A Statement from The College of Bishops of

The Christian Methodist Episcopal Church

May 23, 2012

Palm Harbor, Florida

The College of Bishops is aware and takes note of the interest and concern of the members of the church regarding a civil lawsuit filed against the CME Church in April of 2007.  Because this matter was on-going litigation in civil court, the College of Bishops, upon advice of the General Counsel, adopted the policy to have ‘No Comment’ regarding this or any other on-going legal matter.  As most members of the church realize, such a policy is necessary to protect the legal interests of the church.  The lack of public comment by the College of Bishops may have caused some concerns and even some misunderstanding of the silence of the Bishops of the Church.  But as members of the College of Bishops and the Board of Directors of the CME Church, Inc., we are charged with protecting the overall good of the church against all harm from within and without.  Having made this claim we also take note and are aware of the interests and limited rights of all persons involved regarding such matters as they are concluded in the courts of civil jurisdiction.  On or about January 8, 2012 the Texas Court of Appeals ruled on this matter.  The ruling brings a conclusion to this matter in the courts of civil jurisdiction as it pertains to the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church.  Therefore we now make the following disclosure:
On or about March 28, 2007, the Senior Bishop of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, Bishop William H. Graves, Sr., received a letter of demand from an attorney from Fort Worth, Texas, who purported to represent a person who was a member of the CME Church.  The letter demanded that the CME Church pay a sum of One Million Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars and No Cents ($1,250,000.00) to the Attorney on behalf of his client in exchange for his silence regarding what he stated was criminal sexual activity on the part of Bishop Kenneth W. Carter.  The church was given ten (10) days to pay the sum demanded or the attorney and his client would hold a press conference to publicize the accusations.  The Senior Bishop as was proper under such circumstances, immediately forwarded the demand to the General Counsel.  The General Counsel responded to the attorney of the accuser on behalf of the church, requesting information and details of this alleged incident.  The attorney of the accuser at all times refused the church or its representative, access to the accuser and again gave a deadline of ten (10) days for payment of the sum demanded or he and his client would seek to make their accusations public.  Without adequate and appropriate investigation and corroboration the church, on advice of the General Counsel, refused to meet the demands for financial payment to the accuser.  The attorney then conducted a newspaper interview accusing a Bishop of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, Bishop Kenneth W. Carter, of inappropriate behavior.  After the press conference the attorney for the accuser again demanded money from the CME Church or he would file a civil lawsuit on behalf of his client.  The church was given three (3) days to respond, again without an opportunity to interview the accuser, or investigate the matter, and with no proof of what had actually occurred.  The church again refused to pay such a claim.  The attorney then filed a civil lawsuit seeking to gain money judgments from Bishop Kenneth W. Carter, Senior Bishop William H. Graves and the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church.
The matter was set before the Civil Courts of Tarrant County in Fort Worth, Texas.  It is important to emphasize that this lawsuit was brought as a civil matter seeking monetary damages and not as a criminal matter as the Plaintiff had alleged prior to filing suit.  A subsequent attempt by the Plaintiff and his attorney to make it a criminal matter failed.  In addition, it is most important to emphasize, that at no time did the plaintiff bring charges within the church in accordance with the Judicial Procedure of the church as prescribed by the 2002 BOOK OF DISCIPLINE of the CME Church.  The only attempt to involve the church in this matter came from the Plaintiff’s attorney with the demand, as noted, for a monetary award from the church in order to keep the matter from becoming public.  Engagement of an attorney, the monetary demand and the lawsuit against the church that ensued made the issue a civil matter, thereby negating the ability of the church to pursue the matter within the church according to its Judicial Procedure.  Further, and most significantly, given the filing of the civil lawsuit, if the church, then or now, pursued any charges within the church, the church would have assumed responsibility and liability in the civil matter.  The Civil trial was subsequently held and judgment was rendered by the Civil Authority of Tarrant County, wherein, the trial judge, prior to allowing the jury to deliberate, dismissed any and all liability of Senior Bishop Graves, and, after the jury finding, dismissed all liability and responsibility attached to the church.  In an attempt to receive a financial award from the church, the Plaintiff appealed the ruling of the trial court to the Texas Court of Appeals.  On or about January 8, 2012 the Court of Appeals upheld the ruling of the trial court.  As of the affirmation by the Court of Appeals, Senior Bishop William H. Graves and the CME Church were absolved of all liability and all legal issues in the matter of Scott vs. the CME Church were brought to a close.
As Bishops of the church we are aware that some persons in the church, other than the Plaintiff, have demanded that the church, generally, and the College of Bishops specifically, take punitive action against Bishop Kenneth W. Carter.  At no time between 2007 and 2011 were any charges brought nor a complaint made by the Plaintiff against Bishop Carter regarding this matter in accordance with the Judicial Procedure outlined in the BOOK OF DISCIPLINE.  Our DISCIPLINE states specifically (¶803 §4) that complaints/charges against anyone in the church must be brought within one year of the conduct which a complaint intends to address.  Therefore, in accordance with the DISCIPLINE, there are no other matters pending and none to be brought regarding Bishop Carter.
As civil proceedings have come to a close and legal liabilities subside, the College of Bishops would have the members of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church know that through it all it has been prayerful, seeking always the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  The Bishops have been persistently aware that though it might be carried to courts of law, the church is not a court of law.  Though we must uphold its DISCIPLINE, guard as sacred its Due Process and are charged to provide legal protection against civil encroachment on its institutional life, at no time have the Bishops forgotten that it is the Church of Jesus Christ.  We have been ever conscious that faith, love, hope, confession, forgiveness, repentance and reconciliation are those qualities that set the church apart from human institutions.
The College is sensitive to the concerns, theological questions and emotional pain that have accompanied this case and impacted our church at all levels.  The College remains committed to determine the best and most appropriate forum(s) where theologically and biblically-informed discussions can occur at all levels of the church to equip us to continue to model the love of Jesus as we live our faith and uphold our doctrinal beliefs.  We further pray for a spirit of healing for all persons affected by this case, directly or indirectly.  We invite all CMEs to join us in this spirit of prayer as we move forward with the tasks of ministry and witness of the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ.

The College of Bishops of The Christian Methodist Episcopal Church:
Thomas L. Hoyt, Jr., Senior  Bishop      James B. Walker, Chair      E. Lynn Brown, Retired
Paul A. G. Stewart, Sr.                      Sylvester Williams, Sr.      Othal H. Lakey, Retired
Lawrence L. Reddick III, Secretary      Teresa E. Snorton      William H. Graves, Retired
Henry M. Williamson, Sr.              Godwin T. Umoette      Marshall Gilmore, Retired
Thomas L. Brown, Sr.          Ronald Cunningham (Recalled)  Dotcy I. Isom, Jr., Retired
Kenneth W. Carter