CALIFORNIA
Gay Christian Movement Watch
**an exclusive report**
Report COGIC Abuse has obtained a copy of the civil lawsuits filed by two California women against a former Administrative Assistant to Bishop George McKinney, Southern California 2nd Jurisdiction.
The twin 28 page lawsuits names COGIC, Inc., Donald K. Barrett, his wife Ruth Barrett, So California 2nd Jurisdiction, Greater Gospel Center COGIC, New Directions COGIC and DOES 1-50 as defendants. Among the charges cited in the 1st suit are Assault and Battery, Intentional infliction of emotional distress, fraud and constructive fraud. The 2nd suit alleges assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence, breach of fiduciary duty, physical abuse of a dependent adult and financial abuse of a dependent adult.
Sadly, the Barrett case represents yet another unseemly blight on the reputation of the nation’s largest black pentecostal denomination. In 2009, COGIC presiding Bishop Charles Blake admitted to the church’s General Assembly that on average COGIC annually pays out almost 1 million dollars to settle sex abuse cases [source]. At the crux of the problem are male leaders who use their authority, influence, talents and at times brute force to rape, molest, and sexually devastate men, women and children of both genders. The problem is fairly expansive involving every level of leadership the church has in place. Additionally, COGIC clergy sexual abuse cases have been cited in 29 different states. See more here and here. Denominational leaders have not been aggressive in dealing with sexual crimes committed by clergy and in many cases have turned a blind eye. Recent developments still show an unwillingness to tender justice to victims via a more comprehensive victims advocacy policy. Instead, the church has an ineffective institutional policy advising churches on how to protect themselves.
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