The misappropriation of ministry

The misappropriation of ministry  

Kathryn Johnston, 92, was shot and killed on the night of Nov. 21, 2006, when a group of undercover Atlanta police detectives on an illegal drug raid forced their way into her home and she fired a warning shot at them.

     

     I remember that night very well thinking of the horror that the family must be experiencing as their 92 year old mother and grandmother was struck down at the hands of rouge, hasty group of Atlanta police officers who under unverified information administered a no knock warrant, which prompted Ms. Johnston to fire a single warning shot. Ms. Johnston was shot several times, reviving themes of systemic injustice in the hearts of Atlanta residents. I remember feeling like we should rally to bring to light this injustice. I was relieved that the very next day I saw the Rev. Markel Hutchinson standing in the families’ stead crying aloud, being a voice of justice. I remember watching over the next few months as he was interviewed by various media outlets declaring the injustice of the “no knock warrant” .

            He took the appeal of the Johnston family all the way to the steps of congress. I felt strengthened, encouraged, empowered to speak out against injustice everywhere.  Then it happened, I should have known that It would happen, I should have known it was too good to be true. The family was awarded 4.9 million dollars from the city of Atlanta. And what do you know the Good reverend came a calling for his cut. He took the family of Kathryn Johnston to court under the guises that he had a verbal contract with the family for 10 percent of whatever they received in restitution.

            I was simply astounded that this preacher would actually charge the family for using him as spokesperson. I was disgusted that this idiot would bring shame to the ministry by taking the family to court over a “verbal “contract.  How could a person who declares that he has been called to set the captive free, charge people who really needed help. I was perplexed three years ago when I heard he was actually taking the family to court.

            Now let me be clear I am all for ministers being paid for ministry, anybody who is not sure that ministry is a full time job is welcome to join me at my ministry context for a week. Ministry is a full time job and its ministers should be compensated to reflect that reality.  However, the audacity that he would actually charge the family for ministry services is beyond me.

             In the AME Zion Book of Discipline it encourages its preachers to always be employed and never be triflingly employed.  This idea is important as we navigate between that which challenges the boundaries of Christianity and that which perverted Christian light message of positivism and prosperity.  So just in case we have all drank the kool aid let me uplift a few areas in which Hutchinson misappropriated the ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1)    Channeling the justice ethic for personal gain

a.    Justice is free! Point blank period. it is an innate human right and all those who seek to make a profit are pawns to the system that they seek to reform.

2)    Christians do the majority of their fighting on the altar; not before the judge.

a.    This was not an attempt to recoup lost wages this was an attempt by a delusional preacher to get monetarily broke off, he saw dollar signs all over this human tragedy.

3)    If there was an agreement in place both sides should have upheld the agreement and if the family decided not to pay Rev. Hutchinson than he should have walked.

a.    Plain and simple if they receive you not you dust off your feet and move on. Hutchinson played himself when he attempted to use the media to shame the family and recoup his lost income.  Any preacher congregation who invites him in is setting themselves up he is a shyster!

4)    Ministry is not a hustle

a.    Pimping ministry to; build buildings we don’t need,  offerings that are not used to uplift the kingdom, and where we create idols of ministers is not indicative of the ethic of Jesus Christ.

5)    What would Jesus do?

a.    I wonder did the “good reverend” even consider would Jesus even do this?  does this represent what Jesus was even abt ?

I’m highly concerned that this delusional preacher would attempt to hijack the legacy of the civil rights movement and turn it into a den of thieves. In church we often are alarmed at the salaciousness of sexual misdoings. I’m reminded by the scripture that Jesus was enraged by the money changers in the temple not by the woman at the well. I’m getting the impression that we care more about the gospel of gossip rather than the gospel of Jesus Christ reconciliation OVER financial remuneration.  The scriptures declare that Jesus has a true concern for the misappropriation of funds under the auspices of Christian ministry. The bastardization of Christian ministry occurs when we fall in love with the thing God hates. Our ministry must be one of salvation and liberation through Jesus Christ, NOT profit for the prophets. At the end of the day justice has been lost ; even if the family recoups money for the loss of the matriarch , when a brother sues another brother we break covenant and destroy relationship. Tikkun olam is the Hebrew phrase for healing the world; love and justice heals the word not profit!

 

1)    I mean every word of it 2) this is a clear sign that ministry is being done as a hustle 3) this made the Creator weep! 4) We could be free but my friends this might hurt a little.

So brother I hope you got your money because I’m quite sure that you have sold your soul!