WMC-TV 5 - Memphis, TNWebsite claims to track sexual abuse within COGIC

Website claims to track sexual abuse within COGIC

By Nick Kenney - bio | email | Twitter | Facebook

MEMPHIS, TN (WMC-TV) - A controversial new website claims the Church of God in Christ is turning its back on victims of sexual abuse within its organization.

The website, located at reportcogicabuse.com, launched on September 8.

"It is primarily a site for victims to know that they have not been abandoned, that they are not alone, that somebody cares about what has happened and what is happening," said the site's creator, DL Foster.

Foster grew up in the Church of God in Christ, but broke from the church nearly a decade ago. Foster says sexual abuse is in the church and is a deeply personal issue for him.

"I was sexually molested from the ages of 13 to 17 in the Church of God in Christ," he said.

Foster's website uses previous media reports to chronicle sexual abuse allegations involving COGIC.

Deidre Malone, the public relations official for COGIC, said the church already has an internal process for handling sexual misconduct, and it's about to get more harsh.

"You will hear more about that during the Holy Convocation, because the presiding Bishop Charles Blake does have an additional initiative that he's going to announce," Malone said.

Foster said he has not heard from COGIC officials, but he would be happy if the church acknowledged the allegations, dealt with them openly, and took steps to change.

"Our ultimate goal is to take this site down and this be a distant memory," he said.

COGIC's Holy Convocation is next week.

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