COGIC Issues Pt. 3...Clergy Sexual Sins 2012 Edition

I have been doing my best to avoid issues such as these, but recently COGIC claimed to have taken strong action and removed Pastor Erik Cooper of Dominion Harvest Church COGIC of Phoenix, AZ. from his pastoral office due to sexual  SINS. Quite naturally this caught my eye as it would have been one of the few publicized removals of anyone from office that had to do with anything other than money or alleged mishandling of money in recent memory. 

This was the press release that came forward on May 4^th

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST, INC.

Statement on

Pastor Erik M. Cooper

This communication comes in response to claims received by our national office concerning alleged lewd conduct and inappropriate sexual acts alleged to have been committed by Pastor Erik M. Cooper, of Phoenix, Arizona, with an adult female church member. Upon presentation of these accusations to Pastor Cooper, he submitted his resignation and official separation from all responsibilities within the Church of God in Christ (“COGIC”). This includes his local church, district, the Arizona jurisdiction, and the National Church.

The Church of God in Christ has accepted Pastor Cooper’s resignation and has taken steps to cancel and nullify his COGIC credentials, of every kind and description, including his ministerial license, his ordination, his appointment as pastor, and his membership in the Church of God in Christ.

Pastor Erik Cooper

The Church of God in Christ has a zero-tolerance policy for sexual misconduct of any kind within this organization. The publication of our 2002 Sexual Misconduct Policy outlines our strategies for reducing the risk of sexual misconduct, and outlines standard procedure for all of our churches should this type of abuse occur. Ultimately, this policy outlines ways in which to address the specific needs of the victim(s) and the perpetrator(s) in such a way that the good of all will be met.

Additionally, COGIC has established a National Sexual Misconduct Review Board to investigate allegations of sexual misconduct, and to function as a special disciplinary committee confined to coordinating a process that will meet the specific needs of the situation from a Christian and Biblical point-of-view.

We earnestly pray for all persons who have been impacted by this matter and have no further comment.

Church Of God In Christ-Public Relations

930 Mason Street

Memphis, TN 38126

(901) 235-2160

rcoleman@cogic.org

www.cogic.org

Now, I had quite a few reservations regarding this particular release which was also reported on Report COGIC Abuse.  For starters, removal of a pastor within this church is a borderline act of congress. There are all kinds of notifications that must be given and the pastor certainly has an opportunity to respond and appeal any decisions. The statement however sets forth the idea that this removal was quick, forthright and in accordance with a “Zero Tolerance” policy regarding clergy sexual improprieties and that policy also benefited victims of clergy sexual abuse.  I responded with the following commentary:

 "I have a few problems with this statement and COGIC statement and actions.

1- There is NO POLICY in place that addresses victims or victims issues and the 2002 policy advising leaders on how to avoid sexual sins and hypocrisy is only that…a “how to” guide against sexual abuse and misconduct aka: SINS.

To try to link a supposed “victims advocacy” to that policy is simply incredulous, not to mention false. If I am wrong, PLEASE correct me openly and place the policy front and center that addresses victims in any manner…I would like to be embarrassed regarding this issue and be proven wrong. I would like to think that in a church such as COGIC that we would have a VICTIMS ADVOCACY program clearly outlined whose ONLY focus is to minister to victims and their needs, NOT an advocacy co-mingling their duties with pastoral discipline, but I guess that may be asking too much.

2- COGIC goes from one extreme to the next. It’s either go into complete silence on issues or throw everyone out and call them anathema…this is not BIBLICAL NOR IS IT GODLY. Certainly this man should have been removed from office, but to dis-fellowship him??? What is that??? Does he NOT have a soul? Does he NOT need to be saved and restored as well???

There is no mention of his repentance, but he did however resign, evidently without incident. This displays that he at least acknowledged his actions. I have no inside information on the situation, but I don’t believe that the bible teaches dis-fellowship of those who have failed. Isn’t there a call for repentance and restoration? Isn’t that or shouldn’t that be the priority in anyone’s failure?

3- This statement reeks of politically correct IMAGE management. To jump in, in such an imbalanced manner ONLY after phone calls or inquiry regarding his supposed sexual relationship with “an adult female church member”…PLEASE! There are men RIGHT NOW, whom COGIC has been silent regarding that have been with CHILDREN, and MULTIPLE individuals, some yet in office, and yet COGIC has NOT said a word and even refuses to acknowledge their actions or the subsequent fallout and spiritual condition of the victims…Why has this man and his affair been singled out? This is certainly egregious, but why now, when since 2002, we can place our hands on over 10 cases where there is nothing but ABJECT silence???

The statute of limitations DID NOT absolve bishop Brown from the SINS that he committed and perpetrated upon those CHILDREN, his wife’s family members from what I understand, years ago. COGIC remained and has been silent only to say that they fully reinstate him.

Bishop Westbrook’s Jurisdiction in Washington may appear to be operating as normal, but we KNOW the financial duty and strain as a result of the sexual misconduct and the potential loss of that building at any time.

Further, a good man, Bishop McCarthy’s legacy was tarnished and his jurisdiction is no more, split into a East and West because of a SILENT COGIC in dealing with sexual misconduct and absolutely NOTHING geared towards victims from this supposed 2002 policy.

What may have an appearance of right here is vastly wrong. COGIC has thrown out a sinner, casting him to the dogs, pretended that something adopted in 2002 that dealt with pastors and leaders also dealt with victims,(which is certainly not true) and skirted past other equally if not more horrific situations to focus on this one and hail it as some type of “poster child” for COGIC actions against such behavior.

Sorry…I’m not impressed and I further contend that our leaders have yet failed in this area once again.

Supt. Harvey Burnett

T,.T. Rose Dist.

Peoria, IL.

Illinois Third Jurisdiction

Bishop Robert Sanders

(so now noone will have to say “that preacher from Illinois”, you know EXACTLY where I am and where I’m from)"

Well, ask and it shall be given...Thankfully, I received a response to my commentary from at least two sources, one claiming to have excellent knowledge of all events in a greater detail. I believe that the content of what was delivered to me is certainly worth noting.

The COGIC statement and the recounting of events differ greatly from what was delivered to me. It would seem that there is something very much awry regarding the pastor’s actions, COGIC’s response and scope of the Zero Tolerance policy. This is part of what I was told and what I wrote in response:

"THANK YOU, THANK YOU and I stand enlightened and apologetic regarding this particular incident with Pastor Cooper.

It would seem that Pastor Cooper is unrepentant regarding his sins. It also seems that specific proof was brought to the attention of certain COGIC leaders and officials regarding Pastor Cooper’s indiscretions (SINS) and he refused to acknowledge the information and rebelled against calls for him to submit himself. Evidently he has a history of sexual improprieties dating back to a time when he served under Bishop LeRoy Anderson.  According to sources, Pastor Cooper was UNREPENTANT in issues at that time and although there seems to be a mounting trail of women, he remains unrepentant regarding any of it.

It also seems that COGIC did NOT simply kick this preacher out as I had feared earlier. This particular preacher RAN as not to face the music of being sat down due to his sins and for a period of restoration.

THANK my sources for CLARIFYING the situation and bringing this information to light. I am repentant for speaking prematurely assuming that this man was presenting himself for godly and spiritual correction. It doesn’t seem as if that is the case at all.

When a preacher refuses to repent and simply wants to skirt on to the next skirt, what can be done and what can we do? Stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. It seems that is the thread of this particular ministry unfortunately.

Now, another problem is the “covergirls”. The song was sung, “Stand By Your Man”. That is an acceptable thought. However, our first priority is God.  A man that is a habitual adulterer MUST be made to repent for his actions and simply facilitating his unrighteousness won’t work, even if you are the spouse. It seems that until this minister gets help and deals with his apparent sexual addiction, he will continue to do this with a wife (not necessarily the same wife) in tow.  The problem also seems that the church will be in tow as well, which is even just as tragic.

To my fellow COGIC bretheren, this still does not address the victims advocacy that we desperately need. As I previously stated, it does not need to be mixed with pastoral discipline. It needs to be solely about engaging, healing and restoring victims. Evidently there is a trail of victims in this case. It seems that they may have all been adult age. Evidently they also need a certain amount of healing and restoration no matter their level of involvement in this fiasco.

Due to the information I have received, I am highly confident that this preacher was dealt with in an appropriate manner. HE has chosen to withdraw from COGIC and the church simply says If you don’t want our discipline, then proceed. I agree with that sentiment 100%

Supt. Harvey Burnett

New Bethel COGIC

www.bethelburnett.blogspot.com

Illinois Third Jurisdiction

Bishop Robert Sanders"

Clarification Of Truth

Based on the information I received, COGIC did not dis-fellowship this man. This man ran as fast as he could to the nearest exist because it seems that he didn’t want to be outed for his sexual sins. This seems to be consistent with what is already known because under current church procedure, under normal circumstances, COGIC doesn’t have the authority to simply remove a pastor without due process.

The questions is why was COGIC willing to make such a big case out of the removal or departure of this pastor from its ranks?  Was there more here than meets the eye? I believe it was.

It could be because this man had a history of sexual impropriety and was yet promoted through the ranks. It could be because he was a regular guest at some of the more influential churches and could raise an offering. In fact the word is that one of the persons he was having an affair with showed up at a revival which he was conducting at a General Board member’s church with certain evidence of his sexual sins, to which he denied when questioned.  The doors certainly closed, but it doesn’t appear to be because of the righteous zeal of COGIC policy, it seems that there was no other option, except legal options, which if undertaken would seem to have led COGIC into the path that it was trying to avoid. In other words it was cheaper to leave him rather than try to preserve and or restore him in the name of COGIC, or argue that he hadn’t left the church properly.

Was this release an attempt to simply say…”We don’t own him so don’t sue us?” Pastor Sherman Allen followed the same path. Remember, Allen was a card carrying member of COGIC preaching at many venues regularly until his alleged sins hit the wall also. When he was accused, Allen departed and some COGIC spin doctors claimed that Allen had never a part of the organization, even though everyone knew he was. Then there is Donald K. Barrett, whom I know personally that is said to have dis-fellowshipped himself as well rather than repented and gone through a period of voluntary discipline. 

We're not finished with this one. Sit tight while in the next part of this series we will attempt to address and answer why a popular and well connected COGIC Bishop was reinstated with full rights and privileges of the church after he allegedly molested and raped his two nieces from very early ages. The case was initially decided based on a statute of limitations issue, which I believe was misapplied by the Circuit Court judge in the case and is currently under appeal. 

Some question, why does this interest me? My question is why wouldn't something as egregious on every side NOT interest and be of great concern to you? 

Saints we have a lot to pray for...Since judgement is beginning, it must first begin with us. 

Blessed!

Update 5/24/2012:

It seems that Pastor Erik Cooper sued his accuser for harassment in effort to stop her from telling his business. Well it seems that on May 17th 2012 a hearing was set so that Pastor Cooper could make his case and present evidence that he was being harassed and lied on. What happened???

It seems that Pastor Cooper was a NO SHOW in court regarding the very case he filed claiming that he was being harassed. Since he didn't show to present any evidence that supported his claim his case was SUMMARILY DISMISSED. 

Now, how does a person sue someone for "harassment" and not show up for court and there is no out of court settlement? Might it be that someone was afraid that there may be perjury charges filed if lies were proliferated in court? Might it be that someone didn't have a case to begin with?

I don;t know, but what I do know is that the person defending herself WON and the door seems to be open because he didn't present a case. If you don't believe me, the basic info of the docket can be found in the Arizona Superior Court files under case # CV2012-007189