#bishop blake

PimpPreacher.com New Orleans Bureau 11/23/2014

The Presiding Bishop of The Church of God in Christ (COGIC) may need to add a few more armor bearers to watch his back after what took place at this year's 107th Holy Convocation, because the COGIC Insurgents are growing in numbers. Two weeks ago at the COGIC Convocation Evangelist (Superintendent) Earl Carter placed The Church of God in Christ in a very uncomfortable spotlight when he went off script to attack what he perceived to be flamboyant homosexuals in attendance. The fallout from Earl Carter's sermon has now reached epic proportions!        

Prior to the Holy Convocation I am not sure if Bishop Charles E. Blake was fully aware that his organization was split up the middle on issues concerning Homosexuals, but less than one hour after Superintendent Earl Carter’s now infamous sermon – a very clear line has been drawn. All Sissies Must Go!

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Earl Carter’s sermon could have been titled The Us Against Them Declaration with the “Us” in this case representing the Right Wing of COGIC. On the Left side of COGIC we now find a very liberal looking Bishop Blake and a brand identity crisis that hasn’t been seen since the multilevel marketing giant Amway. And on the Right Wing of COGIC we find a group that has fully endorsed Gay Hate as 100% biblical, and any public humiliation of homosexuals justified.

Whereas Bishop Blake appeared soft on the subject of Sissies in the Church – Earl Carter on the other hand appears to have ushered in a new Doctrine of Homophobia.

“I got something for all these homosexuals just walking around here with your pocketbooks, with your tight pants and your bow tie, and you’re walking like a girl, you need deliverance. I’mma tell you why you need deliverance and I’mma tell you what’s wrong with you walking ‘round here, looking like a sissy. If they don’t want nobody to say nothing about you, I’m gone say something about you. You’re perverted and you’re lost. I blame some of these preachers. You got the sissies up here doing praise and worship.” Pastor Earl Carter preached – who also serves as a Senior Pastor at Christ Ministries Church of God in Christ, Orlando, FL,.

As a direct result of Superintendent Earl Carter - Bishop Blake now has a huge problem on his hands unlike the issues he faced with Pedophile Bishops. At least in the many cases of sexual abuse that had plagued The Church of God in Christ, Bishop Blake was able to throw money at the victims until their pain went away. Unfortunately for the Deep Pocket Bishop the epidemic of active homosexuals in church leadership is a problem cash can’t cure, because he can’t pay the gay away.

Long before the gay controversy at the 107th convocation Bishop Blake had already developed a reputation for being a Homosexual Sympathizer. In May of 1974 Elder Blake (his official title in 1974)  published an article series titled  Is there hope and help for the homosexual? According to GCMWatch.com Elder Blake was deeply concerned about men and women who struggle to overcome homosexuality, and in most cases, without the assistance of the church they were born into. The review of Elder Blake articles fell short of  revealing his personal perspectives on homosexuality back then, but when he came to the defense of  gay cleric Dr. Peter Gomes, from Harvard University (Bishop Blake special guest at his church in 2003) the whispers grew louder from the Right Wing of COGIC that Bishop Blake lacked the Gay Hating Anointing.

In his apology for the anti-gay comments Bishop Blake addressed the controversy in the following way:

“We believe that we should reflect the love and compassion of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in all that we do. And we do not in any way compromise our biblical position against same sex unions or in favor of the biblical teachings on matters of sexual conduct. But at the same time, we expect that our clergy and laity will be civil and considerate as they speak to men and women on issues related to our Christian faith. WE LOVE ALL PEOPLE, regardless of their faith. And when we fail to express ourselves with love and humility, we contradict the witness that we would strive to have to the world.”

Superintendent Carter has pitted his ideology and views on homosexuals up against the Clorox Bleached views of the Presiding Bishop Charles Blake in a way that has left many COGIC members on the far right questioning the Biblical Integrity of their Presiding Bishop.

At the same time, casual COGIC observers like myself also feel that Bishop Blake’s reign maybe be in jeopardy due to an external  nor ‘eastern wind of hatred for gays that continues to sweep across the country with every State that approves Gay Marriage. Any perceived weakness in Blake’s stance on the issue of homosexuality could lead to a vote of no confidence from the far Right. After the events surrounding the 107th Holy Convocation a few of those votes have already been cast in support of Superintend Earl Carter’s approach to the gay problem.

One member of COGIC took to the comment section of the Bishop Blake Apology Article on PimpPreacher.com, and expressed the following view. .

“I was raised in the "Grand Ole Church of God In Christ" since childhood. And I am saddened to see the Chief Apostle of the COGIC bow down to the pressure of social opinion and make this statement. Although he didn't call Elder Earl Carter's name, I think that Bishop Blake should NOT have apologized for Elder Carter's words. Of course they were offensive, but to who??? His words certainly were NOT offensive to me, and apparently not to the body of delegates present. My parents used to say "if the shoe fits, wear it." What Bishop Blake should have done was taken a good look at the delegates' reaction to Elder Carter's rebuke. The BODY rejoiced and began to praise God that someone finally had the guts to get up and say what needed to be said. As I listened to Elder Carter, tears of joy ran down my face because it needed to be said.” Posted by commenterIAMTHATIAM

The problem for Bishop Blake is not necessarily what Earl Carter said that night at the convocation, but the scores of devout COGIC members who still support the anti-gay sermon line for line.

The hatred for Gays that Bishop Blake has tried to suppress and muzzle reached an octave level as a cacophony of rebuttals flooded social media, and internet talk shows. Regardless of Blake’s heartfelt apology, when it comes to COGIC position on gays it  appears more popular to bash Homosexuals, than to pray for them.

The vulgarity that spewed out the mouth of Earl Carter would have resulted in an investigation by the Justice Department or FBI and a charge of “Hate Speech” if a White keynote speaker had spoken those exact same words in reference to African Americans. But in the world of Christian Conservatives & COGIC, hate speech and vulgarity towards Gays actually energizes their base.

The only problem the Right Wing of The Church of God in Christ will face in their fascism approach to homosexuals is the same reality Nazi Germany faced in their final resolution for the Jewish problem – there was just too many of them to wipe out all at once. Like the Nazi’s the Right Wing of COGIC has to realize their church is inundated with gay men, but unlike the solution the Germans attempted, the ring wing of COGIC on the other hand doesn’t have the option of Auschwitz Concentration Camps.

Nevertheless the embedded Gay Community within The Church of God in Christ better give God the praise every day that Bishop Blake has not given into the pressures from the far Right, and that he stills guards their First Amendments Rights granted under the constitution. If Earl Carter and his Fraternal Brotherhood of Gay Haters ever come to power within the walls of COGIC – the men and woman who struggle with homosexual lifestyles may find it safer to live their lives in exile as COGIC Refugees.  

At it's core I don’t believe that COGIC has changed or has become soft on gays in the church, however I do believe that Superintendent Earl Carter has emerged as the voice of a once soft-spoken resistance movement. To Bishop Charles Blake my advice to you is really simple - watch your back at all times because your enemies are now circling your pulpit.

  Commentary by TJ – Church Folk Revolution

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During services this morning at the West Angeles Church of God in Christ, where Bishop Blake serves as pastor, he gave these prepared remarks:

On Saturday evening, November 8th, one of our more than 15 speakers used terms and spoke in a way that was offensive and inappropriate. Though he alone was responsible for the nature and tone of his remarks, it was on my watch that this took place. Even though I was not present at the service on that night, as Presiding Bishop of the Church of God In Christ, I apologize for what seemed to be a harsh, uncompassionate, disrespectful spirit on the part of that speaker.

I also apologize to Andrew Caldwell, a young seeker for the Lord, who came forth and made statements on that night regarding his change of heart and his purpose in life. His testimony literally went viral, and it has brought upon him criticism and sardonicism. We extend our love and our prayers and our support to that young man, as he seeks to know God and to serve God.

We believe that we should reflect the love and compassion of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in all that we do. And we do not in any way compromise our biblical position against same sex unions or in favor of the biblical teachings on matters of sexual conduct. But at the same time, we expect that our clergy and laity will be civil and considerate as they speak to men and women on issues related to our Christian faith.

WE LOVE ALL PEOPLE, regardless of their faith. And when we fail to express ourselves with love and humility, we contradict the witness that we would strive to have to the world.

The Church of God in Christ wholly condemns acts of violence against and the subjugation of any person to verbal or physical harassment on the basis of their sexual orientation or their sexual stance. Such actions violate entirely the Christians obligation to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy." God will judge us all.

If you have a love for God, and if you love God's word, you are welcome to West Angeles Church -- and you are welcome to the Church of God in Christ.

Bishop Blake's statement was met with expressions of approval and applause from his West Angeles congregation.

It was expected that Bishop Blake might comment following this week's convocation, for during his 7-year tenure as Chief Apostle of the COGIC denomination he has amply been on record regarding COGICs positions on homosexuality and same-sex marriage.  

In 2008, Bishop Blake came under scrutiny for signing the Faith In Human Rights Statement, which affirms that human rights are a matter of faith.  The move was interpreted by critics as an unwelcome embracing of ecumenicism and a veiled compromising of COGIC's stance homosexuality and gay marriage.

In any event, it is actually quite stunning to have Blake and COGIC on record with this apology, referring to Andrew Caldwell specifically by name, as COGIC has yet to apologize to numerous victims over several decades who have suffered under sexual misconduct and molestation by its clergy.

PimpPreacher.com is your TRUSTED source for news and opinion on important issues of the Modern Church today, and is also the world's ONLY online repository of "Preacher Reports".  Watch this space for further developments… NotYourTypicalNegro Contributor, PimpPreacher.com

Before getting to Dr. Carter's video, I want to talk about the rise of the church queen because it’s not enough to just say “homosexual”. Homosexuals have been with us always but never has there been a time of flamboyance and fierceness of a bow tie and lapel rosettes as there is today. Gradually, over the past couple of decades especially, the church queen has been coming out of hiding.

The church queen is different in that he is not ashamed of who he is and confident in his contribution to the ministry. He defies most church dress codes for men because he wants you to know he doesn’t bow down or appeal to your expectations of what a traditional man should look like. He wants you to know this is who he is and dares you to try challenging that he is not just as anointed as you are. The church queen often is just as influential in their churches as well as outside. He is well-liked, charismatic, stylish, and usually well-versed in scripture.

This crowd knows the leverage they have with the church because for the most part, they own musical and stage operations. And everyone knows, you can’t have successful [black] church without good musicians and singers….. oh in ORDER that is. Let’s not forget this.

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And we, as the rest of the congregation, get high off the backs of these queens who usher in “the spirit” by leading praise and worship, calibrating the chords so we can shout, and giving us entertainment of corporate praise. Many times we have left church “high in the spirit” saying “We sure did have church today!!!” This all possible because of our church queens.

We also love to see the pastor and his wife waited on by these queens. They serve as many of our armor bearers and adjutants. How well they know how to serve and bring the right crystal glassware for the First Lady’s water break. How he knows how to iron and press the “man of God’s” shirts just right. Yes, yes… we may have not been paying attention, but over the years we often have to go through them now for the planning of the women’s conference, men’s conference and the youth revival. Why? Because they do it so well.

NOW BACK TO THE VIDEO

So enter Dr. Earl Carter at the grand temple of church queens everywhere: Church of God and Saints of Christ. Dr. Carter sought to call out homosexuality as illustrated by the queens. But he did not stop there. He went on to call out the COGIC leaders sitting on the platform that it is because of them that this demographic of church has been accelerating and growing. That they are too afraid to confront sin because of how the church may suffer if they do. And when you are a preacher that concerns himself with numbers of people, you are indeed very afraid – afraid that Bro. Sonny can take his ministry to any one of your competitors. In this regard, Dr. Carter called out their hypocrisy. If you watch the video, it’s quite entertaining to watch these leaders on the platform squirm as he calls them the Candyman and cheap because of how little it takes to sway them from orthodox standards. According to Carter, it only takes some “alligators” and some nice ties. He calls out the compromise.

I guess the issue I have with any of this at all, is that the black woman is still the main base of the church. And yet, when we are perceived as being in sin, we can’t lead ANYthing! Let us try to keep our position as choir director while pregnant again and not married. Let us try to be adjutant to the First Lady if we  have fallen into sexual sin. In many churches you will be sat down from the choir, usher board, or women’s ministry. And yet, the queens get to have all the sex they want, without these consequences because they are worth more to church. The church queen has surpassed the single black woman in the church when it comes to status. So now the hierarchy in the church looks something like this:

At the end of the day, I would have liked to have seen him spend more time with the fact that there could be no rise of church queens without the sponsorship of leadership. Not just because they are pimped for their gifts, but because many of the leaders, themselves, quietly support homosexuality because of their own sexual proclivities – married to women or not.

The church queens know this and many know where all the church bodies are buried. They won’t be sat down because they know where too many birthmarks are and favorite positions. Sorry if that is graphic, but it’s truth anyhow. So I say, “Carry on COGIC!!” Because even if this is not your denomination, we all know that COGIC is setting the African-American standard for the rest of us.

Oh and shout-out to Dr. Earl Carter!!! Oh and shout-out to the Church Queens!! I know. The contradiction right?

Ms. Justice