I want to be the first to say that within the Church Of God In Christ, there are various and varying opinions on politics and political, social and even moral issues. It seems that within the church there are even varying interpretations on what holiness is, what the Bible says and even how it should be interpreted to a varying degrees.
While the church's Statement of Faith seeks to unify her basic tenets of doctrine and belief, there is little that unifies the church politically and socially, or even morally other than what the General Assembly, the only policy making authority within the church, seeks to affirm.
Quite naturally, since COGIC is built on a "Faith Mission" concept and is "Episcopal" as opposed to congregational in its leadership structure, the door appears to be open to allowing some to state various kinds of positions and when they are in some sort of position, or office, they can be being given credibility as a "spokesperson" of the church on particular subjects.
The Leadership Of The Church
To be clear, in absence of the General Assembly, the ONLY individual entrusted with the ability to make and act with full and indiscriminate authority on behalf of the church is her Presiding Bishop. Bishop J Drew Sheard. He is the only one who affirms the official position of the church, and may appoint members of the General Board either in lieu of himself or in addition to himself to perform certain tasks. However, even in all of that, his authority is ultimately subject to the General Assembly when it is in session. So, in an ultimate sense, not even the Presiding Bishop of our church has unencumbered or unchecked power and authority.
Unchecked Power???
Evidently Bishop Talbert Swan, who has been given authority to act as the church's leader of "Social Justice Ministry" feels that, not only has he been authorized by the church to speak on and even make official statements on Church policy and positions of social justice but that he is also above everyone, irreproachable and that all individual, ministers, elders and other clergy, who are not in the Bishopric class, are "beneath" him.
In response to Elder Turner's commentary or disagreement, on December 11th,2025 the alleged Bishop Swan said this on Facebook:
"CLAPBACK: “STAY IN A CHILD’S PLACE” EDITIONChris Turner has now elevated his desperation to calling a Bishop in his denomination a “fraud” who “doesn’t know the truth of God’s word.”
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