1. 11/3/12 IPRoutput
For Immediate Release
District Superintendent Harvey Burnett ~ Executive Director
I Am My Brother's Keeper Christian Advocacy Council
(800)827-7279
Imbkcac@gmail.com
http://bethelburnett.blogspot.com/2009/09/cogic-victims-advocacy-essential.html
Press Conference Calling The Nations Largest Pentecostal
Church To Serve Victims Of Clergy Sexual Abuse &
Misconduct.
Peoria, Illinois - November, 4th 2012 - The Church Of God In Christ Inc of Memphis, TN (also known as
COGIC) is the nations 5th largest Christian denomination serving an estimated 7.5 million members through
approximately 12,000 churches in the United States and 59 foreign countries. Yet COGIC has no mechanism to
address the needs of the victims of clergy sexual abuse and misconduct arising from the sins and abuses of
those within its ranks.
"1 in 10 boys and 1 in 5 girls will be sexually assaulted during their childhood" ~Finkelor 1994 "50% of
worship center sexual misconduct offences are by volunteers" ~ Fall 2004 Profile Church Law & Tax Report
On an ever increasing level, COGIC, the nations 5th largest Christian denomination, has not been exempt from
cases of clergy and church sexual abuse and misconduct. Many of these cases have not only cost the church
significant amounts of capital, it has also cost significant loss of credibility. The slow acknowledgement and
lack of any credible response towards the needs of the survivors of these sins has hit a reverberating all time
high around the country and NO ONE can sit idly while this church continues to under serve the ever
increasing list of victims, their families and their needs. In response, since 2008, COGIC District Supt.,Pastor
Harvey Burnett, has consistently called upon the church to acknowledge the victims of sexual abuse and their
plight: "To continue to ignore the plight of victims through silence is the most ungodly act that the church
can perpetuate upon the lives of those who have been victimized by either clergy or other individuals
associated with the church" ~ Dist. Supt. Harvey Burnett New Bethel COGIC, Exec. Director "I Am My
Brother's Keeper Christian Advocacy Council", Peoria, IL. Therefore, Supt. Burnett has called for a Press
Conference to implement restitution by way of a Victims Advocacy Plan, calling on church leadership to
engage this critical issue of accountability toward those who have suffered from atrocious acts such as these.
We are encouraging all COGIC members and Christians of all denominations and faith persuasions to stand
with us that a wrong may be "righted,"; until justice stands on the neck of injustice, forcing those in
leadership to take accountability for sin committed against members of the church. We are in favor of a
healing between both the offending clergy/church personnel, and victims both inside and outside of COGIC.
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2. 11/3/12 IPRoutput
Press Conference Details: Date ~ Thursday November 8th, 2012 Time ~ 9:00 AM Location ~ 901 North
Broadway St. Louis, MO 63101 Entrance Of The Edward D. Jones Dome Location of the COGIC 105th Annual
Holy Convocation
I Am My Brother's Keeper Christian Advocacy Council is a non profit organization established to address the
spiritual, emotional and physical needs of Survivors of church/clergy abuse. We believe that there is a Balm
In Gilead able to heal all hurts and wounds. IMBKCAC stands with any and all, regardless of denomination, in
the face of injustice and victimization. Additional details regarding the initial COGIC proposal, can be found at
the Dunamis Word at http://bethelburnett.blogspot.com/2009/09/cogic-victims-advocacy-essential.html
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