Pre Press Conference Letter To Bishop Blake

Pre Press Conference Letter To Bishop Blake

• 1.
  I Am MyBrother’s Keeper Christian Advocacy Council 10/7/2012 To: The Most Right Reverend The Honorable Bishop Charles E. Blake Presiding Bishop The Church Of God In Christ Inc. Memphis, TN. Re: Press Conference Regarding COGIC Victims Advocacy St. Louis, MO. Holy Convocation Dear Presiding Bishop Blake, With the most high regard and all due honor and respect, I wanted to inform you of a press conference that I am conducting tomorrow and also ask for your or a representative’s participation. At 9:00 AM, at the Holy Convocation site, for approximately 20 minutes, I plan to represent all of those within our church who have suffered as a result church abuse or clergy sexual sins and improprieties. As I will outline, I am excited and encouraged that under your leadership, COGIC has taken the first steps in implementing a zero tolerance policy and measures of pastoral screening and background checks. However, these steps and measures fall far from a victims advocacy plan which we feel is essential to the healing of those who have been victimized stemming from clergy sexual abuse in particular. I am in contact with a number of those who have been victimized by individuals who were either once a part of our church or are a part of it now. Part of the reason that we are holding this press conference is because, save one bishop, there has been no response to a 2009, 23 page fax sent P.O. Box 6167 Peoria, IL. 61601 (800)827-7279 or [email protected]
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  to your officeand the offices of other General Board members at the time, requesting that this church implement a victims advocacy program in favor of those who have suffered these atrocities and indecencies. My contention is that those who are hurting are being exposed to further hurt through our collective silence, being told vicariously to shut up and go away either through settlements, confidentiality agreements, and in many cases, no response at all. It is THEM, the hurting among us, who are not being ministered to as it behooves the greatest church in the world to do. A church of our size and capacity with the scope of ministry that we have, should, in my humble opinion, have undertaken a plan to advocate for swift resolution of victims issues and spiritual restoration long ago. So that you will know, unlike some of my friends and associates, I am not willing to bash our church. However, I am willing to tell the truth in effort that we can come to greater and higher accountability and implement programs in favor of those who have suffered the greatest among our ranks. Therefore, it is in the spirit of service, that I reach out to you seeking that our church, takes a stand above the world in addressing these atrocities and the fallout that those who have experienced such have had to endure. For years I have sought God's way regarding this issue. Reaching out to you, General Board members and even speaking to Dr. Eugene Rivers on Al Sharpton’s radio show. We have gone to God through prayer. But now I find that I must be obedient and be found in the Word advocating for the hurting and disenfranchised within our church. My staff and I would like an opportunity in the near future to meet with you and select individuals to fashion an official resolution that can be presented to the General Assembly and adopted no later than the 2013 Spring Call Session. P.O. Box 6167 Peoria, IL. 61601 (800)827-7279 or [email protected]
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  On behalf ofall those within our church who have been victimized and experienced the culture of silence in response to their crying out, your attention to this matter is welcome and greatly appreciated. Thank you. Respectfully Submitted In HIS Service, Supt. Harvey Burnett New Bethel COGIC I Am My Brother’s Keeper Christian Advocacy Council Peoria, IL. (309)688-6599 (800)827-7279 cc: file Illinois 3rd Jurisdiction, ~ Bishop Robert R. Sanders P.O. Box 6167 Peoria, IL. 61601 (800)827-7279 or [email protected]