(photo: cogicabusewatch)
COGIC Chronicles: St. James Holiness COGIC Church Harbored 5 Pedophiles in Ministry?
Today, Report COGIC Abuse confirmed that the St James Holiness COGIC in Toledo, OH, now has the dubious distinction of having had 5 sexual offenders in its ministry ranks. St. James Church is also known as “The Armory” [website here]. The church is a part of the Ohio North Jurisdiction where Bishop Edward Cook presides. (We've said it before: who would let a man that looks like this in their church as an employee?)
According to law enforcement officials at the Lucas County (OH) Jail, Eddie Jordan, a Sunday School teacher at the church, is incarcerated and awaiting trial on 3 counts of kidnapping and 2 counts of attempted rape.
In November 2009, RCA broke the heinous story of this same church who had harbored 4 other convicted pedophiles in leadership positions.
According to the report, since the church had four convicted pedophiles operating in its ministry, with the knowledge of it's pastor, he never made the men leave the church before the authorities were involved. Apparently the predatory activities were ongoing even as some of these men operated as leaders in the church. Let's be clear: these men committed their crimes while members/employees of the church and the pastor allegedly sent letters in prison in support of these men. (Stay tuned for the update on that one).
These are the four men who were on the payroll at St James: James Jones, an organist; Arthur Bishop, a saxophonist;Bryan Watkins, a minister; and Nathan Fullove, an organist.
We have to continue to pray for the COGIC church and any other church that operates in such disregard to their members and God himself. It would not be an issue if these men were ex-cons and on the up and up to restoration. Unfortunately, some of them were not and just take a look at what harm they have caused.
