The COGIC 106th Annual Holy Convocation...A Time For Reconciliation!

Theme 1: Discovering The Power Presence And Person Of Jesus Christ

Theme 2: Experiencing The Power Of Jesus Christ, Pursuing His Mission & His Righteousness

Although I really can't say that I know exactly what theme that the 106th annual Holy Convocation of the Church Of God In Christ will be, (click HERE and read the banners for yourself) either theme sparks much fruitful and spiritual contemplation and is painted on a ripe canvass of both victory, mystery and even further controversy.  

The 2013 Holy Convocation promises to be another in which COGIC will have the opportunity to address many issues and hopefully take the opportunity to set the pace as it pertains to standards of safety and integrity within the modern Christian church. However, they are starting from a deficit. There are some serious problems that must be dealt with including lawsuits, abuse, and unresolved ongoing personal conflicts and issues. 

COGIC Victim's Advocacy...The Need STILL Exists

The wonderful part is that COGIC now requires background checks for all new clergy coming into the organization and a thorough and extensive training program for all clergy licensees. In addition, we have received certain information that there is a counseling plan or program that exists, whether officially or not, for victims of sexual abuse in some areas of the country. That's the GOOD NEWS! 

The BAD NEWS is that sexual abuse within the church continues to occur and that COGIC has failed to implement a true Victim's Advocacy program and plan that will effectively minister to the needs of victims and their families. There is yet no clear "bill of rights" or path to recovery plan as we have proposed and recommended within the IMBKCAC plan. There is yet no organizational system of accountability on the issue of abuse in all forms. A solid advocacy plan, will meet the needs of both victims, the public, and the church insuring that COGIC is a safe and family friendly place of worship which embraces safe practices that not only prevent sexual abuse from occurring, but also affords victims the very best care, compassion and concern as they place their lives and families back together. An solid victim's advocacy plan is of essential importance if the goal and aim of the church is to be relevant within the community in which it exists and all around the world.



I have set forth agenda regarding this issue for a number of years. In August of 2013, I was able to place the most recent version of our victim's advocacy proposal in the hands of Presiding Bishop Blake for review which was received by him saying that "We need ideas". I can only hope that my personal efforts to serve the needs of the hurting and help this Grand Ole Church through IMBKCAC.org will be met with all the due enthusiasm by those who have the power and ability to place substantive issues on the table to help reposition the church in a much better, and Christ like way as it pertains to this issue. 

On the other hand, maybe it is the cost of implementing a plan, that leadership is apprehensive about. Then again, maybe it is the potential implication of guilt of an advocacy program that is of concern. The fact is that victim's advocacy is a needed and necessary MINISTRY that the church can no longer afford to go without in an accountable manner. In my article "Clergy Sexual SINS Pt. 2", I point out that we aware that Presiding Bishop Blake has asserted that it costs over $800,000 per incident to litigate such cases even if there is a settlement or unsuccessful suit against the church. On the other hand, the human and individual costs of such incidents are overwhelming if not insurmountable and continued silence on the issue does NOT align with the mission of Christ, nor does silence align with HIS righteousness. 

Money CAN NOT be the motivating factor of whether our church establishes a plan or not. If we are looking to discover his presence and pursue his mission and righteousness, it is incumbent upon us as a church to take all necessary steps to heal the hurting and provide godly assistance to all them that have been abused and hurt by wolves in sheep's clothing within this church. We have had both time and opportunity to undertake the TRUE MISSION of Jesus by healing those that have been afflicted within our own ranks...Will we do so? Or will we cower and relegate ourselves to the blighted fields of "status quo" and powerless "associations" of normalcy and "average" and perfunctory "ministry" if it can even be called that? 

Lk. 4:18 ~ The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

It is my sincere hope that COGIC leadership will remember the MISSION of Christ as we seek to heal the hurting and as we seek to remove charlatans from our ranks as leaders of what "could be" the Greatest church in the world.

Please see: From Fear To Victory, Overcoming COGIC Clergy Sexual Abuse

Side Note: Although I have no clue as to why Derrick Hutchins could possibly be preaching during the 2013 Holy Convocation, especially after after the CHEATER'S fiasco in which he was publicly demonstrated to be an adulterer, after which followed no public apology or path to reconciliation. Maybe Supt. Hutchins will make an apology or speak on his experience before he attempts to minister. That would be GOOD not only for him, but also for the church and would most certainly be a highly appreciated thing to do. I suppose we will see.

A Bishop's Lawsuit

First, thankfully the lawsuit filed by Bishop Larry Shaw of  Southern GA First Jurisdiction COGIC has been dropped against Presiding Bishop Blake and the national church incorporated. Although there will yet be an awkward situation in the Bishop's chamber as the lawsuit he has filed against Chairman John Sheard yet continues. I can't remember a time when a Bishop sued another Bishop who serves on the same board...I don't know...

As stated in THIS ARTICLE, the claim is that Bishop Sheard, by way of a discredited and ambitious blogger, attempted to defame Bishop Shaw by paying money for publication of a bogus story. For what reason and why this particular venue was sought, NO ONE knows. It is even more difficult to understand when one realizes that Bishop Sheard's position and popularity as well as Bishop Shaw's is fairly secure and in tact among the General Assembly of the church and the Board Of Bishops. So it passes all understanding as to why this conflict actually exists and what was the motivating factor for this contention to continue.

What will happen as the Bishop's Council is called to order? Will there be ANY display of real Christian love and virtue on behalf of all parties involved? We can only pray that the Lord will be magnified and that someone will remember this scripture:

1 Cor. 6:1-6 ~  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

If one can't "walk with the footman", then how will one "run with the horseman"? It should be an easy thing for the SAINTS to both understand and comprehend if not apprehend the depth of relationship and resolve conflict within our ranks, especially at such a high level within the church, what type of public perception can we expect the world to have of us? Someone needs to take charge, stand up and let it be known that the Saints and true people of God can overcome and gain the victory over these things.

Bishop Samuel P Nesbitt To COGIC Leaders...REPENT!

"The problem is in the Leadership of the Church: they have violated our laws; they have ignored our doctrinal principles, and in doing so they have wrought great harm to some of our brothers and sisters who are hurting. If our leaders will just humble themselves and recognize that they are not infallible, and repent, God will forgive them and restore unity in the church. The Spirit will not work in the church until the leaders R E P E N T. ~ Bishop Samuel P. Nesbitt "Letter to The Presiding Bishop, The Board Of Bishops & The Saints Everywhere" 3/26/2013 Pg. 17 Para. 2

Bishop Nesbitt has served the church for over 70 years and is a statesman in his own right. Not only has he served in the church in general, he was the former Chief Justice on the COGIC Judiciary Board. If there is anyone in the church that knows church policy, rule and how we have either followed or deviated from the rule, it is Bishop Nesbitt. He is not afraid to let us know what his opinion is both on the rule and on the rule as it applies to the word of God which, as he states, supersedes the rules and regulations that we set forth.

In a no holds barred letter, referenced above, Bishop Nesbitt deals extensively with what he has deemed as an "injustice" done toward Bishop Thomas Hosley of Delaware, who was suspended from his position, placed on probation and subsequently reinstated as Jurisdictional Bishop all because church leaders, including Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake, "thought" (or at least were told by sources that appeared to be credible) that Bishop Hosley had mishandled $4 million dollars. This mishandling including the official  or clergy credential holder's fees reported or given to the national church annually to maintain licenses. It is true that the checks written to cover the fee's were not initially honored. That nearly $20,000 mishandling of funds seemed to open the incident, investigation and subsequent accusation.

In his letter, Bishop Nesbitt not only sets the record straight on the funds, even demonstrating that many of the same leaders who had accused bishop Hosley of wrongdoing were, in large part, also recipients of much of the so called "missing funds" according to demonstrable evidence. In addition, Bishop Nesbitt points out clearly that church due process was violated and not followed in both addressing issues and removing Bishop Hosley from office.

While I agree that IF it can be substantiated that if credential holder fees were mishandled and not delivered to the national church properly, that is a problem; I think that even in light of such a mishap that it is in order for the church to continue to act like a church. While a reprimand and immediate repair f the breech may be in order, a removal, especially in the case of a Bishop, which does not follow due process, should be carefully reviewed. I can only hope that whatever happened to contribute to such actions is reviewed, modified and discontinued. 

At either rate, Bishop Nesbitt's letter does not stop there. He goes on to call the Leadership of the church to REPENTANCE as referenced above. In his opinion, as he has watched the church grow and develop, it has lost the compassion that it once had. This sentiment holds true as I have referenced regarding victim's advocacy, or the lack thereof. Bishop Nesbitt has even called for better and more specific training of General Board members so that the church will not continue to experience the negative results and implications from the erroneous actions of General Board members:

"When we examine the record of the last (4) years, and observe the doctrinal, legal, and constitutional blunders that have been made by the former Board, the general Assembly would be wise to conduct an orientation for all General Board members to acquaint them with the Laws, Doctrines, and Constitution of the Church Of God In Christ, Inc. It appears that those who were assigned to teach the new leaders the Laws of the Church have been foremost in violating the Laws that they were appointed to teach and uphold." ~  Bishop Samuel P. Nesbitt "Letter to The Presiding Bishop, The Board Of Bishops & The Saints Everywhere" 3/26/2013 Pg. 7 Para. 3

Bishop Nesbitt's entire letter can be found HERE

Conclusion

As you can see, the 106th Annual Holy Convocation of the Church Of God In Christ presents much more than coming together to have service or a "good time". It presents an opportunity to find the presence, and person of Jesus Christ and pursue HIS mission and righteousness in all things.

I believe that Bishop Nesbitt says it best...if we really want the things that our theme suggests, then repentance is in order. Only the humble and those who live in the humility of Christ would dare do such a thing. Repentance is not a sign of weakness or ineptness. It is a sign of strength, meaning, purpose and connection to and with the Lord.

2 Chron. 7:14 ~ If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Humility, repentance and sincerity. These are the things that our Lord is looking for in these days. Will we be the church that the Lord is calling us to be? As the gospel group Commissioned said some years ago, will we be "ready, when Jesus comes"? That is the question.

I will be doing some live blogging and sharing my thoughts on things that happen at the Convocation. The Live link can be found HERE or simply type in or click cogicislive.com

Blessed!