security Disability Income. According to her complaint, Barrett refused to give her money until she gave in to his sexual demands which including going to “sex clubs” with him, and arranging “sex parties” for him. When she refused to participate one time, Harris alleges Barrett struck her in the face with his fist causing a bloody nose. he further threatened to call child protective services and have her children removed and call have her Section 8 housing revoked. Barrett told her that if she ever came forward “nobody would believe her and he would take all necessary steps to publicly discredit her.”
Washing hands of negligence?
COGIC has in several cases allowed sexual abusers to “walk away” from the denomination and continue on with “ministry under another name. Barrett, if proven guilty will be another example of this. Barrett was allowed to continue pastoring and using COGIC’s name and image without the denomination ever disclosing what they knew about him. This is the “negligence” that both lawsuits allege against COGIC, Inc and Southern California 2nd.
Barrett represented himself as an authority and an expert on sexual abuse recovery but like most abusers likely used that as an avenue of legitimacy to ensnare his victims. The Barrett case contains all the classic signs of clergy sexual abuse: intimidation, threats, force, deception, charisma.
If you are someone you know has been victimized by a member of COGIC’s clergy, dont remain silent. Silence allows abusers to continue their pattern of deception with more victims. Often, they will not stop until exposed.
Crossposted at cogicabusewatch
Church members walk out on progay black pastor
This is really incredible for several reasons.
1. This is a United Church of Christ, one of the most pro-homosexual “Christian” denominations in the country. The UCC has folded into its ranks the likes of lesbian bishop Yvette Flunder, former Obama pastor Jeremiah Wright and false teacher Chuck Currie. In short, the UCC has become home to every sort of spiritual freakiness known to man.
2. It shows that African Americans STILL are adamantly against homosexuality even if they are in liberal churches.
3. The pastor’s arrogance and ungodly stance took a righteous blow. If we could get church members to do this everywhere a progay trending pastor raises this ugly proposition, it would send clear messages to keep their affirming doctrines of devils in the closet.
The entire story (be careful of progay media spin) from the Washington Post. Incidentally, the ONLY reason the Post, via the progay Religion News Service, ran this story is because they wanted to drum up more cash for the hireling minister.
A small Minnesota church is finding out the high cost of standing up for same-sex equality — as well as an unexpected lifeline from the very people it decided to support.
When the Rev. Oliver White voted in favor of the United Church of Christ’s endorsement of same-sex marriage in 2005, 72 percent of his predominantly African-American flock at Grace Community United Church in St. Paul couldn’t stand with him.
The UCC’s 2005 vote, he said, was “the beginning of the end of many UCC churches.” Predominantly black churches like his suffered the most, he said, because the black community “was, and still is, very homophobic.”Because of White’s vote, his church developed a reputation of being a “gay church” and people stopped coming. And stopped giving.
“About 25 percent of the congregation did not come back the following Sunday, and it gradually went down from there,” said White, who is African-American. “Almost immediately we realized that we were hurting financially.”
The Post goes on to say that a white, homosexual UCC church in Dallas sent the pastor $15,000 but its not enough. For his thoughtless act of betrayal of the word of God and God’s people, he should be churchless. It also goes to show you how the gay christian cash cow is at work attempting to compensate those who help them prop up their dead lie.
Portsmouth OH mayor rejects gay marriage invite
Citing his biblical beliefs, the mayor of Portsmouth, Ohio quickly rejected a homosexual city councilman’s invitation to join a gay rights political group and set off a developing war of words. But dont be fooled, black leaders who won’t skin and grin like Sharpton and Jackson are hated by agenda-driven gays. Remember Mayor Osby Davis in Vallejo, California?
According to the Portsmouth Daily Times, Kevin Johnson sent Mayor David Malone an email telling him to get on board the gay marriage train but was met with quick and stiff resistance. Johnson wanted the mayor to sign onto a gay marriage support statement simply because other mayors had done so.
“The Mayors for Freedom statement reads, in part, “As mayors of great American cities, we proudly stand together in support of the freedom of same-sex couples to marry. We personally know many gay and lesbian people living in our cities who are in committed, loving relationships, who are active participants in the civic life of our communities, and who deserve to be able to marry the person with whom they share their life.”
Instead of passively bowing down before the homosexual community’s sacred idol, Mayor Malone responded with resolved dignity and truth.
“Keeping this response very short and to the point,” Malone wrote. “Being that I am a minister of the Gospel and the BIBLE emphatically forbids such, there is absolutely no way that I will support this. Although this is your preferred lifestyle, I have the utmost respect for you as a person and the things you do for the city, I cannot support what God calls an abomination.”
Contrary to popular belief the gay marriage mayor’s group only represent a miniscule amount. Out of 317 cities and towns in Ohio, only 8 mayors have signed on. The national group has only 100 out of thousands of cities and towns across the USA. The real anger should be directed at another case of gay-incited bullying. Threats against mayors and public officials are on the rise, but its inspiring to see a man of God exalt God’s truth above his public office.
Johnson replied later that he was writing to Malone, the mayor but received a response from the “right reverend Malone”. As we have stated before, homosexuals want everyone and everything to change, except them. The mayor is indeed a minister but in their matrix world, he has no right to be who he is. People of faith who oppose homosexuality should not have to leave their beliefs at home, hidden in a back room closet as if it were an old pair of gym shoes. With public trust in political leadership at an all time low, being honest is an admirable trait in a public official. Unfortunately, homosexual activists like Johnson demand that officials who oppose homosexuality because of their faith go against it and deny something intensely important to them.
GCMW applauds Mayor Malone and his courage should inspire other public officials.
Gay christian logic is recycled ideological garbage
Using black social inequality in America as a comparison to legitimize homosexual sin is a signal tenet in the agenda of religious gays. In all actuality, they can’t help but parrot the political agenda of their secular counterparts. The entire gay christian movement with its attendant off-shoot sects is little more than the gay political movement in heavy religious blackface. Don’t expect any revelation (although they claim “God is still speaking“) because they are fresh out and the truck wont be in for another millennia. GCMW found the perfect example of what a recycled lie looks like from a gay christian site called “The Great Heresy”. Since it has Anthony Venn-Brown’s name stamped everywhere, we’ll assume he’s the author.
The Great Heresy’s recycled premise, in simplified form, is this:
Since the “church” was wrong about the shape of the earth and wrong about black folk, then (brilliant minds began churning at this point) viola!, they are wrong about gays too!
Before we get started, let’s look at what heresy is. The reason you have to look at classical definitions when dealing with homosexual theology/ideology is because they redefine EVERYTHING their uncircumcised hearts latch onto. Everything.
So in simple terms, a heresy is willful deviation from the truth. To qualify truth as being the standard of what is being deviated from, you must include that God is not only the source of truth, but he is truth personified in Jesus Christ (reference John 18:38).
In his commentary called Once Heresy now Truth, Venn-Brown treads a familiar gay christian path of tangled logic, convoluted theory and self-serving conjecture. He states five points where in his estimation what was once considered heresy (using his surreptitious redefinition) is now truth (using his surreptitious redefinition).
1. Once Heresy now Truth —The world revolves around the sun. The churches [sic] previous position — The earth is the centre of the universe.
VB argues that four centuries ago, Catholic and Protestant leaders rejected scientists like Galileo who said the world revolved around the sun.
An overarching problem with VB’s statements is his attempt to position “the church” as the source of truth, when its not. The church is comprised of people who admittedly do engage in error. And if “the church” were the source of truth, VB would have a valid argument. But the church is not the source of truth it is a conduit of truth. And while the conduit may indeed be in error at times, the source is never in error.
His first unspoken parallel is that the sun revolution around the earth is a moral/sexual issue. Its not. Its good that science has clarified that the world revolves around the sun, but even if it didnt it would not alter biblical truth that homosexuality is sin.
2. Once Heresy now Truth —White and black are equal The churches [sic] previous position —White is superior, black is inferior.
In this argues that the beliefs of white religious slave owners aka “the church”, were wrong about the color of one’s skin making one inherently superior or inferior. And guess what? They were wrong. Those slave owners used scripture not only for moral justification of their wickedness, but as a way to continue the cash flow off the backs of slaves.
The unspoken parallel is that skin color and sexual behavior are one in the same. They are not. Skin color is an immutable trait, while sexual behavior is fluid and changeable. In short, a person can choose to have sex with anyone they desire. Actress Cynthia Nixon was whipped mercilessly by the contemporary keepers of the white slave owner flame for stepping out of line on that issue.
Moreover there is no legitimate science to the oft repeated theory of being born gay. The fact that scientific evidence is even needed to prove the “born gay” point is ridiculous. Why do you even need scientific proof of such a thing.? One only need look at an African American to see the obvious sans “scientific evidence”.
3. Once Heresy now Truth — Two people who love each other should marry no matter what colour their skin. The churches [sic] previous position — God separated the races therefore they should never marry.
For his third ideological prooftext position, Venn-Brown hauls out the “two people loving each other” meme. Notice the sleight of hand here. A man and a woman has magically become “two people”. He had to redefine to make his argument sound plausible. And remember he is soliloquy-ing his was to his climax, so these layers of lies are intended to reprocess your thinking for the big “a-ha” moment.
VB writes” “The last states in the US to remove the law that banned interracial marriage were in the ‘bible belt’ (the area in which conservative Christian Evangelical Protestantism is a pervasive or dominant part of the culture)…Finally when two people of different races fell in love they were allowed to marry. The oppressed were set free.”
4. Once Heresy now Truth —Men and women are of equal value and worth. The churches [sic] previous position — men are superior, women are inferior.
Per Venn-Brwon: “Up until the middle of the 19th century, most Christians had a pretty clear understanding of the role of women. It was all there in the bible. To be a good Christian woman you had to dress and behave in a certain way, your chief roles being that of keeping house, raising children, and submitting to the will of your husband.”
If VB were being truth and not superimposing a half-truth over his theories, he would tell you that this was not a Christian imposed norm. It was a cultural norm. Pretty much every one —Christian, atheist and Jew– thought the same way. So this whole argument and its intended moral is trashed for lack of honesty.
Now, finally, we have arrived at the big bang moment. Get ready, here it comes….
5. Once Heresy now Truth — same sex orientation, for a percentage of the population, is a normal expression of sexuality and occurs in all of creation. The churches previous but changing position— the Bible says homosexuality is a sin.
For his finale, Venn-Brown vomits out the most outrageous lie he can cough up. “The statement ‘the Bible says homosexuality is a sin’ is actually a false statement. It’s impossible for homosexuality to be a sin. We know from science today that homosexuality is a sexual orientation like heterosexuality and therefore it’s amoral.”
To further drive home his anticlimactic lie, he says that only “six passages out of 31,240 verses” are associated with homosexuality. So then, are we to believe that numbers confer validity? Out of the millions of false gods, deities and idols there is only 1 true God. Is then God irrelevant because he is one? I think not.
The truth is there there exists no legitimate scientific evidence proving that homosexuality is genetic. Galileo had an honest desire that was beneficial far beyond himself. The homosexuals who conducted the highly inconclusive gay gene tests admitted the tests were largely self-serving.
By using the political gay movement’s unfounded talking points to disprove God’s truth about sexual expression, Venn-Brown has proven nothing but his own foolish desire to justify to own sin. And that’s a human trick that has been recycled since the garden of eden.
PAW’s Bishop Charles Ellis in gay church relationship?
**UPDATED/Scroll down
Bishop Charles Ellis, III is pastor of Detroit’s Greater Grace Temple and is the Presiding Bishop of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World (PAW). Ellis has been lauded for many accomplishments, but could his facebook “friendship” with an Atlanta homosexual church be the bitter fruit of the false inclusion movement? Long regarded as one of the vanguards of oneness pentecostalism, the 104 year old PAW is doctrinally and biblically opposed to homosexuality. But sources tell GCM Watch that in the PAW, like most pentecostal denominations, church homosexuals are exerting behind the scenes influence which have significantly weakened biblical positions.
Its to be expected. Religious homosexual carry a deadly spiritual virus. Read about it here.
Thus, organizations like the PAW may not be aware that sin lies crouched at the door waiting to devour the ignorant. Sadly, in the contemporary church serial religious conferences of every kind, celebrity events, activities, and more hinder the shepherd’s ability to watch and warn.
We’ve reported on Atlanta’s homosexual Vision church and its pastor Oliver Clyde Owens III before. In fact, recently the Lexi show put Allen and his group of feel-good apostates on display for all to see what happens when God gives someone over to their rebellious desires.
Why then is Bishop Charles Ellis a “friend” to such an enemy of God?
Should the bishop come from among them and be separated? What signal does the leader of such a denomination send to its constituents when he is listed as if he is in support with the wicked? Its an issue that is becoming more and more serious as religious gays spread a deceptive —but inviting—table in front of church leaders. Aware saints should immediately raise the red flag when leaders began straying from God’s truth. The scriptures teach however that there is to be no association with individuals who self identify as “gay christians”.
I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 10 not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11 But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. 12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? 13 God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.” 1 Cor 5:9-13 (our bold)
Perhaps Bishop Ellis has no idea that his picture and personal facebook page is one of the supporters of a homosexual church. GCM Watch contacted Bishop Ellis’ church for a response. This post will be updated if a response is issued.
Greater Grace Temple office: (313) 543-6000
Update 2/2/12 9:00am
Although he did not respond directly to GCM Watch, Bishop Charles Ellis told a third party source (who gave us permission to post this) that he has over “20,000″ people on his facebook page and most of them he does not know. Ellis told the third party, “I don’t know these folk and have never heard of the church. Someone in my office will find the attachment and delete it.”
Its still not clear why Ellis’ personal FB page (out of hundreds of apostolic bishops) was added to this church. This situation also underscores what we have been warning the church about for sometime. Homosexual churches like the “Vision Church” are in massive makeover mode. They know the average church-goer –as biblically illiterate as some are— would never be associated with a self identified homosexual church. So they intentionally delete any language that would alert someone to that fact. Instead they opt to use ambiguous sounding language like “church where all are welcome” or instead of gay or homosexual use nebulous replacement terms like “affectional orientation”.
That’s exactly how the devil operates. He conceals or disguises his true nature to gain access to you. He will appear even as an angel of light bearing “love” and benevolence in order to get closer to you without alarming you. His message is always inclusive of all without telling you of the poison hidden in between the layers of his message. Such are the makeover methods of the gay church.
Leaders like Bishop Charles Ellis should be aware of the tactics of the enemy and not only protect themselves but the millions of people who follow them. There is really in this day and age of instant, accessible information for any leader to use the “I dont know” excuse. If Ellis was added without his permission, isnt that cause for rebuke to whoever did it. If someone on his staff administrates his FB page and added him, how did they know to add him to a homosexual church? Its highly unlikely that this was a random incident and for that reason, we are sounding the alarm.
MLK, Jr believed homosexuals could –and should– change
CNN Belief Blog reports that Martin Luther King, Jr believed that homosexuals could –and should– change. A snapshot in time recorded King’s advice to a boy who wrote to him about his homosexual feelings.
Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was writing an advice column in 1958 for Ebony magazine when he received an unusual letter.
“I am a boy,” an anonymous writer told King. “But I feel about boys the way I ought to feel about girls. I don’t want my parents to know about me. What can I do?”
In calm, pastoral tones, King told the boy that his problem wasn’t uncommon, but required “careful attention.”
“The type of feeling that you have toward boys is probably not an innate tendency, but something that has been culturally acquired,” King wrote. “You are already on the right road toward a solution, since you honestly recognize the problem and have a desire to solve it.”
If Dr. King were alive today, he would be persecuted for these beliefs by liberal white organizations like the Southern Poverty Law Center, who claim that changing from homosexuality is “destructive”.
Tale of two daughters? Bernice King here and then here.
King’s own daughter has openly taken a strong stance against gay activism. In 2005, the Rev. Bernice King led a march to her father’s grave, asking for a constitutional ban on gay marriage.
Bernice, who once attended Bishop Eddie Long’s church, announced that she would begin her own ministry after a homosexual scandal developed in Long’s congregation.
“I’m going to launch a ministry. I’m not calling it a church right now,” she said during an interview with Atlanta radio station Praise 102.5 last year. “What God is showing me doesn’t look like what people are accustomed to.”
At a conference in New Zealand, Bernice spoke about her father’s position on homosexuality saying, “I know deep down in my sanctified soul that he did not take a bullet for same-sex unions.”
