Monday Morning Insights

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    I’m Starting A New Church (as soon as my probation allows)

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    Then the Rev. Charles Betts, who skirted jail with a plea deal and a promise to pay back some money, announced he's starting another church - in Florida.

    "Once again, it's a spite against the church," said Anthony Moragne, a spokesman for Queens' Morning Star Baptist Church. "We're not happy about it."

    Betts, 68, the church's former accountant and her husband - Anna and Barry Kilpatrick, both 48, of Freeport, L.I., - were facing 15 years on charges of stealing about $500,000 from the small Jamaica church over nine years.

    But believing Betts less culpable, prosecutors allowed him to plead guilty in exchange for probation. He also agreed to sign a "confession of judgment" for $31,000, which will allow church members suing him to collect their money.

    "All the parishioners wanted was for Pastor [Charles] Betts to admit he was wrong, to pay back the money and to apologize," prosecutor Gregory Pavlides said as yesterday's sentencing began in Queens Supreme Court.

    But Betts, who ran the church for 30 years and once took a salary cut when it was losing money, refused to do so.

    "I won't apologize in public to you," he told a reporter afterward as he walked through the courthouse to check in with his probation officer.

    Betts, however, did say he plans to head to Florida as soon as probation allows him to run a nondenominational church in the Sunshine State.

    The Kilpatricks, who also face identity-theft charges in a related case in Nassau County, are awaiting trial.

    Todd remarks... "Unbelieveable!"

    Article by Scott Shifrel of the New York Daily News.  He’s guilty as sin but the Queens pastor who admitted stealing thousands of dollars from his church was unrepentant as he ignored the congregation’s pleas to apologize…

    Comments

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    1. Elaine on Wed, September 14, 2005

      While I certainly understand that accountability is essential, I think we have gone so far now that we can almost create a problem when no problem exists.  When someone resorts to creating a problem we have harrassment not accountablity.


      I am deeply concerned that many people can become victims of Nazi tactics.


      Thank you for your work


      Blessings


      Elaine

    2. BeHim on Wed, September 14, 2005

      The Pastors in the “Sunshine State” should all take note and watch for these new doors to open and denounce him immediately as a false teacher.  Publically state that before God and man this person has suffered ship wreck and has been delivered over to Satan that he may learn not to blaspheme (1 Timothy 1:18-20).

      The question is, will pastors in Florida stand on God’s Word to do this or will they assume false teachers too deserve all manner of mercy?


      If we won’t fight the good fight, what’s the point in being in a war?

       

    3. Peter Hamm on Thu, September 15, 2005

      It’s tempting to say that anyone who joins a church that this man starts deserves what they get, so I won’t say it… Oops, I just did…

      http://www.mondaymorninginsight.com/images/smileys/wink.gif


      Seriously, this is why you should look carefully at the accountability structures in place not just before you agree to serve professionally in a church, but before you even JOIN one.

       

    4. shannon cumiford on Mon, September 19, 2005

      Where is he planning to come to, in Florida?  Any possibility we will have a heads’ up that this charletan is on his way down here?  lol

      body of christ, panama city, florida

       

    5. Kevin Vest on Mon, September 19, 2005

      I say let’s not pass judgement or even fain in our faith of this man! I say let us lift him up to Christ and pray that this man learn’s the evils of his way and that God will make him to profess his sins and his guilt will not let him go without 1st apologizing to his flock! And I say to all out there who read this remember it is not for us to decide what but for God to decide! So do not put yourself in a place for which you can no longer return! but place yourself in the hands of God and he will deal with this! Just like He is dealing with the preacher from my church in AZ who took us for a ride and not with him and his family to Disneyland! Pray for our church leaders and the decisions they make pray for the flock that may be aware of what their leaders do and how they are overseen by the flock pray that the tithe that we give to Gods house will be used for that and pray that the Christians in Florida will recognize this man and denounce his teachings and ways so that this man may TRULY turn to GOD!!! Thaks you.

    6. Tom Riggs on Mon, September 19, 2005

      This pastor ( and I use the word loosly ) thinks he deserves the money he stole, he has justified his actions, rarely is a pastor compensated enough but stealing is stealing, accountablilty would have sloved this before it began.

    7. Gloria on Mon, September 19, 2005

      God does not sleep nor is he blind, so my thoughts and comments are just that. Jesus is coming and we had all better be ready and repented of our sins on a more daily basis. May we focus on souls to win for the Kingdom and let God deal with such mis conduct if this is true of this man. God knows.

    8. Franklin Reeves on Mon, September 19, 2005

      Well,

      Those that are in his world are commanded to Judge, seperate themselves from him if he has sinned and refuses to confess and forsake it.


      However none of us or there, but if the charges are true, he needs to talk to God about it.  Becasue all men will be judged and without Christ it will not be pretty.

       

    9. Leila on Mon, September 19, 2005

      If he is really guilty he should pay back all the money and since not, I would definetly put him back in jail and take away his licence as “PASTOR.” so that he would not have the opportunity to be a false prophet. The bible’s definition of a pastor doesn’t resemble him.


      People need to read the pastorial epistles !Tim,2Tim and Titus. It is their responsibility to read the word and find out the true character of a real leader called by God before making a commitment to a church.

    10. Wenfred on Tue, September 20, 2005

      It is amazing that the Church will allow this foolishness to continue.  If he is to going to start a Church, I wonder who are the parishoners ar going to be?  That is life.  Praise the Lord anyway!

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