Posts Tagged ‘AME Exposed’

From the Los Angeles Wave…

LORDY, LORDY — Remember how, in November 2009, the Rev. John J. Hunter, pastor of the powerful First AME Church, was sued by the Rev.Brenda Lamothe, one of the church’s associate ministers, who charged that Hunter coerced her into a four-year, cross-country sexual relationship?

In a highly publicized series of events, Lamothe sued Hunter, First AME Church, the 5th Episcopal AME District and the national AME body — just about everybody. Remember how at the time of the lawsuit, and in an equally public forum, the church’s officials vehemently denied Lamothe’s claim and even cross-sued her for telling such “lies” about Hunter? Remember how last year rumors began circulating that a hefty settlement had been reached between Lamothe and the parties she sued and the church leadership rose up again and vehemently denied that any accord that been reached with Lamothe?

Well. Rumors began circulating anew last week. The new rumor has it that a multimillion dollar settlement was reached last month between Lamothe, Hunter, the church et al. I was told that this settlement is in the millions of dollars — “and not for one million and not for two million.” I went to one of FAME’s leaders who knows everything about the place, but he knew nothing about this latest rumor. My contact said he would ask Hunter about it and get back to me. Shortly thereafter, I received the following email from him: “Hey Betty, I talked to Pastor Hunter about the question you asked.

Pastor Hunter tells me all he can say is the matter has been resolved and he can’t comment further on advice from his attorney. He couldn’t even elaborate with me because of the agreement restrictions.” Uh huh. So we can deduce that the settlement is for at least $3 million.

Story HERE.

Lawsuit Docs HERE.

The Mo’Kelly Report is a syndicated politics and entertainment journal. Visit http://mrmokelly.com for the latest from Mr. Mo’Kelly. Contact him at mrmokelly@gmail.com.

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“It is resolved.”

That is the only statement either side can make regarding the outcome of the lawsuit of Rev. Brenda Lamothe against First AME of Los Angeles’ Rev. John Hunter.  There is a confidentiality agreement in place which precludes either side from remarking on the issue publicly (or privately) beyond the singular statement…

“It is resolved.”

Obviously, there would be no resolution without some multi-million dollar agreement being in place.  Prior to this moment, it was revealed to The Mo’Kelly Report that negotiations had been ongoing for quite some time, quite possibly to the point of a financial reward which exceeded First AME’s insurance policy.  If true and (bet the house it is) this would have required personal funds from the Hunters to make up for the rest.

And by “personal funds” we mean the church’s funds…their personal piggy bank (allegedly.)

As The Mo’Kelly Report further researches this agreement, it can be best surmised that John Hunter, who originally claimed complete innocence and argued that Lamothe was trying to extort him and the general AME church, decided to instead go the Eddie Long route and settled with no public acknowledgment of wrong-doing or sexual impropriety.

How “innocent-like” of him.

Developing…

Original lawsuit HERE.

 

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Last week pastor Xavier Thompson of Southern Missionary Baptist Church met with

other members of the Los Angeles-area clergy to pray and protest the FAIR Education Act (Senate Bill 48), which was signed into law in July by California governor Jerry Brown.

The law ensures that California public schools will include the historical contributions of lesbians, gays, bisexual and transgender people in the social science curriculum.

Prior to the meeting (which I did not attend) Thompson offered the following:

Let me be very clear, this is not an attack on the LGBT people or any particular group. I believe I am taking a stand for Biblical principles and righteous standards as outlined in the word of God. This is a big issue because you cannot sexualize history. The underlying impact of SB 48, I believe, is the advancement of a pro-homosexual, world-view in the public classroom,”

I don’t even know where to begin.

The “Black Church” as we’ve historically called it, (AME, Pentecostal, Baptist, COGIC, etc.) has long involved itself within the political debate and issues of societal importance…almost to a fault. Historically it was the place where African-Americans got news updates, health statuses of fellow members and recognized young people as they matriculated to college.

Today…not so much.

The call for a city-wide “prayer meeting” in protest of the FAIR Education Act exemplifies the desperation of the Black Church to remain relevant and typifies the extreme, hypocritical lengths in which it will go to generate media coverage.

This is not about whether the FAIR Education Act should or should not have been signed into law. This is about the gross negligence of the Black church locally and more broadly.

If “Biblical principles and righteous standards as outlined in the word of God” were the litmus test for city-wide prayer meetings and calls-to-action, then why was there no such gathering with respect to Proposition 19, the measure to legalize marijuana in California? Of all the issues which disproportionately and directly affect African-American young people (and would be in direct contradiction to what’s outlined in the word of God,) the Black Church community should have been all over it.

With the exception of Oakland’s Bishop Ron Allen…there was absolute silence.

Rev. John Hunter of the venerable First AME in Los Angeles and NINETEEN other local ministers, INCLUDING XAVIER THOMPSON recently “protested” the treatment of Dodgers owner and multimillionaire Frank McCourt by Major League Baseball.

Actual letter HERE.

Really guys…that’s the best idea that anyone could come up with in terms of ministerial outreach and Christian service?  That’s a meaningful use of resources, influence and social capital in accordance to the word of God?

And speaking of John Hunter, he’s STILL in court regarding a potential 7-figure sexual misconduct lawsuit due to the alleged abuse and coercion of a minister on his own staff. Where was the city-wide prayer meeting to protest the mistreatment of women in the church or the rampant sexual misconduct of ministers both near and far? Again, if “Biblical principles and righteous standards as outlined in the word of God” were the litmus test for city-wide prayer meetings and calls-to-action, then the FAIR Education Act needs to get to the back of the line.

There’s plenty wrong with L.A. public schools and of far greater importance than this minor portion of the social science curriculum.

Of the ten worst elementary schools in all of California, Los Angeles County boasts 4 of them. Yes, four of the worst elementary schools in all California are right here in these ministers’ own backyard. But Xavier Thompson wants you and me to gather in prayer and strategize to help repeal a law which effectively translates to some 10 minutes of social science per week…if that.  Ignore the other 6 educational hours of the school day, just deal with these ten or so minutes.

Do the math…pun intended.

Again, this isn’t about whether one should agree with the FAIR Education Act; don’t miss the point. This is about understanding the reality that the issue is comparatively of minimal and marginal importance. Our priorities are hideously out of kilter, wasting resources and social capital for the purpose of generating ephemeral media coverage.

Where was the city-wide prayer and protest meeting to decrease the violence or increase the number of teachers hired in Los Angeles schools to help improve the educational environment?

John Hunter has a wanton history of “allegedly” sexually abusing a member of his own staff, yet none of the influential Los Angeles clergy publicly will say a mumbling word about it.

The reason why so many churches in Los Angeles and beyond are empty and struggling to survive, is tied to biblical hypocrisy and the worldly aspirations of its leadership. Standing on the word of God only when it is politically expedient or makes for good copy in a press release is transparent and self-serving at best and sacrilege at worst. Instead of publicly condemning the Hunters and Eddie Longs of the Black clergy, they’ve opted to push the hot-button of gay rights to rile up church members…again, under the guise of acting in accordance to the word of God…again.

Here’s a question…will Eddie Long be now taught in social science thanks to the FAIR Education Act?  It only makes sense to highlight the contributions of all gay people, right?

Just posing a question…

What also makes sense is that we save our protests for use against the Black Church itself, until it  stops using the word of God to serve political and personal goals of self-aggrandizement.

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So First AME pastor John Hunter, who calls himself “Dr.” although he is neither an M.D. or PhD is protesting the treatment of Frank McCourt, the owner of the Dodgers? Of all the problems to address or positions to take in the city of Los Angeles, John Hunter has chosen the plight of a multi-millionaire sports franchise owner.

L.A. Times story HERE.

Not exactly feeding the hungry and clothing the naked.

Remember this is the same John Hunter who racked up $122k in unapproved personal expenses on the church’s credit card and is presently embroiled in a sexual misconduct scandal by “allegedly” forcing another minister on his staff to engage in repeated sex acts.

The Black Church is in a sorry state…still.

Major League Baseball? Preachers are giving press conferences regarding Major League Baseball…

Pastor Dion Evans of Oakland eloquently outlines the silliness in The Hinterland Gazette, acknowledging the more pressing and present issues such as the gang-related mauling of Brian Stowe at Dodger stadium opening day.  Or how about the early release of Oscar Grant’s killer?

Black church…silent on these issues, but all-in on Frank McCourt.

Really?

It seems it’s time for Mo’Kelly to start back in on John Hunter…

Hunter lawsuit documents HERE.

The Mo’Kelly Report is an entertainment journal with a political slant; published at The Huffington Post and EURWEB.com. For more Mo’Kelly,http://mrmokelly.com. Mr. Mo’Kelly can be reached at mrmokelly@gmail.com.

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For those who were listening to Mo’Kelly’s interview on ‘Issues After Dark,’ the subject of Mo’Kelly’s series on the corruption of the AME church was a central topic.  On the program the host Dion Evans made mention of a particular piece which lit up the program.  To that end it is now re-posted for your perusal.  It’s not for the faint of heart or weak of stomach.

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http://mrmokelly.com/2009/03/ame-exposed-special-report-the-sinister-bryant-ame-connection/

UPDATE 3.18.09 – 10:15pm: A prominent 5th District minister emailed Mo’Kelly and indicated that Rev. Hubert Armstrong of the 4th District (who punched the woman in the youtube video below) is now deceased and most likely died before the changeover in bishops in 2008.

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Yesterday (Tuesday) a settlement was reached in the lawsuit against AME Bishop John Bryant for his role/responsibility in allowing (the late) Rev. Sylvester Laudermill Jr. to molest multiple minors in both St. Louis and Los Angeles AME churches. For the AME savvy, the Bryant name is not unfamiliar with controversy.

Bishop Bryant’s son Jamal-Harrison Bryant, is pastor of

the 10,000-member Empowerment Temple AME church in Baltimore. Ironically, in J.H. Bryant’s most recent Father’s Day sermon titled, The Curse of R-Kelly, he asked “where are the fathers who will protect their children from pedophiles,” like the singer (who later was acquitted on all charges).

Not so ironically, the youtube clips featuring the sermon were recently pulled…which Mo’Kelly takes to be uh…um…a “coincidence.”

Yes, fathers, pedophiles and the AME church…a “coincidence.”

For those unaware, J.H. Bryant’s ministry has long been dogged by accusations of adultery and sodomy, including an unsubstantiated rumor that the younger Bryant impregnated a 17-year-old girl. Although church officers asked him to step down pending a paternity test, Bryant remained in the pulpit. No word on the result of the paternity test or if one was ever given. This is not including a recent revelation that he has an 8-year-old daughter from before his marriage, made public due to court-ordered child support, not through public admission.

Yes, fathers, pedophiles and the AME church…a “coincidence.”

And for those who doubted the veracity of the rumors, they were enough for his then wife Gizelle to file for divorce in February of 2008, alleging among other things, adultery.

The Baltimore Sun characterized their marriage as follows:

“Bryant and his wife, a former model, are known for their flashy lifestyle, which includes a Bentley and a multimillion-dollar Canton waterfront property. Their lifestyle has attracted criticism from those who say the church is more about his business enterprises and building wealth than religion. Her original divorce complaint stated that he earned more than $350,000 a year.”

If the city of “Baltimore” jumps out at you the reader, it’s probably because that once upon a time, the elder Bryant used to pastor the venerable Bethel AME in Baltimore. That would be the SAME Bethel AME back in the news for its music minister Timothy Price being sentenced to 7 years in prison for repeatedly raping a 12-year old girl recently. “Coincidentally,” the younger J.H. Bryant was also the assistant pastor at Bethel from 1997-2000.

Yes, fathers, pedophiles and the AME church…a “coincidence.”

Price story HERE.

But back to the younger Bryant…

If you look more closely at the history of J.H. Bryant, the mounting “circumstantial” evidence and “hmmm factor” rises considerably. Prior to ever becoming a pastor, J.H. Bryant served as the director of the national NAACP’s youth and college division.

Yes, youth and college division.

The elder, Bishop John Bryant has now been embroiled in two separate molestation scandals, both connected to the late Rev. Sylvester Laudermill Jr., who Bryant transferred from St. Louis to Los Angeles in the midst of an already brooding St. Louis molestation scandal. According to a source closely connected to the family of “John Doe” victim in Los Angeles who contacted The Mo’Kelly Report; although “John Doe” in Los Angeles was NOT infected with HIV, the aforementioned St. Louis victim was in fact infected with HIV.

Laudermill died in October of 2008 due to cancer.

There is legitimate reason to believe the cancer was AIDS-related. The recent lawsuits levied at Ward AME in Los Angeles in connection to Laudermill and Bryant were both settled in February and March respectively. The first settlement is reportedly $300,000 and the second is not publicly known and is sealed under court order. Although it is presumed that any settlement amount for both cases will be paid by the General Church and Bishop Bryant personally…the public will wait and see if Bryant will liquidate some or all of his five houses and his Bentley. Presumably the area churches will also likely be assessed to help pick up the bill.

If that wasn’t troubling enough, Bishop Bryant met with the other AME bishops in Tampa, Florida in June of 2002 to specifically examine AME doctrine and policy in regards to sexual abuse and impropriety committed by pastors.

June 2002 – TWO years prior to the Laudermill transfer.

Full story HERE

“It signals to us the need to carefully review the administrative processes we employ in handling such issues. We have all (denominations) similarly faced difficult, embarrassing and very sensitive failures on the part of leaders.”

- Bishop Adam Richardson Jr. (June 2002)

Again, the transfer of Rev. Sylvester Laudermill Jr. from St. Louis to Los Angeles, despite the public allegations occurred in 2004, two years after this gathering.

The AME doctrine even as of 2002 was clear that allegations of misconduct be reported to a bishop or presiding elder. A committee is then to investigate and determine whether a minister is at fault and should be dismissed or suspended. No hearing was convened in regards to Laudermill and not surprisingly, a second incident occurred in Los Angeles in subsequent years.

But wait, there’s more…

Mind you this was THREE years after the highly publicized Saundra

McFadden/Rev. Ron Williams Kansas City debauchery/sexual harassment case of 1999 where a minister used his affair with a member as leverage in his threat to ruin both her marriage and career.

Full story HERE. (Note, this link is VERY GRAPHIC in nature in terms of described imagery.)

View Rev. McFadden-Weaver’s Myspace Page HERE

The McFadden/Williams scandal/lawsuit also occurred in the 5^th district of the AME church.

Another “coincidence” to be sure.

But to sum up the McFadden-Weaver saga…check out Bishop Vernon R. Byrd.

Bishop Byrd, in his deposition, admitted that there was “no investigation” of Saundra’s sexual harassment claims and that he took no action when his secretary complained that Prince Albert Williams had made inappropriate comments to her. He admitted that the AME church had no sexual harassment policy until 1996.

When asked what option a woman had if she were being sexually harassed, he said she should “examine herself.”

“What should she examine herself for?” Fletcher asked.

“For whatever reason she wants to examine herself…. [She should ask] herself, ‘How did I get in this position?’” Byrd replied.

If the church had never taken punitive actions against anyone for alleged sexual harassment, Fletcher asked, how would people know those activities were wrong?

“That’s on them,” Bishop Byrd replied.

Prince Albert Williams was transferred to Kansas and received a cut in salary, and Bishop Byrd retired to Arizona.

(Note 5.6.09 – Bishop Byrd passed)

Bishop Bryant was appointed the presiding prelate of the 5th district during the adjudication of this lawsuit, STILL TWO years prior to the church convening to address sexual abuse and harassment doctrine in full and four full years before deciding to transfer Laudermill to Los Angeles.

After Bishop Bryant left the 5^th district in 2008 (bishops must move posts after 8 years), he landed in the 4^th district. That would be the same 4^th district in which Rev. Hubert Armstrong of St. James Church in St. Paul, Minnesota was reappointed in the midst of allegations of theft. Oh and he also punched a woman in the face…ON CAMERA.

To date, I can find no evidence of disciplinary action taken against Armstrong, which “coincidentally” would have fallen under the responsibility of Bishop Bryant.

The sinister Bryant connection to the AME church and the scandals contained therein continue…

RELATED:

2nd Settlement Reached in Laudermill/Ward AME Molestation Case

AME Church Exposed Part II – Interview w/ Rev. Kupaji Jaliwa

The Mo’Kelly Report is an entertainment journal with a political slant; published at The Huffington Post and EURWEB.com. For more Mo’Kelly, http://mrmokelly.com. Mr. Mo’Kelly can be reached at mrmokelly@gmail.com.

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Rev. Timothy Tyler

For those who may be of the opinion that churches and Christians are not about the business…Shorter AME in Denver continues “Cutting Through the Crisis.”  It’s nice to know that some churches are still about something other than money.

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http://www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=138625&catid=339?bctid=84448524001

DENVER – At a time when many churches across the country are seeing a decrease in their donations, the members of Shorter Community African Methodist Episcopal Church have increased their giving in an effort to give back.

“We’ve asked the people (of the church) to make an $11,000 sacrifice to the community,” said Shorter Community AME Church Pastor Dr. Timothy Tyler. “The people of this church, their hearts and big and their spirits are great and they’ve done it without complaint.”

The $11,000 will be distributed among dozens of people who are in need of help paying their medical bills. The church calls their program “Cutting Through the Crisis.” Last year, for the first time, the church did the same type of donation but focused its efforts on helping people pay rent, mortgage and utility bills. This year’s funds will go towards covering doctor’s visits, prescriptions and major medical bills.

“Say if you have a doctor’s visit and you pay a copay. Then we will reimburse you every time you have to pay a copay up to $200.”

The major medical bill grants will be $500 each. Two of them will be given away. Some grants will also provide free haircuts and a bag full of groceries (valued at $30) at a cost of $5 for people in need.

“The church has a role to play in helping people in our community and in our church. And we don’t think you have to just look to the government or the president for answers,” said Tyler.

The awarding of the grants will happen at a special church service on May 30th. The service will cap of a week-long schedule of activities aimed at getting people to better understand their health. They include a fitness night and a conference to help answer people’s questions about health care reform.

The grants are awarded to people who are members or non-members of the church. Tyler adds that the church doesn’t require that a grant applicant be a Christian.

“Our goal is not to make you a Christian. Our goal is to BE Christian,” he said.

The church will also give a $1,000 grant to a community organization that will hold a health-related program for the community.

The deadline to apply for a grant is May 14th. Applications can be picked up at Shorter Community AME Church, at 3100 Richard Allen Court in Denver, or accessed via the church’s website at www.shorterame.org (application link: http://www.shorterame.org/images/Prescription%20Doctor%20Co-Pay%20Grant%20Application.pdf )

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Mo’Kelly told you so, including the amount ONE WHOLE YEAR IN ADVANCE!

Related: The Sinister AME/Bryant Connection

Full story HERE

*Irvine, California, Trial Attorney Gregory Brown secures the largest settlement in firm history in a sexual molestation case against the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME) in Los Angeles, CA.

While some justice has been served in the courts, the victim(s) will have to deal with the fallout for the rest of their lives. It is truly unfortunate that such predators can survive for such long periods of time Mr. Brown has stated that “After 2 years of denial and cover up, the Ward AME Church, greater AME Church, Inc. and Bishop John R. Bryant, have decided to settle the largest of sexual molestation claims that were pending against the church.” AME is the largest all black church in the world, with over 2,500 congregations.

“The victim (“John Doe”) can now finally move on from unbelievable anxiety, anger, embarrassment and backlash faced as a result of the Church’s head pastor, Sylvester Laudermill (deceased), multiple molestations and later attempts to cover up,” says Mr. Brown. Mr. Brown believes “the trial would have been a media circus and could have dealt a crushing blow to the organization, already suffering severely from other financial scandals and a crippling economy.”

According to Mr. Brown, the settlements with Bishop John R. Bryant and the AME Church, Inc. are confidential, subject to a $100,000 liquidated damages clause for revealing the settlement amount. Just before the trial, the least culpable defendant, Ward AME paid $300,000. “Of course, this was after their attorneys lead the slanderous charge against the victim, turned down a prior $100,000 settlement offer and ran up at least $400,000 in attorney’s fees!” says Mr. Brown

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Related: The Sinister AME/Bryant Connection

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From L.A. Weekly

Attorneys for Brenda Lamothe, the reverend who has taken First AME Church Pastor and head John J. Hunter to court over allegations of sexual harassment, on Friday released evidence they say proves Lamothe was being employed by the church at the time she alleges Hunter coerced her to have sex as part of “God’s will.”

Lamothe’s side argues that Hunter’s lawyers played a dirty trick by demonstrating that Lamothe had resigned from the church on Sept. 10, 2008, long before she says she cut ties with First AME — last June — casting some doubt about her claims. However, Lamothe’s representatives released documents showing she indeed stayed on at the church as a part-time preacher at least through April of this year.

Full story HERE.

RELATED:

John Hunter Sued by Rev. Brenda Lamothe