Posts Tagged ‘Leslie White’

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.

_______________

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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A number of readers have asked privately why are the shenanigans of the Black church generally or the AME church specifically of any importance to the general readership of The Mo’Kelly Report.

It’s a fair question, deserving of a fair answer.

It likely isn’t of great importance to the widest swath of readers.  But that’s the beauty of The Mo’Kelly Report.  There aren’t any advertisers, no underwriters, no sponsors…ergo no interference from outsiders.  The Mo’Kelly Report hasn’t ever been about “revenue” per se, otherwise it would’ve grown very differently.  It’s been about telling the truth.

To that end…

There has been much discussion of the disarray of the Los Angeles area churches of the 5th district of the AME church, the oldest Black church denomination in America.  Pastors of many of these churches have been discreetly selling off church property without putting the proceeds from the sale on the books.  Pastors have been mortgaging sanctuaries in order to put money in both their pocket and the pockets of the presiding elders and bishops.

As The Mo’Kelly Report has prided itself on documentation, not speculation…today will be no different.  With no further ado…Mo’Kelly will let the documentation speak for itself.

Bryant Temple AME – Pastor Clyde Oden Jr.

"Sly" Clyde Oden

Below you will find two documents, one detailing a loan taken out against the main property of 2525 W. Vernon Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90008  Bryant Temple is presently pastored by Clyde Oden, member of the Ministerial Efficiency Committee…along with Pastor Property Taxes (John Hunter) and Pastor Leslie White of Grant AME.  Leslie White is addressed further down.

March 21, 2006 – $249,500.00

July 23, 2008 – Refinanced mortgage amount of 176,415.18

This would be the SAME Clyde Oden wrapped up in the Watts Health Foundation financial controversy, regarding non-payment, insufficient payment and late payment of insurance claims.  State regulators took it over amid numerous claims of financial improprieties and “questionable” accounting practices.  See August 9, 2001 Los Angeles Times article below.

http://articles.latimes.com/2001/aug/09/business/fi-32277

Grant AME – Pastor Leslie White

Big Daddy Foreclosure

Below you will find notice of foreclosure of historic church at 10435 S. Central Ave.  40,657.03 in arrears.  Dated April 21, 2009

Click HERE

Mind you, this was the SAME Leslie White on the Ministerial Efficiency Committee adjudicating the case of Rev. Dr. Frederick O. Murph regarding supposed improper loans when his own church WAS IN FORECLOSURE.  Not “close” to foreclosure…IN FORECLOSURE.  To date, Bishop Kirkland has neither brought White up on charges nor formally reprimanded him (just like John Hunter).  Coincidentally, the bank which owns the deed is Broadway Federal, which “coincidentally” has done personal and professional business with Bishop T. Larry Kirkland for more than 20 years.  Just FYI.  Just throwin’ that out there.  Mo’Kelly’s just sayin’.

And below that you will find bill of sale of church parsonage (e.g. church property) by the pastor Leslie White, without neither appropriate permission from the trustees and steward board nor deposit of proceeds into church fund. FOR

$850,000!

How can a church be 40,000 in arrears and the pastor sell the parsonage for $850,000 and NOT bring the main sanctuary up to date?!  And not inform the church officers on EITHER transaction?! That sounds criminal.  Mo’Kelly’s just throwin’ it out there.  Just sayin’.

Click HERE.

Mo’Kelly has plenty more…but will sit on it for now.  The 5th District Annual Conference approaches.  No need to post everything now.  In due time.