Open Letter from
Bishop Danny Carter
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SUPPORTING
DOCUMENT
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An Open Letter from Bishop Danny Carter
Regional Overseer IN/KY/OH; Dated: 12/15/05
...to All Ministers, Members and Friends of The Church of God
November 11, 2005
Robert J. Pruitt and Counseling Committee
c/o The Church of God
P.O. Box 450
Charleston, TN 37310
Dear Brother Pruitt and Counseling Committee:
I greatly appreciate the time that you granted me to come in and visit with you on November 3, 2005.
First of all, I go on record as saying that I greatly appreciate you and Sister Pruitt for your sacrifice and labor concerning God and His church. As a minister and part of the Presbytery, I want you to know that I highly respect your office as General Overseer and would never do anything to harm or hinder that office in any way. Rather, I want to be a blessing to you and the church and that is the sole purpose of this letter.
Brother Pruitt, as you are well aware, there is much unrest and turmoil in the church at this present time, and I feel that this feeling is being created by namely one office and that is the office of Administrative Assistant. Every overseer, every minister, every member that I have talked to or that talks to me, all feel the same way. We feel that what is happening is basically the same as what happened to Saul as recorded in 1 Samuel Chapter 13. Saul overstepped his boundaries when he made that sacrifice, because he had not been appointed nor anointed to do so. The feeling among our people is that Brother Nabors is overstepping his boundaries as Administrative Assistant, and is trying to perform the duties that only you have been appointed and anointed of God to do.
For example, a year ago when the Ways and Means Committee was dismissed in the middle of the year, this was a shock and disappointment to many people. I had the privilege of serving on this committee as Chairman 93-95, and you as General Overseer would always come in to our meetings and share your heart. But then you would always say – “It’s whatever this committee feels the mind of God is.” That’s the spirit of our General Overseer, not calling members of the committee and pushing them off if they don’t agree with any one man’s agenda. Your heart has always been to find the will and mind of God, and for that we are thankful.
Then again last assembly, the committee on which I sat, was in total agreement concerning a plan in which a 1% heave offering would have been given monthly to Headquarters by each and every member. Throughout the year, Brother Nabors repeatedly said it would not work, but God kept impressing on the committee’s heart that it would. Brother Nabors sent us (the Ways and Means Committee) a letter stating that there would be no alternative plan. This began to create a spirit of domination, and this spirit was even discussed in our last committee meeting prior to the assembly.
During the committee's report at this past assembly, we still did not agree with the old plan, but we submitted to giving it because you asked us to. Again, we witnessed the fact that this is not what God wants for the church. Never in the history of the church has one committee tried to Lord over another committee. But this is exactly what Brother Nabors has been doing through the Administrative Committee – dictating to the Ways and Means Committee what they can and cannot do. This is not the way The Church of God operates. We operate by Theocracy – meaning God Rules.
The Attack of satan in which we are now experiencing is not on any one of our Important Bible Truths as was the case in 90-91-92; but rather the attack is on the very foundation on which we base our existence (that being theocracy). This spirit of domination – which spins off threats, unmerciful judgement, and un-scriptural means of discipline are as far away from the spirit and character of our Lord as one can get. This spirit of domination will only hurt and divide. We need a spirit of compassion which causes us to bind up – to pour in the oil to heal the many who have suffered at this hurricane called domination.
I know of no one (not one) who is against you as General Overseer. We all love and respect you “highly”. You are not the one causing the problems that we now face. So therefore, we are begging you to please stop Brother Nabors from carrying on in the manner he now is.
On June 26, 2005, Brother Nabors came to Arkansas (he said at your request). In our meeting he threatened me by saying “I don’t know if you are going to be re-appointed as overseer or not.” When I asked why, he stated because you won’t get behind this financial program and push it on the field. This was a direct threat.
Brother Pruitt, I have been faithful to the Lord and the church for thirty years and I believe my record will verify this. I have gone where I have been sent, done what I have been asked to do, and I did it willingly and thankfully. No one over me in the Lord ever threatened me or tried to dominate me until Brother Nabors.
On November 3, 2005, when I met with you, I asked you if you had sent Brother Nabors to Arkansas to visit with me, and you point blank said no. I knew the day he came that you had not sent him by the spirit I felt. Again, it was one of threat and domination. It is no coincidence that this spirit has popped up only after Brother Nabors was put in the office of Administrative Assistant. If this is the way he is going to operate, then for the sake of the church and safety of our people, it would no doubt be best if he resigns the office of Administrative Assistant. The unity of the church is at stake here, and as the Scripture declares in Matthew 12:25 a house divided against itself shall not stand.
I know through the scriptures that the church will stand, for the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. But think of the innocent souls that could be destroyed if this spirit of domination continues. When I asked you if you felt that enough compassion was shown in trying to restore the situation in Kentucky, you said probably not. (November 3, 2005 meeting). This tells me that not all was done to restore this situation. Because of that, many are hurting in that area. I was the guest speaker of this region's convention. There was such unity among the people at that time, such a powerful and refreshing anointing from the Holy Ghost, and to look now at what has happened is heart breaking.
Brother Pruitt, before any more damage is done; please call a Presbytery meeting, and let us address the issues that we face. Let’s get unity back in the church before we lose any more precious people.
Sincerely,
Dewayne Smith
Regional Overseer – Arkansas/Missouri
DS
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