"Deeds Of Darkness"

Although I am not into the minutia of the Church Of God In Christ and her operations and functions in every instance, because one could very well, lose  one's life, mirco-examining any organization, yet alone one this size, I am, however, a member of this church and am familiar with the operations, goings on, and practices within this church over the last 44 years that I have been associated with it. 

Are there injustices within the church? YES. Like anything controlled by men, there are injustices within it. The spiritual church is perfect, however this natural church leaves much to be desired. 

With some subdued notoriety, my efforts have been for and toward advocacy for those who have been victims of sexual abuse within this church through I Am My Brother's Keeper Christian Advocacy Council. I have personally reached out to each Presiding Bishop in leadership over the years, just as I have done twice to our current Presiding Bishop J Drew Sheard. 

Partially due to my efforts and others who were vocal on this issue and more, the church responded by implementing an ARC system for clergy background checks and sexual harassment training. Although this is a step in the right direction, the church has stopped specifically and deliberately short of implementing a Victim's Advocacy or a Safe Church Plan. A plan that is a whole path of both prevention of abuse, abusive behavior and conduct, and a vehicle of healing for all those effected by the fallout of such sins. 

How do I know? I know because I am the ONLY member of COGIC clergy who offers such a plan (by the help and grace of God) and there have been no successful effort to sit down and take a plan or organization seriously.  More can be found on this blog by clicking HERE.(2012 Holy Convocation Interview)

The Transition

Digressing from the issues that I have been called to deal with and present through Victim's Advocacy, I can acknowledge with some level of confidence that that there are issues within the church not readily or easily resolved and many past issues not resolved properly. One such issue is the handling of property and the remaining congregation at the transition of a Pastor at death. It seems that Moses Tyson Jr. has undertaken this issue to a great degree. 

Although I don't know the full extent of Elder Tyson's commentary, or actually what he is saying that is causing so much disruption and the church to lose membership and money, I can affirm some things regarding this issue. Please note that further information on our COGIC Constitution and other issues are well documented and can be found HERE.   

Be clear, the church's position on the transition of a church is that 1- Only a church with a living Pastor can make such decisions. This is especially the case when the local church has a pastor that was appointed by organization (COGIC, either at a Jurisdictional or national church level) and 2- Unless there is agreement, organization and clear direction to the contrary, the national church feels that all property under the name "Church Of God In Christ" is held "in trust for the members of the Church Of God In Christ" with "the members" meaning, not solely and only the members of the local church who have contributed and made the local church a reality, but for ALL the members international of COGIC. This means that even for folk who have never known the late pastor or anyone at the church, nor has ever contributed one dime to the church's support. The key is that those members are primarily overseen by the Presiding Bishop and General Board when the General Assembly is not in session. Though the actions of the General Board and the Presiding Bishop can be overruled by the General Assembly, by the appropriate vote when in session, their actions are seldomly, if ever overturned. 

This interpretation and implementation of written policy has led to a LOT of issues over the years...

Example, one famous Bishop in the church decided that in order for his church to transition as it should at his death, he had to retire and officially install a new Pastor. This resulted in the confidence that the church would not face interference from any member of the General Board or the Presiding Bishop in attempting to install a new leader at the Bishop's death. 

Another famous leader split his ministry allowing all church property to be held in a separately organized non profit ministry with the church, congregation itself organized separately as a recognized COGIC Church perpetually indebted by rent to the non-COGIC organized ministry. The organization worked wonderfully for that Pastor and his surviving family as the church thought to disenfranchise the surviving Pastor's spouse and family to a degree until they found that they would perpetually be under a rental agreement adjusted and controlled by the non-church ministry. THANK GOD!!!

Upon the death of a particular pastor in Kansas, the local church thought to remain within COGIC, but wanted to change Jurisdictional affiliations. After much dissent, the COGIC Judiciary adjudicated that the church, (who simply wanting to change jurisdictional affiliation) could not do so without a Pastoral leader and had to accept the Pastoral leader, who the church rejected, appointed by the Jurisdictional Bishop from whom they wished to disfellowship. This was a horrible situation which led to the Jurisdiction suing the members and trustees of the local church for tithes and offerings, etc...all this done with the national church's knowledge and evidently, approval.  

In short, there are issues that may not make the church look good...Those processes are tied to rules and regulations adopted by the General Assembly. The General Assembly does not include "rank and file" members of the church. The General Assembly consists of primarily clergy delegates, many of whom are more visible and exude undue influence over policy and the acceptance and rejection of  certain actions. 

Is Moses Tyson Being Truthful?

I have no reason to believe that he is being dishonest and based on what I have heard, I don't doubt his assessments.

Is COGIC right to sue him? 

That depends upon whether one views this from a Biblical or social lens and based on whether one interprets the actions of Tyson as factual or false. Is Tyson a "brother"? Then NO. There is no biblical basis to sue him. That seems to be the most clear thing at this point. 

1 Cor. 6:1-7 ~ 1-Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? 2- Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 3-Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? 4-If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church. 5-I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren? 6-But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers. 7-Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded? 8-Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.

The problem remains that anyone seeing an issue and speaking up about it, is NOT necessarily the evil one. We are not wrong for what we see. Simply because a person sees injustice and speaks about it, doesn't make them unjust. The act of the injustice must come to light and in many cases truth is ugly, especially when what is seen is unbecoming of the Saints. 

From a Biblical perspective, the true prophet, hears from God and speaks regardless of consequences. However, true prophets also use wisdom in the application of their knowledge. 

Is this an occasion where what one knows hasn't been tempered by wisdom? I don't know but one thing is for sure, we're about to find out a lot more about the practices and policy of the Grand Ole Church Of God In Christ and exactly how those practices are viewed in this modern world and society. 

Blessed!