Today, Judge Joe Brown tweeted, “Repeated failure doesn’t require continued support.”

YOU may be the victim of a financially exploitative relationship between your local church and the Church of God Leadership.

What is a “financially exploitative” relationship?

This type of relationship is often referred to as a "financially abusive" or "financially exploitative" relationship. It involves one partner, (Church of God Leadership) typically in using this financial control and manipulation to maintain power and control over the other partner. (Pastors & Local Churches) It is commensurate to domestic abuse and can have serious negative effects on the Pastor’s and the local churches ability to focus primarily on the spiritual needs of the churches.

In the Church of God each local church must send in 7.5% of the tithes received monthly to the State Executive Office and 7.5% of the tithes received monthly to the International Office in Cleveland, TN totaling 15% off the top immediately. (Referred to as Tithe of Tithes)

Tithe is defined as, “one tenth of annual produce or earnings, formerly taken as a tax for the support of the Church and clergy.”

Most churches have the responsibility of giving the Senior Pastor a stipend or salary based on membership and total income from tithes and offerings of the local church.

Uniquely, in the Church of God Florida-Cocoa State Office (99% Black) the local churches are regularly required, without fail to bring an assessment to each state conference, convention or event.

Also, the custom is after receiving offerings (General & Missions) during each service a “love offering” for the State Administrative Bishop is received each conference, convention or event

For example, in the 99th State Convention (Campmeeting) recently in Orlando, FL it was reported to me that each local church was assessed $1500 for the annual state convention. Simultaneously, each local church and pastor was politely and prayerfully requested to give a $200 “love offering” to the State Administrative Bishop at the closing day of the annual convention.

Keep in mind the following premises:

1- The State Bishop receives (as he should) s full time salary with, at a minimum, a housing and travel allowance monthly.

2- The Florida-Cocoa Campground in Lake County, FL was purchased in 1992 and after 30+ years in operation is still not paid for even it regularly leases the campground to other organizations to use.

3- In 2021 the Internal Revenue Service placed a payroll tax lien on the Church of God Executive Office in Cocoa, FL for $51.149.37. It was reported to me that at the State Convention last month the Bishop says it was paid for. However, no receipt or records confirming the payment has been quantified and validated by anyone as it still shows on the Florida Department of State website as not being paid as of this correspondence.

4- In times passed, the state office would send a “Monthly Church Tithe Report” to every church and pastor that showed all the churches that reported and didn’t report. That hasn’t happened in many years.

5- Also, the State Administrative Bishop and ten State Council NEVER sends, posts or make available a budget or financial report for the state jurisdiction as required by the Internal Revenue Service for Churches and 501(c)3 nor for profit institutions.

Consequently, the local churches and their respective pastors have no idea how much money is coming in or going out.

THIS IS CALLED A FINANCIALLY EXPLOITATIVE RELATIONSHIP.

The Pastors and local churches have the power, ability and legal right to correct this egregious behavior by DEFUNDING THE CHURCH OF GOD until an annual budget is presented; an annual financial report for the state is made available to the pastors and local churches; and a receipt is shown of the payment for the IRS Payroll Tax Lien.

How can you do this?

1- Pause sending “tithe of tithes” to the state office and to the international office and hold it in a separate account from your local church operating account.

2- Stop paying the assessments at every state meeting because it is not in compliance to the the Church of God General Assembly Minutes. The “other state offices” don’t place assessments on the local churches unless it’s an extreme emergency or catastrophic event.

3- Reconsider sending money to Church of God World Missions until a minimum of 80% of World Missions money goes directly to the mission churches and pastor around the world. It’s shameful that the missions pastors have to spend priority on asking for money from the churches in the United States in order to meet the needs of the that church in foreign lands because Church of God World Missions is limited in the amount it actually uses in missions due to overhead expenses

You can do it. You can share this with others. It’s time to #defundtheCOG! You and your congregation will be shocked at how much more you’ll be able to focus on the resources needed for ministry growth and spiritual growth. Thank you for your time and prayerful participation in this life changing endeavors.

In His service,

Pastor Robert