Posts Tagged ‘Kupaji Jaliwa’

Put this in the “Now Ain’t THAT a Bitch” File…

5th District Bishop T. Larry Kirkland, in an “effort” to address the “criminal” misgivings of pastors and arguably limit future financial liability has implemented a policy of administering criminal background checks for all pastors.

Mind you, it doesn’t mean much when the Bishop in question is too of questionable disposition as it relates to financial disposition.  Mind you, it doesn’t mean much when Kirkland is on record in “support” of First AME pastor John Hunter, who had ALREADY admitted to stealing (at least) $122,000 in the form of improper church credit card expenses.  The same John Hunter who is the process of ANOTHER sexual misconduct scandal, which may result in lawsuit.

What’s the purpose of a backround check if the pastors presently in one’s employ are committing crimes without ANY disciplinary action?  That’s having said NOTHING about the estimated 5 million dollars in missing property proceeds which never hit the church’s books.

Criminal background check?  Mo’Kelly would settle for a simple REALITY check.

Mind you, reports are rolling in that Grant AME pastor Leslie White will be PROMOTED to presiding elder (think: district manager of area churches) during this week’s highly anticipated Southern California Area Conference although his present church is up for auction due to foreclosure.  And that’s having nothing to do with the parsonage sale of more than $800,000…which of course never hit the church’s books.

Criminal background check?

Check out the letter HERE.

Neither of the aforementioned have faced ANY disciplinary action and none of the information presented here in The Mo’Kelly Report has either been debunked or disputed.  The information continues to stand unopposed.

After it was made known that Bishop Kirkland would require background checks of its pastors, Rev. Kupaji Jaliwa, an itinerate minister of 2nd AME here in Los Angeles went on the record and published the following open letter to Bishop Kirkland.

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To: Bishop T. Larry Kirkland
Presiding Prelate of the 5th Episcopal District

From: Rev. Kupaji Jaliwa
Itinerate Elder

CC: Council of Bishops
Presiding Elders of the 5th Episcopal District
Clergy (Ordained and Non Ordained)
Members-At-Large of the African Methodist Episcopal Church

RE: Open Letter Regarding Criminal Background Checks For All Clergy

First, Bishop Kirkland I want to thank you for your insight and making this requirement a reality within our Zion. I know I had a conversation about this very thing with my Presiding Elder a few years ago, and he insisted that this would not happen because people would leave the church or not volunteer. However, I don’t think it should be just limited to the clergy. I believe that anyone that works with our children, handle our money, and work in areas that require full confidentiality should have a Criminal Background Check. Too often we find after the fact about the character and backgrounds of these people and by then it’s too late.

But I am a little confused. In accordance with Bishop Carolyn Tyler Guidry, in her response to my Formal Charges I filed against you, that if it’s not in the Discipline, it can’t be done. I can’t seem to find anything in the Discipline regarding the clergy having a Criminal Background Check. Is this new policy?

Back in June, at our Quarterly Conference, Presiding Elder Copeland told our Pastor that he could not ask members to sign a “Confidentiality Form” because it was not in the Discipline. Now you are requesting that the clergy do something that is not in the Discipline – I don’t understand. Is the Discipline only being used for what those in “authority” wants or is it to be a tool that we use to govern ourselves within our Zion? I am confused.

There are some concerns, that I wish you would take time and address:

1. Is this new policy? If so, why would you not be up front with what’s going on to make the new policy? I understand, that with the recent illegal activities, in the church universal, Insurance Companies, Banks, and even the IRS maybe asking for more information. If so, why can’t you just say that, instead of a 5 sentence letter with no information? We are just being told to ‘do’ it.

2. If this is not a new policy, then what happens if someone refuses to get a Criminal Background Check?

3. Is this happening across the connection? As a Connectional Church has this gone through the Council of Bishops and the General Board? According to the 2008 Discipline, “No other funds are to be collected by the Episcopal district except for emergencies declared by the Council of Bishops and concurred by the General Board”. Page 255, Section II. Episcopal District Budget.

4. Don’t you have to have approval through the General Conference to implement new policy or legislation or funds?

5. What will happen to the information once you get it?

6. How will it be used?

7. What will happen to those who have been arrested, convicted, or pleaded guilty or no-contest? What will you do with them? There are some who, maybe 20 to 30 years ago had a brush with the law, but have changed their live completely. How will this information impact them?

8. Who will be responsible for maintaining this information in confidence? I hope not the same people that are in charge now that hold secret meetings, hearings and trials without notifying the accused, but share the information with the general public. I hope not the same pastors who have lost church property, admitted to miss-using church funds, accused of sexual misconduct, who cheat on their wives, or who are abusive to their wives, children and members.

9. Is this just a smoke screen – to change the conversation prior to Annual Conference?

10. As the employer who is requiring the Criminal Background Check, why would it be an expense to the clergy and not incurred by your office?

I know that there are a number of clergy who will give you $25.00 and do a Criminal Background Check without any knowledge of what this information will be used for nor will they ask the question. They will just “blindly” follow.

In addition from your letter, the Presiding Elders knew that you where making these changes. However, my Pastor was not notified until Tuesday, October 20, 2009 only after making an inquiry into when we are to make our Annual Report. So just how long has this been a discussion? And why are the Pastors and clergy just now finding out?

Now maybe I have jumped the gun, and maybe it was only for those in Copeland’s District, due to the fact that the letter sent was addressed to him and dated October 9, 2009.

I truly would appreciate you taking time out of your busy schedule to address my concerns. I am sure that I am not the only one with these concerns.

Thank you and I look forward to your response.
RELATED: Rev. Jaliwa Interviewed in The Mo’Kelly Report 3.10.09

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UPDATE 3.31.09

More Financial “Coincidences” HERE

UPDATE 3.23.09 – Rev. Kupaji Jaliwa calls out Bishop T. Larry Kirkland in open letter!  Click HERE

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UPDATE 3.19.09

BREAKING SPECIAL REPORT:

FIVE MILLION DOLLARS unaccounted for at FAME as part of Rev. John Hunter’s plan to pay off church credit card charges!

CLICK HERE!

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UPDATE 3.18.09

BREAKING SPECIAL REPORT: The Sinister ‘Bryant’ AME Connection – CLICK HERE!!!

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BREAKING NEWS 3.15.09 – 7:40am PDT

Rev. John Hunter, AKA “Pastor John” AKA “head of the Ministerial Efficiency Committee (read: ministerial misconduct adjudication committee), it has been revealed that he has taken out a 2.7 million dollar loan on a church property owned by First AME.  Hmmm, wonder where the money is going.  Also, he recently convened an “EMERGENCY” meeting of the officers board to have them sign non-disclosure agreements.  Hmmm, wonder why he would do that?!

More information HERE

UPDATE #3 – 3.11.09 – 8:30am PDT Here’s the information

“Ward AME settled their portion of the lawsuit in early February for $300,000.

I can tell you that I am 100% sure that John Doe in Los Angeles does NOT have HIV.

It is John Doe T in St. Louis that has been infected, unfortunately.

Also, John Doe in Los Angeles was 16 when the incident occurred in late 2005.”

UPDATE #2 3.11.09 – 7:30am PDT

A person…no correction, PEOPLE with firsthand knowledge of the case have contacted Mo’Kelly will ALL the specifics of the Ward AME settlement and ancillary issues.  Given that there is still a legal proceeding at hand, Mo’Kelly is making sure everything is in order before posting “everything” here.  Just know, the info is coming!  Right now, just dotting the ‘i’s’ and crossing the ‘t’s’ and corroborating the information.  I don’t say this with any level of glee.  The information is both saddening and disheartening.

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UPDATE:  Word is trickling in that WARD AME has settled its lawsuit in regards to the alleged sexual molestation of a then 15-year old boy by (the late) Sylvester Laudermill Jr. in 2004.  Speculation has abounded whether Laudermill died of AIDS (and not unrelated cancer) and also infected the “John Doe” with HIV.  Please email Mr. Mo’Kelly with any specifics regarding this case and the amount of the settlement attached to Mo@MrMoKelly.com

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OK, so I lied. Well not exactly. Originally it was intended for Part II in this series on the AME church to feature Rev. Dr. Frederick O. Murph and have him give his sense of the state of the AME church and just how his latest issues have evolved.

And Part III was to feature a female minister presently involved in the AME Church.

Given the tremendous response to Part I, which featured an extended interview with Los Angeles Wave columnist Betty Pleasant, “Part III” desired not to wait. Meaning…Part III then became Part II.

Yes, I will still speak to Dr. Murph and get his first interview since his transfer from Bookins AME, but Rev. Kupaji Jaliwa of 2^nd AME church in Los Angeles just couldn’t wait to tell about her trials and tribulations in the AME church…as well as give her personal testimony.

All I can say is that our conversation was powerful. From Rev. Kupaji’s allegations of a pastor threatening to “cut her throat” from ear to ear, to also being assaulted by another female minister…she speaks of experiences and issues of which she’s never spoken publicly or discussed openly.

And with that, I present to you the new “Part II” of The Mo’Kelly Report’s AME Church Exposed series, my conversation with Rev. Kupaji Jaliwa.

Click HERE.

Part I – Interview w/ Betty Pleasant, Contributing Editor of The Los Angeles Wave

The Mo’Kelly Report is an entertainment journal with a political slant; published weekly at www.eurweb.com. It is meant to inform, infuse and incite meaningful discourse…as well as entertain. The Mo’Kelly Report is syndicated by Blogburst. For more Mo’Kelly, http://www.MrMoKelly.com.  Mo’Kelly can be reached at Mo@MrMoKelly.com and he welcomes all commentary.

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