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An Open Letter from Bishop Otis Daniel
Former Pastor, Zion Hill; Dated: 09/27/05
...to Bishop Robert Pruitt, General Overseer of The Church of God
September 27, 2005
Brother Robert Pruitt
General Overseer
The Church of God
Cleveland, TN.
Dear Brother Pruitt:
When I resigned as pastor of Zion Hill, you asked me to explain what has happened to cause me to make this decision, and that you didn't understand. I have taken this length of time to respond because of your unfortunate situation with the illness and passing of your son, the General Assembly, and post General Assembly meetings. I am sure everything has been exhausting for you and Sister Pruitt and our prayers have been with you and your family.
My wife and I were thrilled to be your pastor and the pastor of Zion Hill, and we felt the people there loved and appreciated us there for the most part. We were enjoying the members and we felt the church was enjoying unity. You and Sister Pruitt were not responsible for my decision.
There was an incident that took place after the 2nd conference at Zion Hill to that brought some division, therefore, I resigned as pastor at the end of our state year because I felt my staying at Zion Hill would be used as an Instrument by satan to bring more division. A pastor can't see his work accomplished when he doesn't have the support of the State Overseer. Brother _________ and I, as far as I know, do see eye to eye on the doctrine of the church, but we are at opposite ends of the pole when it comes to pastoring, handling problems, decision making, and business of the church. As a result, I feel there could not be unity when the Pastor and State Overseer see things so different.
I did not retire. I only asked to not work under this present State Administration. I wrestled with the idea of staying as Pastor under the conditions and feelings that had been created, but God actually showed me it wouldn't work and that I had to leave or there would be more trouble because of the strong arm attitude being manifested in the government of the Church. I only defend myself now because of what I heard at the General Assembly. It has been told that I refused to pastor because I had wanted to get out of the ministry for years and there were letters in the State files to prove it. I have never had any trouble with a State Overseer, and I have not written any letters stating that I wanted to be out of the ministry. That kind of statement could not be farther from he truth. My wife and I loved pastoring, ministering to people the best we knew how, and giving it our all. If my records were searched, and members were asked of the churches that I have pastored, it would be hard to find any evidence of a couple that has sacrificed more of themselves and their family than my wife and I. I do not glory in myself, I am only trying to defend my ministry that has been my life since I was 25 years old. Nothing has meant more to me and my family than my ministry in The Church of God. I have actively been a minister with the church for 38 years, pastored for 34 years, and a bishop for 31 years.
Brother Pruitt, it is hard to see the hurting and suffering of our ministers that have given their lives for The Church of God. Ministers that have put everything aside and laid everything on the line for The Church of God. It was not and is not an army of only 21, but a mighty army that had been faithful and given their lives to The Church of God for years. In all due respect to the 21 and the concerned, but years before the concerned came forth we were all concerned and made our vow to God and before men that we would remain faithful and stand if we were the only ones left standing, we would stand alone. Thank God we are not alone but a mighty army following our Lord's every command as He leads on to eternal victory. We knew our enemy and were not ignorant of his devices. What an enemy we are up against. We know the doctrine. He knows it too. We know the business. He knows it too. He carried it out in heaven. We know the government, because we are under its rule. He knows the government because he also was under its rule in heaven.
Brother Pruitt you know I testified before the congregation of Zion Hill that I did not take it as a light thing to get to pastor the General Overseer of The Church of God. I still count it a great honor and privilege to have had the opportunity to not only pastor, but to have preached to you and your wife and family and the Zion Hill Congregation, and I haven't changed.
You know what I preached and you know by my ministry that I am not rebellious, but rather try to be a peace maker and treat all men as equal.
It is very disturbing to see the hurting and suffering of our ministers and members. I could state my feeling and my reasoning why this is happening but I felt it be best if I just write down the comments I have heard by others that has spoken to me and pray that you feel the same thing that I feel. If you don't then I will say that I am wrong and take the blame and whatever the consequences be for bringing these to your attention. Please read these carefully and discern what is right and wrong, what is wisdom and what is not. The following comments and information are not from novices but from people of the field that have been members for 30 years or more; pastors and leaders.
1. It is at the point that I feel as Saint Augustine, "Oh to God that I had not lived to see this day to see the destruction of the beautiful government of God."
2. Ministers which have given their whole lives for The Church of God being taken out of office and off committees because they are willing to stand up for what we have always stood for.
3. Politics being practiced by someone in position and no one is supposed to say anything without being accused of rebellion and being in the wrong spirit.
4. How are we supposed to follow those over us in the Lord if they have the spirit of "lords over God's heritage" instead of the spirit of the Good Shepherd.
5. Some of those over us in the Lord use aggression, which is hostile and destructive, instead of in a right spirit, using assertiveness.
6. God called the children of Israel the assembly, but Moses called them rebels. Is that the same spirit coming out of the General Headquarters. Even under a democracy one has a fair hearing, but not any more in The Church of God.
7. No longer are people innocent until proven guilty, they are considered guilty of any accusation that is made by certain individuals.
8. There is no such thing being practiced any more as reinstating a brother, it is rather, destroy that brother or sister.
9. We lost eight countries last year. Where does accountability start?
10. Division is not totally coming from the field but rather from General Headquarters to the field. Submission is being preached from General Headquarters but not being practiced totally.
11. Does the administrative committee have power over the other committees? If so we do not need the other committees. If the administrative committee is going to run the church we do not need the General Assembly. If a few are going to make the decision why have the General Assembly. We do not need one. We are driving furiously to make the same mistakes of 1990 and 1991.
12. Our General Overseer does not want to have the authority of a pope, then why are men trying to make him have that same authority?
13. If I speak against the decisions of the General Headquarters, then I am considered a marked man. I am very offended of the statement made by someone, I don't know who, calling me rebellious and being told that I will not go along with the General Assembly because I disagree with a few individuals.
14. So many problems are being dealt with outside the theocratic process. There definitely is abuse of authority in high places. The brethren on the field are not being heard and listened to, but only General Headquarters decisions defended. This strong arm approach is not edifying to the church, only destructive. This is the way it was in the former organization for the most part.
15. If there is a problem, someone is to blame whether they take responsibility or not. For that problem to be corrected and resolved, someone has to take the responsibility of correcting the problem.
16. The church is at the boiling point. There are too many problems being confronted with an aggressive attitude, forgetting the mind of Christ and how God commanded the problem to be dealt with. Satan is making a laughing stock out of our actions in the church. Our actions are not behind closed doors, they are being "shouted from the rooftop" so to speak. Outsiders know in detail our every move and we are giving them plenty of negative fire wood.
17. Psychologists say some people can not function without conflict. Some can not function without carrying out their own agenda. Jesus taught the opposite. Blessed are the peacemakers for theirs is the kingdom of God. When small problems become major problems in The Church of God someone is not handling them according to the word of God. The Bible states to mark them that cause division, and it does not say what position they hold in the church just that they cause division... end of comments...
Brother Pruitt, I am not wanting anyone's "head to roll", nor am I praying for anyone to lose their position. I am praying that God take the gas cans away from the leadership and give them some fire extinguishers. When fires are not extinguished bit rather the fire gets bigger and more raging, someone is not handling these problems as they should be handled in the church but only adding fuel to the flames for satan to fan until someone is destroyed, and whole churches lost.
We are doing eternal work and I don't want to see anyone lost but all men saved!
Sincerely,
Brother Otis Daniel
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