Posts Tagged ‘AME Exposed’

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/

Bishop John R. Bryant

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

Jamal-Harrison Bryant

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

Bishop Adam Richardson Jr.

“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

Rev. Saundra McFadden-Weaver

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.

Bishop Vernon R. Byrd

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

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

A rather even-handed article was posted in the local Los Angeles newspaper Our Weekly.  It gives the non-Mo’Kelly Report reader a broader historical perspective of the issues which exist in this situation and leading up to this moment.

It details how Bishop T. Larry Kirkland was made aware in July of the numerous issues in First AME…18 members filed formal charges (church-speak for “official AME compaint”).

It also details how Lamothe went to the church FIRST in an attempt to resolve the issue internally, before filing the lawsuit.

First AME could have dealt with this internally and the public (and parishioners) would have been spared the embarrassment and gory details.

This “could” have been addressed internally…but instead, the church did what the church does.  It gets what it gets.  I guess the three articles in the L.A. Times weren’t enough of a hint that Pastor Jack-Off is bad news…pun intended.

Get ready for #4…

Full article HERE.

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BREAKING NEWS: First AME Officer Constance Fortune Releases Statement!  Click HERE!

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Rev. Lamothe released a statement and some poignant evidence.  Mo’Kelly will simply post the information and let it stand on its own.  You’re free to discuss it in the comment section and form your own opinions.

Mo’Kelly has only two words…”Pastor Jack-off” (Hunter)

You’ll know what Mo’Kelly means shortly.

Here’s an excerpt from Rev. Lamothe’s statement.

The time has now come for John Hunter to tell the truth.  To reconcile with God and his congregation.  John Hunter has said that I am lying about the things he’s done.

However, among other things, I know that John Hunter has a 4-5 inch vertical scar on the right side of his buttocks and hip area.  It is a very clean scar, like fine brown line. I know this because of the abuse I have suffered, and it is the truth.”

(Was it just Mo’Kelly but when Rev. Lamothe said “4-5 inch” did you just KNOW she was going for another body part, not a “vertical scar?!”

Or…was it just Mo’Kelly, but did Rev. Lamothe HINT at it with the “among other things” comment?

Maybe Mo’Kelly is reading too much into all of this.)

Tell the truth Pastor Jack-off!

Brenda Lamothe Official Statement HERE

“Pastor Jack-Off’s” Love Note HERE

Love Note #2 HERE

Pastor Jack-Off?!?!?!?!?!?!

"Pastor Jack-Off"

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