Overwhelming #1 Issue in Florida (Tampa & Cocoa) Listening Tour = SEGREGATION

Without a doubt, the most discussed issue many times over at both Listening Tours in Florida (Tampa & Cocoa) was the issue of segregation in Florida and broader issues of segregation or limited denominational leadership opportunities.  To pass over this issue without correction, Download and read the documents from both Listening Tours for yourself below.  At the bottom, you’ll find the distilled, bulleted points highlighted for the Executive Committee on the issue of race and segregation.  You will not want to pass over those comments as they speak more deeply to the issue than even the data or this writer’s opinion.  With that said, I have to ask:

• What was the purpose of the Listening Tour?
• In light of these findings, what should the Executive Committee do?
• In light of these findings, how should the respective state offices and state ministers respond?

*It’s also worth noting that almost an exact equal amount of Latinos and Caucasians were at the Tampa Listening Tour with an equivalent number of Blacks (African-Americans, Jamaicans, Haitians, West Indian, etc…) at the Cocoa Listening Tour (see results).

Florida COG – Cocoa

• Listening Tour Transcript – Cocoa
• Florida Cocoa Listening Tour Summary
• Listening Tour Results – Cocoa

Florida COG – Tampa

• Listening Tour Transcript – Tampa
• FL Tampa Listening Tour Summary
• Listening Tour Results – Tampa

DISTILLED BULLET POINTS

FLORIDA COG – COCOA

Ernesto Armstrong:  I here on behalf of my pastor, Bishop Quanelle Miller.

Bro. Pratt:  Question with regards to your mention with the Listening Tours is this Listening Tour here the Tampa Office and the Tampa mention for March, is that the one we are suppose to attend?   This is just a state function here for us.

Unidentified Speaker:  This Listening Tour in Cocoa is an afterthought and that is a little bit disconcerting that we came up after the fact.  May I suggest that if it is in order that the next go around if this would get back to the GO, that Cocoa Office or Cocoa Area could be the primary or principal area for the next Listening Tour?

Bro. Porter:  The divide in FL

Kathy Franks:  Why is it being ignored?  Do you see no need?  I’m just wondering because I know people don’t want to say black and white, we got a black president now because, anything’s possible.  But you guys are not, it’s not right that we’re not together.  And even for you to say that it isn’t being considered, that’s not right either.  That’s what I wanted to know.  Why is it not being considered?  Is it being ignored or you just don’t see a need for it?

Bro. Pough:  I wonder, I wonder, I wonder, are we in a church that is sensitive to this in the time in which we live.  Are we in the right church or shall we look for another?

John Diamond:  What I would like to know is why has that been allowed, and not just why it has been allowed, but what will be done to correct that issue?  I believe and it may be my personal opinion, but I would like to see if Tampa is going to take our strong churches that they should be willing to pay their bills, bring them current and then bring them under their wings?  That would be my opinion.  Thank you.

Theodore Ballard:  Division of the state of FL.

Unidentified Speaker:  I spoke once before so just miniature, not going long.  If we should go back to the subject of the Tampa Office and the Cocoa Office, the problem is we have two standards for the same Minutes.  Two standards for the same Minutes that should govern all of us.  The problem is M – O – N – E – Y.   Because our black churches get to the place where they make a couple of dollars of tithe, the Tampa Office don’t want us to send the tithe into the Cocoa Office.  Gentlemen that is the problem.  If you fix that from up top everything will be alright.

FLORIDA COG – TAMPA