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BISHOP G.E. PATTERSON'S WIFE SUES NEPHEW TO PROTECT HUSBAND'S LEGACY: Attempt to probe church's financial records blocked.
The financial accountability of another prominent ministry is under surveillance. This time, Louise Patterson, widow of the late Church of God in Christ (COGIC) prelate, Bishop Gilbert E. Patterson, has filed a law suit naming her husband's successor and nephew, Milton Hawkins as the defendent.
Mrs. Patterson filed the law suit at the Chancery Court of Shelby County on June 11 in order to obtain full disclosure of the financial records of the churches her husband founded.
The deceased Patterson founded two Memphis churches that operated as separate business entities, Bountiful Blessings and the Temple of Deliverance (TOD). The plaintiff and her attorney Allan J. Wade are suspecting that funds from the ministries are being misappropriated and co-mingled, which Wade says was not his client's husband's desire.
A copy of the court records located on the Thaddeus Matthews Show website reveal the details of the dispute.
The record reflects that Bookkeeper Betty Spight, also named in the suit, refused to furnish all the meeting minutes that were requested according to a letter from the current pastor, because there was no authorization from the respective Board of Directors.
The filing explains that "TOD is a local connectional church of COGIC, COGIC has no direct or lawful control over Bountiful Blessings ..."
According to the Thaddeus Matthews Show, Hawkins was appointed by Jurisdictional Bishop, Jerry Maynard after Bishop Patterson passed away in March of 2007. The account also claims Hawkins established his own $40-thousand monthly salary, has splurged with the purchase of 2 Mercedes Benz cars within a year and is in the process of having a $1 million home built. As reported on the site, some members are insenuating their pastor has been embezzling funds.
In an angry letter addressed to Pastor Hawkins, allegedly from Temple of Deliverance member "Robert White," Hawkins is depicted as domineering: "I am offended by your frequent flights into pettiness, your lack of humility, your verbal attacks from the pulpit, your disrespect for Mrs. G. E. Patterson, and your disregard for the wishes and insights of the very man whose legacy you claim to continue. I would just hope that you don’t do the stereotypical thing and spiritualize business matters by saying that this lawsuit is the work of the devil."
The looming question is what, if anything, is Pastor Hawkins hiding?
As a non-profit organization any member of the church has a right to peruse the records, yet Mrs. Patterson, the Chairperson of Bountiful Blessings has been denied numerous requests to inspect the church's financial records since late 2007.
Some of the meeting records and financial reports were provided; some were not.
Attorney Wade told Memphis Action News 5 that one church should not flourish at the expense of the other.
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