Standing with BIshop Charles Blake & the Church of God in Christ

As a Minister & member of the Church of God in Christ (COGIC) I would like to address the recent issue that has surfaced and gone viral of an event that happened at the Convocation in St. Louis. in the past week Bishop Charles Blake, Presiding Bishop of the COGIC has issued an apology for rhetoric used by Saturday night's speaker. the Rev Earl Carter of Florida as he refered to homosexuals as "Sissies" and made other derogatory statements as well. Bishop Blake and the COGIC have reissued a statement on the churches stand against homosexuality and same-sex marriage; stating it's belief in biblical teachings that clearly defines marriage between one man and one woman. I personally think that this is sufficient and I applaud the presiding Bishop for not shying away and his stance on this issue. However, I am listen to and seeing the post of those who are angry with the Bishop and are siding with the rhetoric of Rev Carter, even going so far as to say what they feel the preceeding Presiding Bishops, namely Bishop's Ford and Owens would have said about the issue. I've known Rev Carter personally for a number of decades now and talked with him the night following his message. I've always like Earl and his is a warm and friendly guy, but somewhat outspoken and sometimes, I feel, on the wrong side of arguments as when he wrote his first book NO APOLOGY NECESSARY. Earl, before his conversion was a street thug, and has always exhibited a fearless attitude and therefore it is not surprising to me WHAT he said. However, I think there is something that we as ministers and the COGIC must address. It is not always what you say, but the way you say it! As ministers sometime we make the sad mistake of using the pulpit to express our frustrations and anger. WE BEAT PEOPLE UP FROM THE PULPIT!!! I admit that I have been guilty of this as well and for that I repent openly. But I must also say that I do not remember every calling people names, at least not to my recollection. This is WRONG!!! By doing such outsiders can get the wrong message as to what the church really stands for and it can be an embarassment to the entire church as we have experienced with it going viral all over the world. We must love the homosexual!!! Not love what he does, But we must draw him/her and SHOW them a more excellent way. YES! sometimes they need to be blasted, and yes even from the pulpit, but the hateful rhetoric, the demeaning slang is not appropriate from the pulpit!!! Homosexuality is not the only sexual sin. So is adultery, Fornication Shacking (Common-Law) Pornography. Notice what Jesus said, "He that is without sin among you cast the first stone. But also notice what He said to the woman taken in adultery. "Go and sin no more" Therefore the Presiding Bishop, the leader and voice of this great church must take the responsibility, address it and issue apologies where they are due. BISHOP BLAKE DID THE RIGHT THING!!! That's my view. I'm sure some of you will disagree. To my non COGIC friends that want to comment on my statement, please do not be offended if I do not respond to you as feel that this is an in-house issue and although you may want to comment I will reserve my response to those that are a part of our organization, BLESSINGS