[1]Bishop Jasmine Guy
[2]The Rev. Wayne D. Cox
The Rev. Dr. C.J. Matthews
[3]
From the Metro Desk of The Kathy Wray Coleman Online News Blog.Com (www.kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com [4])
The controversy over the tax evasion troubles and prosecution of one of Cleveland's most prominent minister's has Black clergy debating the issue, and taking sides. And The Kathy Wray Coleman Online News Blog.Com is privileged to bring the news directly to the community from a neutral standpoint.
At issue is whether The Rev. Dr C. J. Matthews, a Civil Rights leader and 23-year pastor of Mt. Sinai Baptist Church in Cleveland, should be supported relative to federal charges that say he withheld $90 thousand in tax money owed to the IRS on income from church employees that was previously collected and ended up in his pastor's account. He faces two years in prison and is expected to plead guilty.
Most Black leaders in Cleveland's religious community say Matthews should be allowed to repay the money and go free because he is a good man who made a mistake, and that race may be a factor in the prosecution, among other reasons, while others want him to confess his sins to his congregation and to be held accountable.
Complicating the matter even further is Matthews' role as president of The United Pastor's in Mission, greater Cleveland's most influential organization of Black clergy.
In response to an article by the Kathy Wray Coleman Online News Blog. Com on the issue titled "Rev. C. J. Matthews' Criminal Troubles On Tax Issue Reignites Controversy With Call And Post And Plain Dealer Over Aunt Jemima Cartoon Of Sen. Turner" that ran this week The Rev Wayne D. Cox, who is a minister at Christ Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Cleveland where The Rev Earl R. Brewer is senior pastor and the pastor and moderator of Union Missionary Baptist District Association in Cleveland, says Matthews is a religious icon whose contributions to the community supersede the criminal matter. But Bishop Jasmine Guy of greater Cleveland, who leads the Christian Women's Network Support International, challenged Cox saying that Matthews misused the money of church affiliates and must make a confession first to his congregation before support should be given, and that he should be held accountable. Guy says also that women leaders of the religious community have been kept out of the pulpit and subordinated for too long by a cadre of sexist Black male preachers. (Editor's Note: We welcome other responses at The Kathy Wray Coleman Online News Blog.Com, ktcoleman8 [at] aol [dot] com and 216-932-3114, and we will take a position later in an editorial).
The comments from Cox and Guy to the article from The Kathy Wray Coleman Online News Blog.Com on the Matthews controversy that ran this week and is titled "Rev. C. J. Matthews' Criminal Troubles On Tax Issue Reignites Controversy With Call And Post And Plain Dealer Over Aunt Jemima Cartoon Of Sen. Turner" are as follows:
September 18, 2011 4:26 PM
Pastor C J Matthews has been an icon and a role model in this city for 25 years. I've personally looked up to him for quite a long time as a young minister. People can talk about what a preacher drives and where he lives, but they never talk about all the sacrifices they make for their community, the time they spend away from their families, and the money they spend out of their own pockets to support the people of their community. I think we as a city should come together in a big way and help raise some money for this man of God and his family by way of a concert, unity In the community revival, or something. He deserves it and needs it at this time.
Pastor Wayne D. Cox,
Christ Temple Baptist Church & Moderator of Union Miss. Bapt. District Association
Bishop Jasmine Guy said...
September 21, 2011 6:29 PM
Pastor Wayne Cox, I totally disagree with you. I don't believe the community should come together and pay for crime twice unless there is a confession made to the community from Rev. Matthews. And then it would be an individual thing. You want us to pay in a big way. I believe that would be extortion of the church. You all say a woman can't preach in the pulpit yet it seems to be okay if the male pastor is charged with theft or any other crime or wrong doing against God's word across the pulpit that is quickly forgotten. What I see is a mixed message and hypocraccy because certainly you'll find in the word of God the scripture that thou shall not steal. But you will never find in the word that a woman is not called to preach. Let the woman be silent. No, that ain't what Paul is talking about. Frankly, I don't believe that a pastor should live a lavish lifestyle. The bible says let everything be done in moderation. But if he desires that lifestyle and his/her salaries support it, so be it. That's between them and God. Clearly, this man was trying to be the Jones-es. This isn't the only accusation the community has heard of this man. Yes, I forgive, but he has to be responsible too.
Bishop Jasmine Guy,
The Christian Network Support International
Journalist and Community Activist Kathy Wray Coleman can be reached at 216-932-3114 and ktcoleman8 [at] aol [dot] com