“I started ministry in 1988 and it was through his wisdom and counsel that helped me set it up properly,” said Greenlee, founder of New Higher Heights Church. He and Bishop Flunder took me under their wing and allowed me to network with the right people – he was my pastor and a man of incredible wisdom and council.”

New Higher Heights operated under Hawkins Love Center Church Umbrella and he was instrumental in the process of their first church recording in 1993 – serving as producer of the project.

Other pastors under Walter Hawkins umbrella ministry.

A couple of years ago, church leaders —especially African American ones— were all up in arms about “the downlow”. A great deal of it seemed to be a knee jerk reaction to JL King’s inglorious book about the subject. Several Pastors hurriedly wrote books denouncing it. Sermons on the downlow (npi) started popping up on Sunday mornings, but a lot of it was church laff-a-palooza. Now, it seems to have passed and all has returned to normal.  But has anything really changed and has the downlow went underground in the church? Hardly. But now I question why there was so much hype in the beginning? Was it just a opportunity to sell books and make some money? Certainly, with all the secret (or not so secret) homosexual immorality going on in the church, one would think a plethora of ministries would have been birthed in the wake of these revelations. But don’t trouble yourself looking too hard.  Ministry to men and women struggling with homosexuality —secretly and openly— is just as barren in predominately African American churches as it was before the downlow craze.

Pastor Michael Stevens of University City COGIC in Charlotte wrote a book called Straight Up: The Church’s Official Response to the Epidemic of Downlow Living [source]. Of his book, Stevens says:

“Tired of the homosexual agenda trying to “soothe our conscience and level of tolerance,” Stevens fires back with a hard-hitting, in-depth look at the emotional, spiritual, and psychological damage this “nurtured” disease is having on the very core of the black family—the male seed. He adamantly pushes forward on this controversial subject because “we must deal with a disease that is invisible with no symptoms of potential threat or current characteristics of existence.”

Stevens also points out that “for every deception and myth, there is hope and healing.” He offers a four-step process that begins with acceptance, followed by repentance, avoidance, and confidence. The detailed plan, he is sure, will help men walk out of the double lifestyle into a new life full of straight living.”

I’m not singling out Stevens only using him as an example. He does say a lot in the video which is debatable. For instance, he veers off  onto feminine men in the church but honestly downlow men arent considered overtly feminine. That would thwart the whole idea of being hidden and secretive and certainly “heterosexual”. But I digress.

Another book called “Deliverance From The Down Low: Deliverance For Men Who Sleep With Men But Profess to be Straight” by Pastor Gary Williams came out about the same time. Here’s another sermon on the subject. Despite the pastor’s self admonishing “preach boy”, its fairly shallow.

So does the church have an answer? The answer? Yes and no. The church needs to acknowledge first that it is part of the problem as well as part of the answer. Stevens says it takes mentoring, modeling and molding to reduce spiritual recidivism among homosexuals who leave that lifestyle. I agree with Pastor Stevens, discipleship (Matt 28:19) is our command. It includes teaching, training and modeling right living in brotherly relationships. But if the problem is as severe as he says it is, why isnt the answer as prominent as the problem? Maybe I’m missing something, but I didn’t see anything addressing the problem at Pastor Steven’s church. The men’s ministry is well…typical. See it here.

The real solution to the downlow isnt a book (which downlow men most likely didnt read), or a fiery sermon about how downlowism is ruining the black community and church (alone, its not). The real solution is out in the open, long term ministry. The other solution for those who think secret sin (that’s all the downlow is) should be tolerated and accepted, is a good old fashioned house cleaning.

Actor, comedian, author, and radio personality Steve Harvey made an appearance on the Trinity Broadcast Network’s (TBN) show, Praise the Lord.  Airing May 11th, 2010 with Paula White as the host, Harvey talked about his book, “Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man.” He specifically discussed the “90 day rule.” This rule tells women to put a man on probation before giving away any “benefits.” Harvey went on to state that he knows that the Bible says a person should wait until s/he gets married to have sex and he agrees with that whole-heartedly.  But he states that since people are not going to wait until marriage to have sex, they should at least wait for 90 days.  Paula White wholeheartedly agreed with him and didn’t correct him at all!  The crowd laughed in agreement.  The Bible warns us in Jude 18-19, “How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.”

First, this interview is disturbing because it takes place on Christian television!  It would have been somewhat acceptable if it were aired on a secular station or radio show.  The nature of Harvey’s statement would have been more understandable and expected.  We as believers could have just passed his statements off as worldly wisdom with a roll of the eyes upward.

Secondly, his statement boldly goes against the Word of God. God doesn’t grade sin on a curve.  He doesn’t look at certain situations and say “…ok I’ll let you slide by on that one because you can’t help yourself.”  This is a prime example of cheap grace.   God is a holy God.  The Word says, “Be ye holy for I am Holy.” (Leviticus 11:45).

Harvey’s book may make some good points for women. But is his book’s wisdom of God or earthly? James 3:15 says, “This wisdom descendeth not from above, but earthly, sensual, devilish.” The book my offer some good advice for women to follow, but telling them they can’t abstain from fornication is earthly, sensual, and downright demonic.  His advice is within the guidelines of the world system. Godly wisdom within the kingdom of God falls under James 3:17 which says, “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy, and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.”  When a person walks in the wisdom of God, they will first be pure, have good fruit.  The good fruit a person shows from abstaining from fornication will manifest as two parts of the fruit of the Spirit:  longsuffering (endurance and patience) and temperance( having control or mastery over one’s desires or passions).

The ironic part of this interview was Harvey began to sound like the serpent in the Garden of Eden. He basically tells others what the Word of God says and agrees with it, “Abstain from sex before marriage!”  But then slyly adds, “hardly any Christians keep the Word of God anyway.  So since we all know you’re not going to abstain, its okay to do it…just wait 90 days until you do.”  He speaks as if the Word has loopholes in it. These types of comments are just like those of the serpent when he told Eve that she would be as gods (Genesis 3:5) deciding for herself what is good and evil instead of leaning on understanding of the Word of God and keeping His Word. This type of nature is rooted in Satanism. Aleister Crowley’s, Book of the Law states “Do as thou wilt, is the whole book of the law, which means I can do as I please and I don’t have to line up with the Word of God.” Even in Anton Lavey nine satanic commandments of the Satanic Bible, the first commandment is that Satan represents indulgences instead of abstinence. First Thessalonians 4:3 states, “For this the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication.”  The key word is to abstain from fornication, not to indulge in fornication by giving a man sexual benefits after a 90-day probation period.  This is outside the will of God.

One may ask Shofarsound what is the big deal? It just fornication! God understands I have needs that must be met.  Everybody in my church is having sex and they aren’t married.  They still sing in the choir.  They’re preaching.  They’re teaching.  They’re still serving on the usher board. Does that mean you follow the broad road to destruction (Matthew 7:13)? If everyone jumps off the bridge are you going jump also? I don’t think so!

Biblical View on Fornication

The Old Testament viewed premarital sex as a capital offense against one’s future spouse. This was unlike the Gentile nations that condoned premarital sex. The Greek word for fornication is porneuo, which means to act like a harlot, indulge in unlawful lust of either sex, or practice idolatry – fornication. Fornication is idolatry, because that person you sleep with isn’t your spouse.  You’re bowing down to get in the bed with your idol instead of obeying the Word of God.   It is idolatry when an individual places a person they’re consistently fornicating with over the Word.  First Samuel 15:23 states, “stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.”

That person you’re sleeping with is an idol in your heart and it is evident that the Holy Spirit doesn’t reign supreme in your life. Every time that person calls you jump up and run to him/her.  The next thing you know, you’re in the sack.   The Holy Spirit calls out to you in order to lead and guide you into all truth.  That person means no good for your spirituality.  Instead of listening, you turn a deaf ear to the voice of Godly wisdom.

First Corinthians 6:18-20 says, “Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? know ye not your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”   Our body is the temple of the Holy Ghost. When you fornicate you desecrate your temple.  You sin against your own body. If you continue in the sin of fornication you will die.  Romans 6:23 tells us that the wages of sin is death.  You may eventually earn a sexually transmitted disease that attacks your physical body.

Fornication Destroys the Soul

Sexual sins destroys the soul (Proverbs 6:32). The Greek word for soul is called psuche, which derives psychology study of the soul. Your soul is made up of the intellect, will, memory, emotions, and imagination. First example your involve in fornication, Your intellect or reasoning will tell you that you’re in love with him or her so its ok to have sex before marriage.  You essentially rely on your own understanding instead of the Word of God.  Secondly, after you intellectualize being in a sexual relationship your will is given unto your carnal desires. Thirdly, you will have memories of the good and bad things of the illicit relationship. Why do you think someone can be in the act of intercourse with one person and call out another person’s name? It is because the soul connection of the memory is still there.  The person is comparing their present sexual experience with a former.  The fourth example is the emotions.  You develop the emotion of bitterness.  Because of your memory, you remember all the bad relationships you had in the past.  A person develops bitterness and emotional detachment. So when man or woman of God comes to you, your’re damage goods from all the bad relationships you had in the past.  You’re unable to make that godly connection. Lastly is the imagination.  The enemy uses the imagination to keep sexual perverse thoughts in your head and to prevent you from being obedient to the will of God.

So whether 90 days or 20 years, if you’re not married you need to abstain from fornication. We all must keep in mind that fornicators shall not inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9; Galatians 5:19-21). Ecclesiastes 12:13 says, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”  Keep His commandments and the Holy Spirit will give you keeping power to overcome the devil, the world, and your flesh.  So will you listen to the Word of God or Steve Harvey?

BET gospel writer Torrence Glenn who attended the event, gushed at the opportunity to praise Williams in his recap writeup:

So to hear that a more traditional and pentecostal church such as New Life, pastored by Bishop Eric Figueroa was inviting him to their church was a shock to me. Being the Tonex fan that I am, I decided that although it was short notice, I had to go! (Yeah, I don’t stop supporting people just because it’s not popular to. Not my style.) Once I arrived at the church on Monday night, I tweeted that I was there and MORE than a few people asked me to recap it, so here goes. (I originally intended just to go for myself, not necessarily to cover but I realized that more people than me were interested in seeing/hearing what Tonex had to say.)

After the offering was taken and a guest choir sang a song, it was time for Tonex (or Minister Anthony Williams as he prefers to be called as a minister) to preach. He was dressed in a full liturgical preacher’s attire. He had on a navy blue robe with a light blue panel. VERY traditional. Before beginning to preach he sang a piece of Karen Clark-Sheard’s worship song, “God Is Here.” And when I say he sang it, he SANG IT!

That’s about it and as expected from people who devalue sound doctrine, the message (whatever it was) is sidelined in favor of performance techniques. to With all the false teachings Anthony Williams has spewed out in the past, Glenn ignored that to obsess over something else.  The musicians weren’t falling over themselves to back up Tonex on the organ, etc.  Read it for yourself:

“This may be my personal observation/opinion but it seemed the musicians on duty weren’t very willing to help or follow as the sermon came to it’s climax. I understand that some preachers don’t like accompaniment when they preach and many  musicians will wait until the preacher instructs them to play for him/her instead of just flowing with it. Better safe then sorry I guess is their thought process. But this was a totally different thing. There were moments where Anthony had to tell them the chords to play and they hesitantly played the chord and then just stopped. (Imagine if someone told you to pick up a piece of paper and you did and just put it down instead of doing something with it.) It was as if they needed to be told every little thing to do. It was odd because they were seasoned musicians who “know church.” But I may be wrong, this is just my opinion, but it felt like they had to be forced to participate in the closing praise experience that followed Anthony’s message. So to all my musicians, if you feel some kind of way about who’s preaching, get off the instruments!”

If you’re not familiar with what Glenn is having a problem with, let me explain. In the black church, particularly pentecostal ones, when the preacher shifts into a certain sing-song cadence of speaking (heading towards the “climax” of his or her message), the musicians are expected to jump in and match them in intensity. Here’s an example here (listen to the music). One would think that with a self professed homosexual preaching, one would not be caught up about what musicians were or were not doing. But such is the shallowness of today’s church goer. The musicians may have not initially wanted to participate in another man’s sins, but they too probably got caught up in the pentecostal histrionics of Tonex.

Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep thyself pure. 1 Tim 5:22

Who’s Bishop Figueroa?

Let’s try to sort out all the connecting names so that no one is slighted.

Glenn admits all this is somewhat surprising since Figueroa’s church is known as “traditional”. According to Glenn, Figueroa’s daughter who sings background on Sunday Best show, tweeted the news out like it was Bishop Mason returning from the dead. Traditional?

Another source told GCM Watch Figueroa is mainly known in the New York area.

“When I lived in NY years back I’d see his name and his church’s name a lot in the main Christian newspaper which I used to receive monthly, taking out large ads advertising their various events convocations, etc. He might not be that well known nationally, but in NY black church circles he seemed to command a lot of respect from various other well known churches, leaders, bishops, etc.”

Figueroa’s Myspace site says he was consecrated a bishop in the Church of God in Christ International in 1998 and currently serves as bishop of the New York “jurisdiction” of said denomination.  This is not the COGIC Intl headquartered in Jonesboro, AR.  This particular strand of COGIC breakaways has its headquarters in New York and primarily sprang out of the famed Institutional COGIC headed by the grandfather of Monique Walker. Its now headed by Bishop JC White, a former member of the Institutional Church.   White has not made any public statements about the appearance of an openly homosexual minister in one of his churches.

So what do we make of all this? The same as we have been saying many times before. We are in the midst of a great falling away where the so called church is becoming a habitation of demons, unclean spirits and every unclean work. But guess what? They all “love the Lord” and gonna “get their praise on” no matter who says what.

And I heard another voice from heaven saying, ‘Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities’” (Revelation 18:4,5).

h/t:Paul

Well, welcome to 2010 and the brave new church without God. Or Christ. Or the Holy Spirit. But lots of pentecostalism.

I was sent this flyer below by an individual on the UPPC’s listserv about their upcoming meeting. I noted that it included the usual gaggle of false prophets and court jesters gospel music minstrels. There are a couple of newly minted false prophets in the mix.  Added to the lineup this year: Hezekiah Walker’s ex-wife Evangelist Monique Walker [TBN video]. Ex-wife Walker has been trending gay church every since she and the now Bishop Walker were divorced after accusations of homosexuality surfaced about the ex-husband Walker. Walker was in Atlanta at one point to “preach” at the “85% gay” (the pastors words to CNN) Tabernacle Baptist Church.

The bigger impact of events like this actually come through the transference of spirits.  Its the people who fellowship with homosexual churches and then track those same spirits back into other churches who are not aware of their associations. But then again in the new Godless, Christless, Holy Spirit-less church of today, who cares about people committing sexual sin? That’s Old Testament stuff that’s now scientifically out of date not to mention misinterpreted religious legalism /sarcasm off/.

One of the guests was Dr. Eugene Rivers,  who self identified as Bishop Blake’s Chief Policy Advisor. We’re not sure what policy he is advising the bishop on, but nevertheless that’s his title. Dr. Rivers was discussing a rather interesting  Huffington Post article by Eddie Claude Jr, declaring the black church was “dead”.

Then, this statement towards the end of the article:

But where are the press conferences and impassioned efforts around black children living in poverty, and commercials and organizing around jobs and healthcare reform? Bishop Charles E. Blake Sr., the presiding bishop of the Church of God in Christ, appears to be a lonely voice in the wilderness when he announced COGIC’s support of healthcare reform with the public option.

Speaking of reform

Supt Harvey Burnett of Peoria, IL, who wrote a comprehensive victims advocacy plan for COGIC questioned why no one was asking Bishop Blake about his reluctance to enact a victims advocacy program for the denomination.

As Bishop Blake is hailed for his humanitarian service, we must also ask why has there been no action within the Church Of God In Christ to institute any resemblence of a victims advocacy program to help the church minister to its own hurting victims of clregy sexual abuse and misconduct? Dr. Rivers claims this area is a “legally complicated issue” and offers his own version of why the church is doing what it is doing and approaching the subject as it has been.

Rivers says that Pastor Burnett has made an “excellent point”. But then he calls the issue of victim’s advocacy “legally complicated.”  Listen to the conversation here. It begins about the 13:44 mark.   Dr. Rivers says that he is “privy to a lot of the discussions”  in regard to sexual abuse issues in COGIC.  Speaking to Pastor Burnett, he says, “I would love to reach out to you…” before Sharpton tells his assistant to get the information.   Its strange that although Burnett was clear that his perspective was about victim’s advocacy, Rivers didnt even utter the word “victim”. Intentional?

Incidentally, Al Sharpton himself was drawn into COGIC’s Sherman Allen sexual abuse case when lawyers for the plaintiffs filed a motion to have him testify as an expert witness on clergy matters. The defense fought against it, fearing Sharpton’s presence at the trial would draw unwanted media attention. The case was dismissed in February.

Read Pastor Burnett’s blogpost challenging Al Sharpton is raise the issue with Bishop Blake.

“Rev. Dr. Martha Simmons, Creator and Director of The African American Lectionary. During a Feb. 18th 2010 interview with Santita Jackson on Chicago’s WVON 1690 She appeared along with Dr. Brenda Wade who we will feature in another article. Dr. Simmons stated that not only does the bible not address the issue of sexual orientation, but the word which many people claim that was used to address this issue (Gk: arsenokoites) was a word of unknown origin and meaning and was allowed to creep in later translations of the bible. She stated that this word was defined by scholars as 1- sexual behavior or 2- sexual orientation. She says that most biblical translations only refer to homosexual sexual behavior not homosexual orientation.”

Simmons started the AA Lectionary, a type of topical sermon bank for black preachers. Judging from the gaggle of liberal,  black liberation theology activists she highlights there, I wouldn’t spend ten seconds looking for sermon material to preach in church.

We are increasingly having to deal with the slithering teachings of people like Simmons (shown with homosexual bishop Vickie Robinson) who are importing false constructs into the church. Simmons’ doesn’t derive her conclusions from any honest and legitimate study of God’s Word, but rather hers is a mixture of religious and social ideology.  As we have said before, its a major error in judgment and exegetical analysis to determine that silence equals consent and approval in the scriptures.

Thus, Simmon’s argument is nothing more than a contrived strawman. The issue isn’t, nor will it ever be, whether the bible addresses sexual orientation. The issue is a vain attempt to circumvent with worldly wisdom, God’s creative intent for human sexual expression. The fallacy of the argument can be proven with a logical application to a host of contemporary issues that are not expressly mentioned in biblical texts.  But any true student and lover of the Word knows that the logos is infused with a supernatural ability to transcend time and culture.

Dunamis Word blog explains in much more detail why Simmons is being patently disingenuous in her attempts to justify homosexual behavior. Its odd how these so called religious scholars resort to such triteness of thought to convince people to believe against the will of God. Common sense would tell you that if a person has wrong feelings, it will produce wrong behavior. Homosexuality as evidenced 100% of the scriptures which mention it, is without doubt wrong behavior.  If you allow God’s word to correct wrong feelings, motives, thoughts at the root of your wrong behavior, you’ll live a life pleasing to God.

Where the term originated. Homosexuals used to be called homosexuals who had a “sexual preference”. They found out that didn’t work.  As a minority seeking more power and  needing wider social acceptance,  a more potent political identifier which deleted the idea that their behavior was a choice was concocted.  So, it was changed it to  “gay and lesbian”. Gay and lesbian was easier on the ear and opened a political and social door closed to “homosexuals”.  This self identifying metamorphosis has been adapted by pedophile and polygamists too.

As gays and lesbians gained the political clout they needed to affect laws and social mores, other sexual minorities took note and clamored for some of the power sharing. A new term was needed to include  everything not yet discovered in the pandora’s box. Hence, sexual orientation.

So the term sexual orientation is a fairly new etymological offering which has evolved to include a conundrum of sexual malfunctions outside the normal scope of male-female covenant relationships.   Advocates claim a person’s sexual orientation is “fixed at birth”.  But what’s very interesting about the sexual orientation theory is its selective application. While homosexuals and lesbians swear by it, they are still unwilling to include pedophiles. It was only in recent years that the “transgenders” got into the power circle after accusing the gays of hypocrisy.

What the bible says about our identity, emotions, thoughts and feelings
The bible says a great deal about our identity, emotions, thoughts and feelings. But all are oriented in respect to right relationship with God. In other words, with God as the source of right wrong, we learn what is and is not acceptable to him even if it involves the intangibles of our lives.

Jesus told his disciples that it was evil thoughts and motives which defile people causing them to act out what was on the inside, thus “defiling” him. Mark 7:15 There is nothing from outside a man that, entering into him, can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.

And He said, “That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: all these evil things come from within and defile the man.” vss 20-23

Look closely and you’ll see homosexuality.

Hebrews 4:15 – Our feelings matter to Christ, but only as identity with us in the struggle to overcome temptation and sin.

2 Cor 10:5 Any thought, feeling or vain imaginations,  when in contradiction to the supremacy of Christ  must be destroyed.

Jeremiah 7:24 Acting on one’s wrong feelings and thoughts are evil and cause a person to go “backward, not forward”.

Therefore if ” sexual orientation” is based on how one feels about themselves, Jesus and the bible significantly condemn any feelings, thoughts and actions which lead a person into ungodly activity.

What’s the intent of the term’s current usage?
The introduction of the phrase “sexual orientation” marked a watershed moment in our society. Finally homosexual activists and their allies had something in which they could conveniently insert just about any feeling or sexual behavior and call it “orientation”. It is an intentionally broad term because of the growing expressions of perversion needed a home and this provided it.

Planned Parenthood tells teens that “sexual orientation is the term used to describe whether a person feels sexual desire for people of the other gender, same gender, or both genders.”

The conventional gay wisdom is that you are what you feel. And  no one can tell you what you feel is wrong for you. Typical postmodernist relativity stuff. As I asked a young gay man once who vigorously asserted to me that since he “felt” gay from the age of two, it was proof he actually was gay. I asked him if he’d felt like a pig since he was age two what would he be right now? Its silliness that doesn’t even qualify as logic.

You might be astonished to know that this type of shallow, illogical relativity has literally become “scientific” evidence upon which laws in this country are passed.

What implications does it have on the church?

Its dangerous and unbiblical for the church to adopt and include terms as “sexual orientation”. If the concept is biblical, then there is only one legitimate sexual orientation. God created man and oriented him sexually, emotionally and relationally to the woman. Thus any other attraction, emotion, feeling, behavior or the likes is illegitimate as it is rooted in fallen sinful nature.

Inclusion of such destructive terms continue to set the church at odds the divine plan of redemption. If sin can be justified with clever new phrases and “scholars” who sanctify the clever new phrases what will be the church’s message?

If our core message is not that man is hopelessly degenerate apart from the repentance and remission of sin, what is it that we will be teaching and preaching. Self help? Im ok, youre ok? All you need is a hug?  No! Our core message is what distinguishes us from every other religion because it is the express reason Jesus Christ came, suffered, died and rose again. If we allow outside influences to dilute or change that message in the slightest, we stand to lose our identity.

On February 2, the 236th District Court judge dismissed the case against the church in the Sherman Allen trial. In a rather stunning (and brief) ruling Judge Lowe granted the church’s motion for “evidentiary summary judgement and motion for no-evidence summary judgment”. Click graphic for larger version of the judgment.

The ruling left open the option to appeal. Attorneys for the plaintiff will appeal the case. The case had experienced multiple delays as motions were filed back and forth and ruled on. Darian Kelley, husband of the plaintiff said that he was “shocked” at the ruling. We hope to have a fuller interview with Mr. Kelley in the near future.

In the second trial overseen by Washington State’s King County Superior Court,  four women had sued COGIC, Inc. for 10 million dollars. The church settled the case out of court for an estimated 1.6 million dollars.  GCM Watch was told the case was settled literally right before it was about to go to trial. The money had to be paid within 60 days of the ruling.

Sources close to the case from Washington told us that the national church footed the bill for the entire judgment but “loaned” part to the jurisdiction headed by Bishop TL Westbrook.  Washington State churches (about 25-30 in number) would be responsible for repaying some $650,000. But the “assessment” has caused some controversy among local pastors. According to our source,  “Bishop Westbrook believes COGIC should pay the debt not the WA Jurisdiction.  Most of the churches in WA are incorporated.  Although he disagrees he still assessed the credential holders in his jurisdiction.  People are very angry and some refuse to pay.”

The man at the center of the case Pastor Charles Smith is now deceased, but here he is in 2007 denying everything to a news reporter.

Related stories:
Sherman Allen abuse trial date looms

Enoch Perry III is a man on a mission. A dubious one no doubt, but a mission nonetheless. He’s lethal against people who accuse COGIC leaders of sexual abuse because he used to be a judge so he is keen to how the “system” works. Currently, the seemingly unbridled sycophant is pulling the Church of God in Christ into legal, moral and ethical quicksand. But the top brass in COGIC apparently like him and his advice. So our job is to document the proceedings as a witness to such reckless folly.

Perry has been COGIC’s chief behind-the-scenes architect of sexual abuse “policy” in the last few years. He’s navigated church leadership though numerous legal waters with ubiquitous ease, donning different faces depending on which court room he happened to find himself in. In November 2009,  when Bishop Charles Blake dropped a bombshell announcement that his denomination spent on a yearly average $800,000 to settle sexual abuse claims against the church,  he actually thanked Perry for his cacophony of supporting distortions.

But Perry does have one major fear. He fears the media connecting the dots to the sordid events perpetrated by sexual predators in COGIC (44 and counting) and like the current Catholic church debacle,  putting all the dirty business on NBC nightly news, FOX, ABC and other outlets. To that end, he tells COGIC pastors to keep attention away from sexual abuse cases.

“Media coverage of any sexual oriented event and the church will have a negative slant. The pessimistic coverage will have a direct impact on the overall public perception of the church involved, its corporate body and its membership. Additionally, this negativity will directly affect new membership and outside donations.”

Perry is still miffed at the excellent reporting the Dallas Observer did on Sherman Allen which led to a reopening of the case and a potential PR nightmare for COGIC.  In his deposition, he called blogs who reported the story “gossip rags”.  The problem was the reporting on real facts threatened the flow of donor money the church was getting from corporations. And who cares about victims when money is at stake?

If anyone ever doubted that COGIC leadership has an intentional strategy of  diversion on clergy sexual abuse cases, perhaps this is the smoking gun.  And all of it can be attributed to the devious counsel of Enoch Perry. His heartless crusade to paint victims of clergy abuse out of the picture or as “problems” for the church is evident in this presentation given to the church’s “General Assembly” last November. You can read or download the 16 page presentation here.

The above statement is so dizzying that we have to break it down so that you see its elements. Notice that Perry pitches media coverage, not the crimes committed by clergy, as the church’s “vulnerability”.

Perry: “Media coverage of any sexual oriented event will have a negative slant.”

The negativity doesn’t come because the media invents it, it comes because a grown man sexually violated a young woman or a young man. Perry’s perspective helps the criminals look like victims of media bias rather than the lowlife criminals they really are.

Perry: “The pessimistic coverage will have direct impact on public perception…”

Why label coverage as “pessimistic” (meaning  seeing the worst in a situation) when it is the actions of sexually deviant leaders who are causing the “pessimism”?  And just what does Perry expect the secular media to say or think about a church who claims to be the “greatest church in the world” with preachers raping boys and girls? Is there something positive in this we are missing? This is just another way of saying that COGIC’s “name, image and assets” must be protected at all cost, including at the expense of victims.

Perry: “This negativity will directly affect new membership and outside donations.”

There’s the money quote. The BIG reason why COGIC must keep clergy sex abuse cases quiet. Translation: Keep up the lies and charade in order to fool people into thinking that all is well. If we let the media find out we have sexual predators in positions of authority people wont join and money wont come into the church’s bank account. After all what’s more important than keeping the money flowing and deceiving people on the outside of the church? Perry should be arrested for encouraging such blatant deception when people’s lives are in the balance.

The numbers game

Pastor Harvey Burnett took a look at the numbers and came to some conclusions that are almost unbelievable. Stay with me on this.

“He (Judge Enoch Perry) reported that in over 100 years, there have been 20-25 processed cases of sexual misconduct. He stated statistically the numbers are significantly small; however, there should not be one case among us. Judge perry reported there has not been one successful lawsuit against the church; cases have either been settled or dismissed. He further stated that Bishop Blake supports the church’s zero tolerance policy against sexual misconduct.” ~ [2009 COGIC General Assembly Minutes Pg. 2 Para. 2 parenthesis added]

Later, Presiding Bishop Charles Blake remarks included the following:

“Presiding Bishop Blake thanked Judge Perry for his remarks regarding the church’s policy in relationship to sexual misconduct. he pointed out that, on average, the church spends about $800,000 to settle legal matters many of which have to do with accusations of sexual misconduct. (Who made the comment? and that one singe lawsuit has the potential to bankrupt the church.)” ~ [2009 COGIC General Assembly Minutes Pg. 3 Para. 2 as it is in the minutes]

Now it seems to be somewhat of a disconnect. How can a settled lawsuit be unsuccessful when $800,000 on average is paid toward the settlement and legal matters regarding it? According to Perry’s numbers,  this would mean that about $16,000,000 to $20,000,000 dollars (almost $200,000 per year over 100 years) have been paid out to adjudicate matters of this kind and this is only from the national church perspective. I believe these numbers don’t even begin to tell the real story however, because the fact is that it has been documented that over the last 20 years there have been over 35 visible cases of clergy sexual misconduct and abuse among COGIC clergy. Some of these cases were highly publicized and ended in incarceration.

If we condense even Perry’s numbers (which are more than likely understated) into the 20 to 25 year period of time in which we can document publicized cases of abuse and misconduct, that would mean that the church has paid an average of approximately $1,000,000 per year toward the adjudication of sexual misconduct cases. Remember this is $1,000,000 per year of national report and auxillary fund dollars collected and paid to defend and or settle sexual abuse, misuse, harassment, and other sexual misconduct cases.

If you find this at all disturbing, its because it really is. The “presentation” given by Perry to the denominational leaders encouraged duplicity, equivocation, and unethical if not downright illegal activity among so called holiness leaders. Maybe they are already used to operating this way, that’s why no one has called for his resignation. Per the presentation, victims of clergy sexual abuse can expect to receive no mercy, no compassion and no help from Church of God in Christ leaders which is just another reason why they really should drop the “God in Christ” from their name. Perhaps a more suitable name  would be Church of Name, Image and Assets (CONIA).

Other stories on Enoch Perry:
Under oath, COGIC legal counsel Enoch Perry makes stunning admissions
Surveying COGIC’s “justice system”

“Why Dodge the Sex Question?”  Is Sexual Immorality Destroying the African American Community?
In November 1929 Rev. Adam Clayton Powell Sr. (pictured) published a series of sermons on sexual perversion. Powell claimed sexual perversion was steadily increasing in large American cities, particularly among women and ministers.  During this time many Black men and women left their spouses for members of the same sex.  Powell stated that homosexuality was one of the powers that debased a race of people.  It also caused a rejection of familial responsibility that held the black community together and therefore, made it a viable political entity.  He further went on to state that there was an increase in the number of black ministers who placed their own desires for personal gratification, prestige, and wealth over the interest of their congregation.  Having a sense of entitlement was at the root of homosexuality[source].
Rev. Powell instituted sex education classes in his church taught by medical doctors.  To his critics Powell replied, “why dodge the sex question?”  He stated that ignorance was the reason so many diseases spread. Didn’t Hosea 4:6 say, “…my people are destroyed for the lack of knowledge?”

Almost sixty years ago the late Harlem US congressman Reverend Adam Clayton Powell Jr. wrote an article entitled, “Sex in the Church.”  Appearing in the November 1951 issue of Ebony Magazine, the article first spoke about the need for sex education in the African-American Church.  Revered Powell told a story about an unidentified pastor’s grief over the death of his handsome and talented personal male assistant. Powell described the funeral of that of a scene out of Arabian nights with a lavish spread of flowers and a very expensive coffin.  But what Powell found most disturbing was the preacher’s quavering voice, tear soaked eyes and shaking body.  The pastor even attempted to leap into the casket!  He went on to write that the minister’s broken sobs were those of someone who had just lost his lover. As it turned out, the two had been involved in an unnatural relationship for a number of years and the entire congregation knew about it.  Today this “man of God” is one of the most powerful and respected Negro pastors in all America.  The preacher Powell was referring to was Detroit Prophet Jones (James Francis Jones) and his longtime companion James Walton.  Jones was said to be very flamboyant and exhibited feminine tendencies.  And he himself admitted that he lived differently from other men!

Powell Jr. was absolutely right when he said there was a need for sex education with all the homosexuality that was taking place in the Black Church.  However, Powell Jr. was no saint either.  He committed adultery on his first wife [source]!

Adam Clayton Powell Senior and Junior had timeless messages that are still relevant today.  If we fast forward to the twenty first century we see the rampant homosexuality that is taking place in the gospel music industry.  We hear more and more about sexual abuse cases, mega-superstar preachers committing adultery, down-low brothers and all other sorts of sexual perversion.  What happened to holiness and sanctification?

Our church leadership has failed in the area of promoting sexual purity and standing on the principles of God’s Word when it comes to this subject.  For the most part, they have been muted from speaking out against immorality across the pulpit.  There are pastors who will look away at the immoral lifestyle of their talented singers, preachers, and prophets.  As long as they draw a crowd and bring in money, they will choose to believe that God is endorsing their sinful people.  They love prophets that ”prophet lie” and  prophesy blessings, instead of the truth.  Isaiah 56:10-11 says, “His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. Yea they are greedy dogs which can never have enough and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.” They won’t bark out against the sexual immorality that is taking place in the four walls of the church and it brings a reproach on the Church of Jesus Christ because of the hypocrisy.

When God gave Moses the Torah, it just wasn’t just a book of arbitrary laws.  It was a book of instructions for the nation to live by and to be separated unto YHWH.  It taught the people to be “sanctified in their own sexuality” and to not take on the sexual practices of pagan Gentile nations. Leviticus 18:3 says, “After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do: and after the doings of the land of Canaan whither I bring you, shall ye not do: neither shall ye walk in their ordinances.” The entire chapter of Leviticus 18 was dedicated in instructing Israel to abstain from unlawful sexual relations and to follow the Torah.  In short, it educated the nation of Israel on “sanctified sexuality.”  This made the nation of Israel very different from any other nation at the time because the Gentile nations had no sexual boundaries.

Here in the United States a whopping 78% of Americans identify with being a Christian.  But it seems that a lot of Americans are not practicing what they profess they are.   Are we really practicing Christianity or are we practicing Satanism?  As Christians we follow what is said in 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5, “What God wants is that you be holy, that you keep away from sexual immorality, that each of you know how to manage his sexual impulses in a holy and honorable manner, without giving in to lustful desires, like the pagans who don’t know God.” Are Christians that don’t abstain from sexual immorality really Satanist by de facto?  The first commandment of Satanism is  indulgence instead of abstinence and this promotes self indulgence of the flesh. 

The United States boasts the highest percentage of professional evangelicals in the industrialized world.  According to polls, 46 percent of Americans consider themselves to be born-again with the highest percentage in the African-American community at 59 percent[source].  However, America has the highest percentage of single parent homes, the highest abortion rate, the highest sexually transmitted diseases rate, and the highest teenage birth rate.  Isn’t it funny that one in three Americans or 90 million people  claim to be born-again[ source]?

Sex education is most needed in the Church!   We just can’t depend on the federal government or school system to teach sex education to our children.  Its taught from worldly point of view, and not from the standpoint of the Word of God. Even adults within the Church need to be taught the disciplines of sanctified sexuality in the context according to the Word of God.

Planned Parenthood is not a viable options either to teach sex education to the church. They teach kids that masturbation is safe and healthy and that using condoms is way to practice safe-sex.  What they fail to tell you is that a person can contract a sexually transmitted disease (STD) through skin on skin contact and not just the exchange of fluids. The group also teaches that if a person can’t practice abstinence, than s/he can use lower risk activities such as: manual stimulation, mutual masturbation (phone-sex, cybersex, etc.), erotic massage, kissing, body rubbing, or oral sex[source].  Abortion is a tool for birth control, and to eliminate unwanted pregnancy.  Planned Parenthood definitely does not promote the biblical-based teaching that God created sex for the enjoyment and confinement of marriage between a husband and wife.

 Has sexual immorality devastated the Black Community?

Does the Black Church need sex education?

Has the Black Church been impacted by sexual immorality?

Part Two of, “Does the Black Church Need Sex Education” will examine these questions.