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Not a lawyer, but ...

Acts Enthusiast Posts: 1994 **2/21/24 8:23 am**

Not a lawyer, but I do wonder about AJT and the investigating committee in 1923. I think there is a reason this took place between assemblies (1922 / 1923), as it was an effort to undercut AJT's influence and position before he could have the report examined and refute it during the assembly.

First, I think the assembly minutes of 1922 would show that AJT told the assembly about the shortage of funds and how he had paid church bills that were due by using funds from other accounts. He offered to resign, and the assembly, including those who later served on the committee (some of whom promoted him as General Overseer for life in 1914), refused his resignation.

It was between assemblies that the "committee" developed their charges, based on an audit preformed by an accounting firm (Lee A. Battle Audit Co) hired by the committee. This audit was used by the ten elders in preparing the list of impeachment charges against AJT. According to court records, in 1925, during the litigation process the audit was analyzed in detail and was declared by the court as "utterly worthless." Yet to this day, many in the COG believe the lie that AJT stole money from the church and orphanage for his own personal profit.

Other charges, such as AJT involvement with "The Faithful Standard" as being a business enterprise outside his duties as GO over look the fact that several other church leaders had business, like Llewellyn, who had a used car business, and even sold the COG a car which he used in his ministry functions. At least AJT's involvement was Christian magazine, which some on the committee served on as editors, and was ministry based and not secular.

I feel AJT should have made a better distinction between his allotment and funds for ministry, as he paid to much of his income to support church ministries that should have paid their own way or left to die. He also should have kept better records. He gave to much to the development of the COG and paid to high a price. (One of those money hungry committee members wanted to set up a company to sell farm and home items directly to the church members - and it was not Amway.)

Again, what was the reason for the committee making their report public before the 1923 assembly? Was it because AJT had seen the dangers the COG "Constitution" and condemned it in pervious assemblies? By the way, when did the COG do away with the constitution after the committee unmined AJT? Just three years later in 1926.

AJT should have not trusted the investigating committee and should have gotten legal counsel as soon as the committee was formed. Likewise, he should have taken the members of the committee to court before they took him to court. Likewise, he should have had his own auditor instead of trusting the committees auditor. One interesting fact about this audit firm is that they also worked for the Daughters of the Confederacy. I wonder who suggested the committee hire them?

I would suggest that any minister being investigated by an ecclesiastical committee/court hire an attorney and that every local church have one in place in case.

It is often the case, denominational leaders use polity to silence out spoken critics on their leadership, yet use that same leadership position to cover moral and sexual failures of their friends.

Mat

New Member Posts: 23 **2/21/24 9:50 am**

Acts-pert Poster Posts: 16646 **2/21/24 9:57 am**

New Member Posts: 23 **2/21/24 9:58 am**

Acts-pert Poster Posts: 16646 **2/21/24 12:23 pm**

Hey, DOC Posts: 58 **2/22/24 9:30 am**

Who has the real interest for complete silence and all speculations stirred in muddy pre-election waters of this otherwise great board to ineffectually turn it into speculative gossip told by old wives’ tales?

The so-called Southaven campus has been always known as Memphis-Oak Forest Church of God, a historic Memphis congregation that has reported to the state of TN ever since it was established and long before there was a Southaven.

As per https://www.cogtn.org/appointments Bro. JOHNSON was appointed lead pastor of Memphis - Oak Forest | Effective May 17, 2022 (pls note this prior to GA22 favor). It was his personal choice to accept the appointment and fall under the full authority of the TN AB. The previous pastor was forced to resign without any fault whatsoever and relocated to a Cleveland church. He’s got another story to tell!

Can we please see the facts of the misconduct and accusation prior to GA24?

Per his contract, the faculty member neither published, nor allowed to be taught or published anything contrary to the Declaration of Faith or any other established doctrine of the Church.

AB released a questionable video bordering election campaign political stance. Plain funny, especially where they had to edit out his paroxysm.
Travis, otherwise well known to this board, is trickle leaking internal investigation information under proxy pen-names instead of showing up here like a man and finally take what he described as a no-bow to his temporary credential revocation.

Contradicting in text (and limited recipient list) letter from HQ was released like this is some high-profile case and not a simple TN matter the AB should have easily resolved with his 300-year cited experience and alleged +90% pastoral placement success. But not this time – this time, they will all milk it in very open, pre-election, political postures until each gets the position they are after.

Forgive my French, but the Church of God should be no place for any such agenda-oriented individuals especially after each of them had already made millions off our great church organization. And if Tony and Mark wish to stay on the sidelines to keep their good churches and good salaries, that’s just fine. NC and GA are already voting Gary to take lead. Read a farewell resolution to all who should have already been gone two years ago and start with a clean slate.

PS Mat’s allusion to AJT is very well in order, but TJ is no Ambrose, come on! No one will believe you this feud is about splitting TN in two like GA and NC.

Acts-perienced Poster Posts: 11849 **2/22/24 10:38 pm**

[quote="fire-starter"]

Acts-pert Poster Posts: 16646 **2/23/24 7:29 am**

New Member Posts: 23 **2/23/24 11:41 am**

Acts-pert Poster Posts: 16646 **2/23/24 2:22 pm**

What's the issue here

Acts Mod Posts: 3346 **2/23/24 4:04 pm**

I was taught in school "gay" means happy, cheerful. What's wrong with being happy or cheerful?
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Acts-pert Poster Posts: 16646 **4/3/24 9:47 am**

This thread name needs to change to "TJ found Not Guilty to bogus charges" brought against him - or something like that.
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Site Admin Posts: 3222 **4/3/24 12:16 pm**

Acts-pert Poster Posts: 16646 **4/4/24 6:44 am**

Acts-dicted Posts: 7604 **4/4/24 7:08 am**

Happy to hear the good news.