Reporting on clergy sexual abuse in the nation’s largest black pentecostal denomination is not an easy or enjoyable task. But because denominational leadership has repeatedly failed to enact their own policies on the issue, we have to continue exposing not only the careless attitude of leadership, but the criminals who continue to prey upon the weak and innocent in the Lord’s church. People should be reminded that if your leadership will not take measure to ensure the protection of your children at church, then you should know that they will …

It happened almost 25 years ago, but the wheels of justice finally caught up with Prince Wilbert Woolfork of Owensboro, KY.  Even after the rape was reported in 2007, Woolfork had remained an active pastor for a full year in Kentucky First Jurisdiction until his resignation. The Associated Press reported that a grand jury reached the verdict on Jan 30 giving the man a 20 year sentence for first degree rape.
A grand jury has indicted a former western Kentucky preacher on charges that he raped a teenager nearly 25 …

On November 7th, COGIC Presiding Bishop Charles Blake held a forum where he handed out a paper with proposed changes to the current sexual abuse policy. According to the church about 1000 people received the handout entitled “The Church of God in Christ’s Continued Stand Against Sexual Misconduct”. Read the proposed changes [pdf]. While one news outlet reported the changes were adopted, no such vetting and ratification occurred. As it stands, they are only proposals.
Supt. Harvey Burnett reviewed the proposed changes calling it “good and bad news”.
In our opinion, here …

This story has been updated with additional news. Scroll to the bottom.
Reporting these types of stories brings no joy, but must be done because the COGIC leadership has not gotten the message that sexual abuse and immorality among its clergy is rampant and the foot dragging must stop. When asked about the website we set up to monitor and advocate for victims, Bishop Blake told a Memphis reporter, “Brother Foster has a flavor of the year he usually focuses on. His flavor this year is sexual harassment and sexual …

Several COGIC clergy sexual abuse trials have reached the courts. Two have been concluded, two are yet to be tried. Here are the updates:
1. Maryland – A woman who filed a 100 million dollar civil lawsuit against COGIC as a result of the case of former Elder Tony Malbrough. Marlbrough was convicted and sentenced to 10 years in prison. A judge dismissed the case because the woman did not show up in court. No reason has been given for the woman’s no show.
2. North Carolina – The families of …

Bishop Charles Blake on yesterday responded to questions from a Memphis reporter about sexual abuse in COGIC and ReportCOGICAbuse.com.  As usual, church officials continue to obstinately deny the obvious.
The Presiding Bishop told the Commercial Appeal the “attention” given the site was out of proportion. He called the 30 odd cases cited on the website “allegations” which didn’t reflect on the “hundreds of thousands” of COGIC clergy.
Bishop Blake erroneously called the information on ReportCOGICAbuse.com “allegations”. The overwhelming majority of the clergy sexual abuse cases cited on website are not …

Today, I will be a guest on the Thaddeus Matthews Show which airs 5pm eastern on KWAM 990 Memphis.
I dont have the call in number but Im sure it will be given out numerous times should you want to weigh in with question or comment.
You can listen live at www.kwam990.com or at www.thaddeusmatthews.com (scroll to bottom).
Here’s the interview in its entirety. Thanks to Thaddeus Matthews for the opportunity to share our concerns.

The saga continues. According to the COGIC’s public relations spokesperson, Presiding Bishop Charles Blake will reveal for the first time his aggressive new clergy sexual abuse plan. And just in time for Holy Convocation.
Deidre Malone told Memphis Commercial Appeal that Blake and the church have been working on this plan for “more than 15 years”, but refused to divulge any details. We can only hope this is not another layer of church bureaucracy which will impede justice for future victims.
That would mean that the church has known about its clergy …

In a revealing interview published online by Charisma Magazine October 15th, an official with the Church of God in Christ said he was “offended” by portions of the clergy sexual abuse website which exposes sexual wolves in his denomination.
Apparently responding to the charges of cold silence and inaction directed at victims of clergy sexual abuse by COGIC leadership (which we have proven many times over),  Elder Derrick Hutchins, Chairman of the General Counsel of Pastors and Elders told the magazine,
“That’s the part that I really find offensive,” Hutchins said. “Because …

If mediation fails, the Church of God in Christ will be facing its first public civil trial on sexual abuse October 16 in an Asheville, North Carolina courtroom.
The saga begin with the 2007 conviction of Leonard Smith, a longtime COGIC music minister. Smith was sentenced to 16 years in jail for sexually abusing young boys. A plea bargain spared him a longer sentence. Smith’s accusers said that jurisdictional and national church officials were informed of the crimes, but did nothing. Hence, the civil suit.
Smith may be in jail, but the …