110th Annual Holy Convocation: COGIC Partners To Combat Abortion

Thursday Nov. 9th, 2017
St. Louis, MO.

In a break with the liberal establishment that has sought the endorsement of COGIC for a number of years, pandering for votes at nearly every occasion, leaders of the anti-abortion group, Human Coalition, arose to announce a partnership with one of the nation's largest denominations, The Church Of God In Christ, to combat abortions and increase the number of adoptions around the country.

As noted by Human Coalition church outreach director Dean Nelson, COGIC is the ONLY major denomination in the country to make a fully fledged partnership with the organization in the fight against abortion.

"...and we are pleased to say tonight, that we are partnering with the most Christ centered, socially conscious, African American denomination in the country, the Church Of God In Christ" ~ Rev. Dean Nelson Human Coalition

Promoting The Family Life Campaign, COGIC is partnering with the Human Coalition to fight for the rights of the unborn and increase adoption through a revised "One Church Once Child Campaign" which will be rolled out in a nation-wide effort in 2019. 

"...we have not found a single denomination willing to stand up and say, 'enough is enough, we have to bring an end to the intentional killing of the unborn' except for the Church Of God In Christ..." ~ Human Coalition Leader In TX

It seems that Home and Foreign Missions President Bishop Vincent Matthews, has seen the urgency in extending the church's mission to include the unborn and those children who have been abandoned by parents for one reason or another. 

To Bishop Matthews we say THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU GREATLY!!!!...and WHAT An AWESOME MESSAGE!!!! "Infiltration"

Now, this is astounding news especially to the liberal elite, who simply have assumed that COGIC is on board with liberal agenda. Remember, it was just some time ago, that former President Barack Obama was asking the church for support as he promoted not only abortion but the gay agenda. I believe that Obama's attitude was heightened by the church's misstep in endorsing the UDHR which has been used to promote the homosexual agenda around the world.

Nevertheless, to the acutely trained ear, and to those who have observed that the most vocal Black rights advocates in the nation say little to NOTHING regarding abortion or the ravages and assault upon the Black community through abortion campaigns in the name of "women's health".

Hopefully the church will heed the call and make significant inroads in ministering against this horrible and deceitful dearth to the community called abortion. 

Blessed!   

Read more!

COGIC 110th Annual Holy Convocation: Still Asking For Victims Advocacy

With a 2017 theme: "In This Changing World Let Us Hold On To Our Unchanging Faith" The Church Of God In Christ (aka: COGIC), one of the nations largest Pentecostal/Holiness denominations, prepares for it's 110th Annual Holy Convocation Nov. 6 - 14th 2017. The Convocation is the pinnacle meeting and gathering of the Saints of COGIC from all over the world to celebrate the glory, power and majesty of Christ through the year and in every place.

Though the gathering is a celebration of God's goodness, there is a business element particularly at the end of the successive days of worship in which the General Assembly, the church's ONLY rule and law making body, consisting of certain member delegates and leaders, gather to discuss certain matters of church business and operations. What we can be assured of is that "Victim's Advocacy" is NOT on the General Assembly agenda for 2017 which is somewhat discouraging to I Am My Brother's Keeper Christian Advocacy Council (IMBKCAC) founder Supt. Harvey Burnett New Bethel COGIC of IL. 3rd Jurisdiction. Supt. Burnett has advocated for victim's advocacy with an element of independent oversight for a number of years in light of past and present allegations of clergy and church related sexual abuse and sins. In a recent letter to Presiding Bishop Charles E Blake Supt. Burnett stated the following: 

"Quite frankly, I find it hard to believe that as a church we are taking the welfare of victims seriously when nearly every measure that has been taken to "prevent" sexual misconduct provide, if not instruct, the alleged perpetrators of the crimes on their due process rights and basically how to secure themselves and their ministerial futures."

Supt. Burnett goes on to say:

"One would think that in light of the serious fallout and devastating effects of sexual perversion that have been displayed on the news, that our organization would take the lead in dealing skillfully with survivors and seek to assure the public that our churches are a safe place for all worshipers, and for those recovering from all forms of abuse. However, to simply say such means little if we are not carefully, thoroughly and honestly evaluated." 

Without a doubt the mission of COGIC to the community is at its zenith. However, the mission is preformed at a time when allegations of sexual abuse are rocking Hollywood, institutions of higher education, politics, the business community and nearly every facet of American life. It would certainly seem that the issues pertaining to abuse are not going away anytime soon. 

To suggest that the church is not reflective of the community that it serves is more a sign of wishful thinking than reality. The unfortunate fact is that some churches feel that they can self-administer their own brand of healing when sexual abuse occurs and many feel that they do not have to be accountable to the larger community and group to which they are a part. Therefore, many issues pertaining to the healing process of those victimized are often reduced to methods similar to trying to close a gaping wound with band-aids. 

What Can We Do?

What we will do is set forth a solid agenda in General Assembly in 2018. I would say as a people and members that we should begin to call more loudly for healing for those who have been victimized and a better and member centered victim's rights and advocacy platform. 

If you are a survivor of sexual abuse, I would advise that you DO NOT take a settlement in which you waive your rights to speak on the incident or on your experience. Silence or confidentiality agreements are a further affliction of pain and exemplifies cultural abuse. When it is thought that money can be exchanged for personal freedoms, there is a problem on both sides of the issue. 

We will live blog some of the events next week so please stay tuned right here. 

Blessed!

Letter To Presiding Bishop Blake
      

Letter To Bishop Charles E. Blake from Pastor Harvey Burnett

Read more!

Questions On Sexual Abuse? COGIC Law Day At The 110 Annual Holy Convocation

Well, I am quite sure that when this forum was designed that sexual abuse and sexual harassment weren't primary topics that the planning committee was thinking that would be addressed, but with the history of unresolved allegations of sexual abuse, clergy sexual sins and the current secular climate of sexual abuse and harassment even in the workplace, it just may be the opportune time for COGIC members, and others, to shore up their knowledge and information on how to handle allegations of sexual abuse and criminal misconduct even within the scope and sphere of the church itself. 

I plan to be there to pose questions and hear the questions of others addressed as well as hear the response of the legal professionals involved. I encourage all of those who are like-minded to meet me there for what I think may be a very special, informative session and unique occasion. 

Read more!

Joel Osteen, Jude 3, & The Acceptance Of False Doctrine

"I'm not one to judge the little details of it (Mormonism)"

In another interview, referenced in my FIRST ARTICLE on the subject, Pastor Osteen states that "Mormonism is a little bit different, but I still see them as brothers in Christ" ~ Pastor Joel Osteen CNN Situation Room w/ Wolf Blitzer

A Brigham Young University Professor says this:

“Cherry-picking similarities while failing to mention major differences is a powerful way to misrepresent and mislead.” ~ Peterson, Daniel (Professor at Brigham Young University) "Focus on Similarities Can Prove Misleading,” Mormon Times, November 6, 2011, 8.

Pastor Osteen says that he sees practicing Mormons as "Brothers In Christ" This means that he believes that one can believe in and practice Mormonism and yet be saved. However, individuals commissioned to teach Mormonism contend that it is misleading to speak of similarities between Mormonism and Christianity while looking over the differences as noted above.

So let us examine what the leader of the largest Christian church in America simply doesn't have enough time to distinguish. Let us look at what the pastor calls the "little differences" between Mormonism and Christianity and see if these issues are important enough to distinguish the difference between Mormonism and what we know as Christianity.

The Examination: What Do Mormons Believe?

The Mormon Church:

Officially founded April 6th, 1830, the Mormon Church in belief and practice actually began 10 years earlier in 1820 when two angelic beings, claimed to be God the Father and God the Son (Jesus) appeared to one Joseph Smith, claiming that the beliefs and practices of all churches in existence at that time were corrupt and that it would be Smith's job to restore the church back to God.

Read more!

110th COGIC Holy Convocation or Apostasy? You Decide...

Go HERE for an indepth look at what Pastor Osteen calls the "little differences" between Mormonism and Christianity and decide if there are really "little differences" and whether Mormonism is of the Christian faith. 

The lineup of speakers for the 2017 Holy Convocation of the Church Of God In Christ has been announced. Of course, the announcement has not only left many with questions, but has also stirred emotions especially with the Wed. evening choice of speakers.

The controversy seems to center around the selection of the pastor of the largest Christian church in the United States, Pastor Joel Osteen of the Lakewood Church in Houston, TX.

To be fair, COGIC has embraced speakers that are not a part of the organization for many years. So the fact that Pastor Osteen is controversial because he is not a part of COGIC can hardly be supported by any evidence. 

For example, Bishop TD Jakes, Bishop Noel Jones, & Pastor Dewey E Smith to name a few, have all spoken at recent Holy Convocations to greater or lesser approval or disdain of rank and file COGIC members. 

Every year there is an "ecumenical" night in which a speaker that is not COGIC is asked to speak. This appears to be in line with a standing tradition of the church to be hospitable and inviting to those who are not of the organization in effort to extend the "right hand of fellowship" which countervienes what happened to our founding Bishop, Bishop CH Mason, when he was dis-fellowshiped from the Baptist church for preaching and teaching the message of holiness and eventually pentecostalism.

While the effort of inclusion is commendable, it seems that the mission of presenting a sound and uncompromising message of Holiness is getting lost in the shuffle and is the source of any controversy or dissension on the issue. 

What Do I Mean?

Read more!