In case you aren’t aware, one of the most telling battlefronts is already in full swing. That is for the hearts, minds, influence and souls of the youth. Homosexual activists have pretty much written off trying to change the older generations about homosexuality. But the minds of youth are still pliable and they are taking full advantage of that through education, entertainment and believe it or not religion.

Its a sad testament that the church is not just losing this battle, but appears to be still in the tent sleeping. While religious homosexuals are pulling out all the stops to endoctrinate young people into the false ideology that “sexual orientation” (read:homosexuality) is genetic and immutable, the church, in between intermittent cat naps, only manages to say something completely stupid like “God didnt make Adam and Steve, he made Adam and Eve!”.

The theological poison being offered by gay christian clerics should be ground zero targets in this battle, but until the church see them as enemies to the cross —not brothers and sisters in Christ— the young people of the future church are pretty much on a trajectory to eventually accept homosexual behavior as normal. You heard it here first.

In this Religion and Ethics produced video, we see how so many young people are already saturated with false teachings, they have no compass whatsoever in determining what is right or wrong.  As we saw with the Tonex interview, the battle has been cast as between people who are homosexual and the church. If there was no God and no Word, if would be an accurate casting. And the so called issues of fairness and inclusion would indeed be in play. But God is just, not fair. Or at least not how these individuals have redefined fairness.

One video subject, Joey Heath says,  “At the time I believe that it  [homosexuality] was something I needed to be healed from, and so I would pray every day that God would just heal me of this, this evil part of me, and that this would be just removed and I would be cleansed and made whole again.” [full transcript]

Joey represents many youth who are partial victims of unbalanced and/or incomplete teaching on holiness, God and responsibility. We have talked about the MMS (make me straight) prayer before here and here. Unless individuals understand that God doesn’t want to make you “straight”, he wants to make you holy, the result of such prayers will be what Joey says next.

Today, Joey says he feels whole, but he’s still gay and still facing the kind of condemnation he faced in his United Methodist church when he first came out.

“I was involved somewhat in the leadership of the campus ministry, and then my campus minister said I can no longer speak on behalf of the ministry because it’d be an endorsement of my lifestyle, which for me was devastating.”

In other words, since God didnt make Joey “straight” per his “prayer” whether sincere or not, then Joey comes to the conclusion that God wants him to be a homosexual AND then promptly recast the conflict as “condemnation” from the church. In reality the conflict remains between he and God’s Word which declares his behavior sinful and needing change.

The other very serious issue is how homosexual activists will toss out false statistics with no substantiation. Their teen counterparts have picked up on this tactic and use it. Notice in the video, the interviewer does not even slightly question Rittenhouse’s claims.

Here in New York City, 7,000 kids identify as gay or lesbian, and they’re on the streets for various reasons, and there’s definitely some religious ties to that.

Later Rittenhouse makes yet another highly emotional and controversial claim:

“They had told us all that by the end of this six weeks we would all be heterosexual men and women walking in the light of the Lord.”

If I were the interviewer, I would immediately ask who said that to you? What position did they hold? Did you go into the program because you were assured you would be a heterosexual?

But there was no followup to the remark. The reason its allowed to stand unchallenged is because it is highly emotional. And most people are being conditioned not to think critically about homosexuality but to to react and think emotionally. You’ll notice most media stories about homosexuality are emotionally charged in favor of homosexuality.

Sadly, this same mindset has infiltrated the church. Instead holding the Word of God forth as our first instinct, we think hurt, pain, anger and rejection the person may or may not have endured. And while it is a valid concern, one’s hurt, rejection, pain and anguish does not trump the call to repentance. I dont know of many people who haven’t suffered some form of hurt of pain in this world, even Christ did to a greater degree (Is 58). Offense is the nature of the world.   Should we minister to the hurt and pain of youth who are confused about homosexuality? Absolutely. But not out of emotional overdrive which could very well cloud our spiritual judgment.

Most children —through education, entertainment and online sources— have twice the amount of exposure to homosexual ideology than they do the word of God. Without any intentional intervention from Godly parents or the churches they attend, such ideology will soon become embedded in their minds. In fact if you look at any of the current slate of youth conferences held by churches it mostly involves entertainment and music but very little instruction —if any— on the issues of sexuality and moral conduct.

Perhaps the words of the formerly homosexual Pastor Purdue should serve as a guide: “They haven’t walked where I’ve walked. They haven’t been where I’ve been. While I haven’t changed my theology on what homosexuality is that I have definitely changed my attitude toward people who struggle.”

Compolo calls himself the “positive prophet of red letter Christianity”. Is that red as in cherry picking red? Maybe that’s his first major error. His bio lists a cacophony of educational accomplishments, but none of it reflected in his defense of homosexuality.

Campolo is an alumnus of, a Professor Emeritus of Sociology at, Eastern University in St David’s, Pennsylvania. He is a 1956 graduate of Eastern College, Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary (now Palmer Theological Seminary) and earned a Ph.D. from Temple University. He is an ordained Baptist minister and evangelist, presently serving as an associate pastor of the Mount Carmel Baptist Church in West Philadelphia, which is affiliated with both the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. and the American Baptist Churches USA.[1] For ten years, he was a professor of sociology at the University of Pennsylvania.

Like most of the social justice false prophets on the scene today who are bought and paid for by the gcm, Campolo’s remarks show zero originality. There’s no scholarly revelation just regurgitated parroting of disingenuous religious expediency.

Let’s take a look at Campolo’s “educated” philosophy where he emphasizes a “red letter” approach to the bible.

1. “The young people are not thinking the same as as the older people are on this.”

And that means what? We should ditch the truth of the bible to follow what “young people” are thinking?  Young people are as fickle as the direction of the wind.  I wonder if Campolo would have given the keys of his car to his 10 year old daughter because she thought 10 year olds were just as mature drivers as anyone else? This is slouchy pied piper-type pandering.  But you can do that when you limit your worldview perspectives to the words of Christ without understanding that the WORD is Christ. Provers 22:15 tells us that young people are naturally inclined to foolish thinking. Thinking that only matures with understanding God’s way over the process of time and discipline (from older, wiser people).

2. “Our love for Christ transcends divisions about homosexuality.”

No, it doesn’t. Jesus said if you (claim) to love me, you will keep my commandments. Loving Jesus means upholding what he upheld and adhering to what he commanded us to adhere to. Of course, with “red letter” thinking, that is conveniently shortchanged. Jesus brought forward more old testament commandment than anyone. He cited the law as a basis of his own judgments. His love for people never short circuited his upholding of the moral law of God. He himself obeyed it without fail and anytime it was a issue, he referred back to God’s law. In fact he even tightened up the OT law by including one’s thoughts as equally sinful as one’s behavior.

3. “Jesus never addresses this issue directly”

Well Tony,  let’s conduct a simple test to your childish logic. Your assertion is that if Jesus didn’t address an issue “directly”, then it isn’t wrong. Jesus never said anything about smoking, child molestation, beating your wife, getting high of crack cocaine, cannibalism, animal abuse, necromancy, or erotic asphyxiation. My question is when can we expect you to post your youtube video advocating for any of the aforementioned life devaluing behaviors?

4. Jesus never addresses homosexuality as one of the “big sins”.

So we are to categorize sin now in big and little columns? Where is Jesus’ “red letter” instruction on that found? And how does the big sin/little sin paradigm work with 1 John 3:4 Whoever commits sin transgresses also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law?

5.  “The church is laying incredible burdens of gay and lesbian people and then doing nothing to alleviate that.”

The old pharisee card. The church isnt laying any “burden” on homosexuals. The burden (if that is the appropriate way to describe it) is caused by the refusal to live according to ways of the Lord Jesus. The “burden” is because the way of a trangressor (sinner) is hard Prov 13:15. Following Christ is no burden at all for those who are true disciples. In fact, Jesus promised that his yoke would be easy and his burdens light. But when a person is trying to merge sinful sexual behavior with a Christian facade the only result is self imposed burdens. And the only way to “alleviate” the burden of sin is to repent and turn away from it.  Campolo’s suggestion is heretical because it shifts the responsibility of forgiveness of sin from the Savior to the church.

6. “While Jesus never speaks on same gender marriage, he does speak about the marriage of people who are divorced.”

I’d argue that statement is pure hocus pocus. A sloppy sleight of hand like a shell trick hustler on a New York street. In Matthew 19, Jesus reaffirmed via Old Testament law that marriage was only between one man and one woman. All other pairings (same gender included) were not the will nor intent of God the Creator, but rather the sinful failings of humanity. How could such an “educated” theologian and red letter hypocrite like Campolo miss this? Easy, he has an agenda to deceive people with vain babblings.

That’s enough. That was just in 2:08 minutes of the video. Imagine how many lies, distortions, hat tricks and deception this man can do with a full speech? Unfortunately, this is what the rebellious want to hear. Jesus called this “wicked and perverse generation which seek signs”. They have already predetermined that their intelligence supercedes the good and perfect and acceptable will of God.

Ian McKellen has spoken out against Britain’s new anti-pedophile database, insisting the new scheme will dissuade amateur theaters from casting children. The Lord of the Rings star fears the Vetting and Barring Scheme, which requires any adult working with children to register and submit a background check, will result in limited roles for young performers.

Adults who don’t comply face a fine of up to $8,000 and a criminal record, which McKellen maintains is unnecessary in the world of amateur theater.

He says, “People are all there for the love of it – that’s what amateur means. It’s a very family atmosphere and there has never in the last 50 years been any hint of wrongdoing, and so it’s trying to put right a problem that doesn’t really exist. If children are no longer allowed, as it were, to perform with amateur groups the loss is everybody’s.”

McKellen claims small companies are struggling to cope with the costs and extensive paperwork, adding, “There are so many people who seem to have an input into this new legislation that have been consulted, and people who haven’t yet been consulted are the people whom it’s going to directly affect.”

How silly, foolish and reckless could a person be? Pedophiles look for the least path of resistance to get to vulnerable children. Don’t hold your breath waiting for any gay leaders to get upset and distance themselves from him. After all the founder of the modern gay rights movement was the gay pedophile activist Harry Hay. That’s history you shouldn’t forget.

If you remember, several months ago McKellen kicked up atheism dust by revealing that he hated the bible so much he intentionally ripped out pages containing passages about homosexuality.

Let’s recap: Oppose protecting children from pedophiles because it will discourage amateur acting and you hate the bible so much you desecrate it. What’s next McKellen, be a spokesman for acceptance of bestiality?

J-Elijah: Jesus Loves Me to Deliverance is my Christian Hip Hop poetry ministry which emphasizes the incomparable love of Jesus Christ as the answer to freedom from sin.  I got the revelation for my ministry when I watched the film, “The Passion of the Christ.”  When Mary Magdalene watched Jesus Christ be crucified, she had a flashback.  In John 8, when the men of the town brought the woman caught in the act of  adultery before Jesus to stone her.  Jesus said, “Thou who is without sin cast the first stone.”  Instead of condemnation, Jesus showed her compassion.  In that moment, not  only did Jesus save this woman’s life, he also loved this woman with this act of intervention.  He loved her so much, that his love delivered her.  The compassion and love of Jesus can compel you to repent of your sin.

When other people hate on you, mock you, and ostracize you, because of mistakes or sins, Jesus loves you.  Jesus can love you to your deliverance. Jesus Loves Me to Deliverance could also be considered an overcoming ministry. The answer for deliverance from the down low and homosexuality is Jesus, the love of Jesus.  So my ministry is meant to empower generations to overcome homosexuality, sexual immorality, mental illness, and abuse through Jesus Christ and the
Word of God.

GCMW: Would you describe your own deliverance?

JE: My deliverance has been a process.  I am overcoming. I repented of the homosexual/down low lifestyle years ago.  In a moment, I chose to stop and turn away from having sex with the person I was with.  I haven’t slept with another person in over 10 years.  I thank the Lord for keeping me.  I choose daily to follow Jesus instead of pursuing the lust of the flesh.  Through resources like books,cd, dvds, and websites, I have gained so much knowledge and understanding which have aided my deliverance.  Supportive friends with whom I’ve been able to be transparent with have truly made the difference.  I also attended a men’s support group that dealt with overcoming sexual brokenness which was extremely beneficial and two Exodus Freedom Conferences (international conferences emphasizing liberty from homosexuality).

GCMW: Did you really want to “put your business out” for people to know your past?

JE: If not me, who?  If not now, when?  I believe if, we as Christians make ourselves of no reputation, we can be more effective for the Kingdom of God and nations could be delivered.  One of the characteristics that I most admire is transparency.  If we withhold our testimonies, how can anyone overcome?  See, after all the suffering I’ve been through in my life, I wanted to do some radical stuff for Jesus, manifest the Kingdom of God, start a revolution.  I believe it was necessary for me to “put my business out” so someone else could be empowered. Generations are suffering and no one wants to talk about it.  How much longer can we not deal with our issues?  It’s time to “prepare the way for the Lord.”

GCMW: Some Christians are opposed to hip hop/rap genre being used to represent Christ.  What’s your response to that?

JE: If you want to reach today’s generation, if you truly want to be relevant, you have to use hip hop/rap as a method of evangelism.  Most of today’s young people may not want to hear a whole sermon being preached to them from the pulpit, but they will listen to a hip hop cd , go to a concert, even memorize all the lyrics from their favorite songs word for word.  Hip hop/rap is poetry.  The Book of Psalms is poetry.  It is a powerful art form.  Poetry is a gift from God and he wants it to be used for His glory.

GCMW: Why do you think homosexuality and other sexual issues are tough ones for the church?

JE: I believe homosexuality is one of the last strongholds the Lord wants to break before the return of Jesus Christ.  It is a sensitive issue because we know people who deal with the issue, whether it’s us, or someone in our family, our church, our community.  There is so much pain with homosexuality.  Either we minister from a place of condemnation or compromise.  Condemnation nor compromise is not the answer but compassion.  Love, compassion, and truth emphasizing the mercy and grace of God through Jesus Christ will deliver brothers and sisters from homosexuality and all of it’s shame.  Everyone is not anointed to minister in this area.

GCMW: Some people think that being delivered from homosexuality is a religious fairy tale. True or false?

JE: I don’t believe it is a religious fairy tale.  The Lord can definitely deliver you from homosexuality. Remember, “With God, all things are possible.” (Mark 10:27)  “If any man be in Christ Jesus, He is a new creation, old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new.” (II Corinthians 5:17) Now, I’m not going to front with people who are in the “lifestyle” and say that they will never have any struggle and all their temptations and attractions will all magically disappear.  It can happen, but if you choose to walk away from homosexuality, it’s going to be “the fight of your life.”  This will be your cross and if your same sex attractions never go away, I believe the Lord will be honored that you denied your flesh, picked up your cross, and followed Him.

GCMW: In your youtube video, “The Down Low is Devastating,” you come at it hard.  Is the dl really that destructive?

JE: Definitely.  As I say in the piece,  devastating is the best word to describe the down low.  Not only should you ask the wives, girlfriends, and children of the men on the d.l., but also ask the men themselves.  Brothers on the d.l., will tell you that, honestly, it is devastating to them.  Its destructive in so many ways, spiritually, emotionally, and physically.

GCMW: What’s the best way for a young person to leave this [homosexuality] lifestyle behind?  Like, where does he or she start?

JE: The best way to leave the lifestyle behind is to finally become dissatisfied and fed up, like, “I can’t live like this anymore.  I’ve got to get out of this.  I’ve got to stop this.” You’ve got to be like, “Nah, I can’t do this anymore.”  Leave your partners.  Don’t answer their late night phone calls, emails, etc.  Refuse them and refuse yourself.  Want more out of life.  Know that the Lord has more for you.  He’s got a purpose that is beyond your fleshly desires.  The internet is a powerful resource.  Look up websites and books about repenting from homosexuality.  Join a support group, which I highly recommend, become part of a network that will pray for you and love you through.

GCMW: And how did you get the name J-Elijah?

JE: J-Elijah is my pseudonym for rap and poetry.  When I chose my name as a lyricist,  emcee, poet, I wanted to make sure it was spiritually significant.  J-Elijah is based on the  scriptures of Jeremiah 1:4-10 and Luke 1:13-17.  God chose Jeremiah to be His mouthpiece.  Before John the Baptist was born, the angel told Zachariah, his father, that John would go forward in the spirit and power of Elijah.  J is short for Jeremiah and John the Baptist. Jeremiah, John the Baptist, and Elijah were chosen by The Lord of Hosts to minister repentance to their generation.

Brooklyn-based Christian lyricist and poet J-Elijah has posted a new video to add some much needed perspective on the so-called “downlow”. In case you just awoke from a 10 year slumber, the downlow is a euphemism for men who [think] they are having secret homosexual sexual affairs while maintaining an alleged socialized heterosexual image. Although downlow sin knows no boundaries, it has become most identified with homosexuality.

J-Elijah, a Howard University grad, told GCM Watch the video was recorded last year while he was Kingston Jamaica on a ministry trip. I have to hand to this overcomer, he laid down some lyrical truth. Hopefully, the secret sinners will hear, take heed and turn. We’ll have a full interview with J-Elijah in the next few weeks.

He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy. Proverbs 28:13 NIV

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 abuse.”

But the facts prove clergy sexual abuse in COGIC is no joking matter.  The Memphis Commercial Appeal broke yet another abuse story early this morning. Minister Dwayne Wilson [myspace page] (pictured), 25 of St Mark COGIC in Memphis was arrested and charged with statutory rape of a 16 year female member of the church’s choir where he served as music minister.

Ronald Rolfe, the church’s pastor refused to remove Wilson from his position saying that the Bible calls for us to love and forgive.

“The word of God teaches us to forgive and to pray,” said Rolfe. “The best thing I can do as a clergyman is to extend God’s hands of forgiveness.”

Apparently, Pastor Rolfe isn’t aware of COGIC’s zero tolerance policy. Through their public relations firm, COGIC officials refused comment until they had more information [source].

Although the Commerical Appeal reported that COGIC  “has had a no-tolerance policy toward sexual misconduct since 1992, and COGIC members adopted additional policies earlier this month”, the Wilson case reveals that information is still vastly unknown to the denomation’s thousands of clergy leaders.

According to an unsourced article posted on cogic.com on November 24th, the denomination did not adopt any new sexual abuse measures. Only a small group of delegates were given an unnamed document to review and consider.

“He [Blake] then went on to discuss the Church’s official stance against sexual misconduct. Over the course of the last year, Bishop Blake has hand-picked a strong team of clergy and legal professionals familiar with addressing sexual misconduct to develop a document that details the responsibility of clergy over the protection of all members and reaffirm the official stance of the church concerning this heinous type of sexual victimization. This document was distributed to delegates for review and consideration.”(our bold)

The article snippet reflects no real sense of change, but rather more of the shell game COGIC leadership has become known for. It doesn’t even take into consideration the highly contradictory statement by COGIC’s PR representative Diedre Malone who said COGIC has been working on a clergy sexual abuse plan for over 15 years. How does that compare against “over the course of the last year” statement? Which one is accurate?

Given the serious and critical nature of clergy sexual abuse in the denomination, why is the document only issued for a “review and consideration” process? After 15 years, shouldnt COGIC have their policies and enforcement of policies in place by now. Who are the members of the “clergy and legal professionals team” allegedly assembled by Bishop Blake? Why all the continued secrecy? After all the damage done, why is Bishop Blake still acting as if this is a motion to add another pulpit seat at Mason Temple?

Will this document be made public for all of COGIC’s alleged 6.5 million members to review or is it only for the eyes of the 1000 attendees? If Bishop Blake and his team of professionals want to be taken seriously, they would be honest with the church’s members. Two sexual abuse cases are still in traction for trial so perhaps this is why there has been no measurable changes in the way COGIC appropriates its so called zero tolerance sexual abuse policy.

The victim’s father seems to speak the sentiments of  many families who have been victimized by clergy sexual abuse. You can hear the anguish in his words.

“There’s so much sexual misconduct going on in COGIC right now, and he’s right in the middle of it,” the girl’s father said. “It’s out of control.”

Additional media coverage:

WMC TV reported the victim’s father (also a minister at the St Mark’s) says that Wilson has “had one sexual relationship after another since he’s been there.” [source]

WREG with video of church members

UPDATE 12.01.09 9:12am eastern

The outrage over the Dwayne Wilson rape case continues to grow. The Tennessee Chapter of SNAP (Survivor Network of Those Abused by Priests) will lead a press conference today in front of COGIC’s International headquarters Mason Temple (930 Mason St) at 1pm to address clergy sexual abuse and openly rebuke COGIC for not removing Wilson from office. SNAP plans to:

• urge anyone who saw, suspected or suffered the man’s crimes to come forward, get help & call police,
• offer to speak to the congregation about how to respond appropriately when child sex charges emerge, and
• prod denominational officials to hold an open public meeting at the church to address the controversy

David Brown, chapter president, spoke with me last night and told me of his plans. Brown will also read a prepared press statement from me on behalf of ReportCOGICAbuse.com.  We fully support these efforts. If you are in Memphis and want to stand with SNAP and ReportCOGICAbuse, please let the church know that change must happen now.

The Rev. Irene Monroe, a gcm activist took the message as an occasion to announce that COGIC is a “gay church” [source]. I’d never heard that analogy before, but any thinking person knows that COGIC —no matter what they say— has its fair share of current and past homosexuals.

But as is the case with many on the pro-homosexual church gaggle, their complaints generally amount to a strange mix of condemnation and boomerang angst. Monroe calls McClurkin “the African American poster boy of exgay ministries.” That’s just a face value lie. McClurkin has never been involved with any “exgay” ministry let alone stumped for them. And even if he were, it doesn’t change the fact that homosexuality is not of God and McClurkin was right  to call for those dealing with it to repent.

Writes Monroe (who probably had never heard of COGIC prior to this) :

With many of the gospel music industry mega-stars from COGIC, the church’s charismatic worship style shouts to a black gay male queer gospel aesthetic every Sunday. And the church is conflicted with itself.

Unfortuantely [sic], these black gay male mega-stars are always forced to go back into the closet denouncing publicly their sexual orientation at the church’s annual convocation.

Monroe’s oversimplified solutions have never worked, unless one aspires to be a reprobate. Sadly, that’s about all she and the gay christian movement have to offer. She also cites lesbian bishop Yvette Flunder, whose uncle is COGIC general board member Wilbur W. Hamilton. Flunder allegedly wrote an “open letter” decrying McClurkin’s sermon.

In an open letter to the Convocation, Bishop Yvette Flunder, an out lesbian who is a third generation preacher with roots in the Church of God in Christ, licensed in the COGIC, and is now the Presiding Bishop of The Fellowship and Senior Pastor, City of Refuge United Church of Christ, wrote the following:

“I watched a clip of Pastor Donnie McClurkin at the COGIC Convocation Nov 11, 2009 where he used the words perversion and vampirism in reference to feminine young men and ‘evil’ butch young ladies. He suggested that the church had failed them and not been active enough in helping these young people find deliverance. He ranted against gospel artist and pastor Tonéx with regard to Tonéx’s recent affirmation of his own same gender orientation.”

Pastor Donnie knows like I know that Tonéx is more the ‘rule’ than the exception to the rule. What makes Tonéx unique is not that he is a Gay gospel music artist and Pastor but that he told the truth about his sexuality, while not claiming to be delivered,”

Sure, Tonex told “the truth”. Funny how these people conveniently redefine terms to fit their worldview. How is Tonex “the rule” and at the same time “unique”?

Monroe generously quoted from a GCM Watch story (sans attribution) to make her point about COGIC’s uneasy dance with homosexuality.

For example, “blaquebigayministers” is a Yahoo gay ministers group, boasting 787 members since July 2000 and was founded by COGIC Elder Ronald Kimbrew.  Kimbrew served as the Arkansas 1st Jurisdiction as the Assistant Secretary of the Pastors & Elders Council of COGIC from December 1996 to March 19, 2005 and his now the Public Relations Director at Greater Trinity, a COGIC congregation in Arkansas.

The “blaquebigayministers” website states the following:

“WELCOME. This fellowship is for support and encouragement especially of black Christian ministers and friends who are ‘family’ (bi or same-gender loving) and need a place of refuge. Enjoy the ‘fellowship.’

Kimbrew organized meetings of bisexual and same-gender loving COGIC ministers for most of the national meetings like Memphis Holy Convocation that McClurkin now denounces but use to take part in.

A reported following the Convocation asked “Is COGIC going to be silent while an organized culture of homosexual ministers and bishops populate its pulpits?”

The issue isnt whether or not COGIC has homosexual members and leaders. The issue is whether or not the organization will cease it selective dont ask, dont tell policy and establish real ministry for those struggling with the issue. Not everybody in church struggling with homosexuality wants to be gay, but when their painful struggles are ignored and minimized or manipulated for their talents, false prophets like Flunder start looking like good alternatives.

thanks to djenk

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 civil suit for unspecified damages names Sycamore Temple COGIC, Greater North Carolina Jurisdiction (Bishop Leroy Woolard) and COGIC, Inc. as defendants.

In many ways the trial parallels the Sherman Allen case set to start November 16 in Fort Worth, Texas.

Of the three defendants, COGIC, Inc and the local church claim to have money issues. The “national church” claims to be self insured and does not possess an insurance policy to cover sexual abuse cases. Self insured refers to organizations who in essence “pay out of their pockets” as opposed to an insurnace company paying for the legal judgments against them.

According to GuideOne, a major insurer for Protestant churches, most of its clients choose $100,000 of coverage for sex abuse. That might cost a small church with one pastor as little as $100 a year. A much larger church that also runs, say, a day-care center, might pay $6,000 to have $1 million in coverage. Religious organizations buying a lot of coverage may need to prove that they’re taking precautions to lower the risk of sex abuse. GuideOne, for instance, requires some churches to conduct criminal background checks on employees, to allow volunteers to work with kids only after they’ve completed six months of service with the church, and to make sure that no child is ever left alone with just one adult. The policy won’t cover everything. Insurers may put a limit on how much they will pay in aggregate, or for each case. (Recently, three major Protestant insurers reported that they receive 260 reports of child abuse every year.) Partly because of rising insurance costs, a small number of churches are foregoing the coverage.Source: Slate.com

Can COGIC pay up?

In a video interview released by COGIC on August 11, 2009, Blake stated that his church has invested a considerable amount of money into the church web/technology outreach. The interviewer asked Blake, in particular, about the COGIC website.

“So we’ve just pulled out all the stops. We’ve invested a quarter of a million dollars ($250,000) initially…” (5:41)Our italics.

Maybe I’m missing something or maybe Bishop Blake didn’t accurately answer the question. $250,000 initially for the website that is up now? I find that stunning considering the site is a jumbled, incomplete mess. No indication on the site of who’s doing the work, but they’ve made off like a bandit if this is what the church has “invested” the money of the saints in.

The Greater North Carolina jurisdiction reportedly has $300,000 worth of sexual abuse insurance coverage, but it is independent of what a jury may award the plaintiffs for the inaction of the national church.

A spokesman for one of the plaintiffs told GCM Watch that even after Smith plead guilty to the charges ten people including the pastor of the church Supt Samuel Payne came forward as character witnesses for Smith.

Rotten decisions are becoming fairly common now as the POTUS has scant ability to choose people of integrity to lead in his administration. That’s why I believe Obama’s presidency is a judgment from God:  an insensate given leadership reflective of the darkness of people’s hearts.

In August, Obama awarded homosexual activist Harvey Milk a posthumous presidential medal of freedom. Obama said Milk’s  “message of hope, hope unashamed, hope unafraid, could not ever be silenced.”  But Milk wasn’t murdered by a right wing, gay-hating, white male conservative. He was killed by Dan White, a fellow, gay affirming, white male Democrat because of San Francisco political power struggle. White was portrayed as a “murderous homophobe” to afford Milk hero status among gays. But Obama neglected to mention that minor detail as he was handing out his atta boys. The award was largely fueled by a movie Hollywood propped up and bathed in a liberal glow. The movie –like Obama– neglected to mention that Milk was a major supporter of mass cult murderer Jim Jones. I guess that’s the “hope” Obama was referring to.

Now, stomach turning information has surfaced about another Obama government pick.

Kevin Jennings, the gay activist who has been the driving force behind the homosexualization of public schools, was appointed by Obama to head the tongue-in-cheek Office of  “safe schools”. What a travesty. Homosexual activists have handily redefined the word safe and in its place injected a vile sexuality “curriculum” designed to “educate” and “protect” homosexual children from elementary school and up. Its astonishing how they know what kids are homosexual at grade K-5, but they claim some superior knowledge. Maybe that’s because they want access to them for purposes too disgusting to mention.

Its no suprise then that Jennings is a pedophile protector and praiser. Its also no suprise that Obama would allow him in our government over our children.

Read the facts:

Obama’s ’safe schools’ chief praised child-sex promoter (World Net Daily)

Kevin Jennings statement on Brewster too little, too late (Americans for Truth)

UPDATE 10.06.09

Americans for Truth has posted that Rep. Steve King (R-IA) has called for the dismissal of Kevin Jennings. Not a moment too soon. Also FRC says that Jennings has demonstrated a chillingly hostility to Christians who oppose exposing grade school children to homosexuality and trangenderism (body mutilation). Read the update here on this sick and twisted man the Obama Administration is praising as “uniquely qualified”. Sure, uniquely qualified to pervert the minds of innocent children.