What Happened To The Building Fund? Reverend Gerry James Reported To The Preacher Bureau of Investigations
The members of Friendship Baptist Church say that they are now stuck with a building that is very far from being complete and the Pastor cannot account for the money paid by the insurance company.
Online, October 24, 2010 (Newswire.com) - Friendship Baptist Church original sanctuary burned to the ground in 2007. The insurance company paid out $450,000 to build a new church, but now, church leaders say the money has ran out and they only have an outer shell to call a Church. Rev. Gerry James recently appeared in front of a municipal judge to face 10 different charges (unrelated to the misappropriation of Church funds) including, multiple traffic violations, DUI, threatening a police officer and possession of marijuana.
At the same hearing a judge not only fined James, but sentenced him to two days in jail and Rev. Gerry James was immediately taken into custody.
The members of Friendship Baptist Church say that they are now stuck with a building that is very far from being complete and the Pastor cannot account for the money paid by the insurance company. The Preacher Bureau of Investigations (www.PimpPreacher.com) was made aware of the situation at Friendship Baptist Church after receiving an email about the challenges facing the members as they try to rebuild their church.
The Preacher Bureau of Investigations (www.PimpPreacher.com) was made aware of the situation at Friendship Baptist Church after receiving an email about the challenges facing the members as they try to rebuild their church.
"What you're witnessing at Friendship Baptist Church is a very unfortunate situation that takes place all across this country as congregations and Pastors clash over the direction and finances of the church. In the case of Friendship Baptist we find a church that hired a Pastor and is now locked in a battle to recapture control of their institution from a Pastor that they have since voted out."
Reverend Gerry James was voted out as the Pastor after his first arrest in which he was charge with the 10 offenses even including drug possession. In a phone interview with WLOX (ABC Affiliate in Biloxi) Pastors James responded to the members with a statement in which he says that the construction on the building will continue once he receives additional funds for code upgrades from the insurance company. The members of Friendship Baptist appear to seriously question if the Pastor is being truthful in his statement due to the fact that his recent arrest is proof that the he has very serious character flaws.
"I explained to them almost two years ago this church is going to be out of money, we're going to be without a church and we going to be without a pastor and everything is coming true," said Louis Bethley.
The Preacher Bureau of Investigations classifies what happened to Friendship Baptist Church as a strong arm tactic used by overly ambitious Pastors in order to force "their will" on a congregation. "What it comes down to is power & control" say Ron Collins of the PBI.
"Once a Board of Trustees relinquishes control of their finances to the Pastor he now controls all of the financial decisions of the Church. It is very difficult to remove a Pastor that has managed to circumvent the Board and is now at the helm of the organization. Friendship Baptist Church is a perfect lesson in the need to keep hired Pastors under the authority of the Board of Directors."
Rev. Gerry James still considers himself the Pastor of Friendship Baptist Church despite the fact that the members and the Board have already voted him out. How the Church will move forward from this point is totally unknown as they now try to confirm if the insurance company will actually provide additional funding after the initial $450,000 award. The members and the Board are still sizing up the cost to finish their sanctuary while trying to settle the leadership issue now facing their congregation.
"The affairs of the church are to be ran by the deacons and the trustees, not the preacher. The preacher is hired to preach," said Howard McPhail.
The Preacher Bureau will continue to provide updates on Friendship Baptist Church as new developments continue to surface regarding the rebuilding of the their Church. For more news from the Church Community please visit www.PimpPreacher.com
