Help Us To Restore Integrity at Abyssinian Baptist Church

The Abyssinian Baptist Church in the City of New York, established 216 years ago, is a historical institution. Like any institution, be it a museum or a foundation, a church’s fundamental survival is the result of its leadership’s strength and commitment to follow proper protocol and bylaws, to honor the foundational governance that has guided the institution, in Abyssinian’s case, for over two centuries. Throughout the recent pastoral search and election process at Abyssinian, tragically, this did not happen.

Attempts were made by members to address with leadership the problems with the search process in two historic special meetings in the spring of 2024, to no avail.

It is for this reason we have determined that filing a lawsuit against the leadership of Abyssinian is the only way that serious governance problems, revealed by the pastoral search process, can be corrected.

The search process was alarmingly flawed, as was the election, since Rev. Kevin Johnson did not meet the requirements for a successful election as outlined in the church’s own Bylaws (a majority of all members in good standing, not a majority of voters).

Further, in the last decade, substantial debt has been placed on the church without the approval of the membership, a requirement of the Trustee Bylaws.

The law firm of Nelson Madden Black, LLP (https://nelsonmaddenblack.com/), a New York City-based firm that specializes in religious institutions, is representing us in this lawsuit. They estimate that the basic cost of the suit will be $50,000 to $75,000, with additional possible costs resulting in a total of $200,000 if an appeal process is pursued. In late September, we raised $31,000 in approximately seven days to meet the required retainer of $30,000 for the Nelson Madden Black to begin their work. The lawsuit was filed with the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York in mid-October

https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/nyscef/DocumentList?docketId=doufpQGQYd2slBoFkPrX_PLUS_g==&display=all&courtType=New%20York%20County%20Supreme%20Court&resultsPageNum=1

We can now move to a more public phase of fundraising with a new goal of raising an additional funds as soon as possible toward the total estimated cost.

Why We Need Your Help:

Taking legal action is not easy or inexpensive, but it is necessary if we are to see justice done. We are asking for your support to cover the legal costs associated with this lawsuit. Every dollar raised will go directly toward attorney fees, court costs, and other expenses related to this effort.

By supporting this cause, you are standing up for what is right, not just for us but for members of churches everywhere. We believe in the power of community, and we are confident that together, we can make a difference.

How You Can Help:

1. Donate: Any amount, big or small, will help us in our fight for justice and accountability.

2. Share: Please spread the word about our campaign by sharing it with friends, family, and on social media.

3. Pray: We ask for your spiritual support as we navigate this difficult journey.

We are fighting this battle for the future of Abyssinian and for all who believe in fairness, transparency, and doing what is right. With your help, we can restore the values and integrity that our church was founded upon.

Also important: this lawsuit does not involve the plaintiffs receiving any money. This is solely about insuring that Abyssinian does not set a dangerous precedent of violating its own protocols and bylaws in order to manipulate or facilitate governance decisions based on a pre-determined outcome that serves personal interests and agendas.

This is an opportunity for you to be an important part of history. You don’t have to be a member of Abyssinian. You just have to care about restoring the integrity of a historical institution of faith that has contributed in countless ways to social justice, economic equality, and civil rights.

Thank you for your generosity, support, and belief in this cause. We are deeply grateful for any help you can offer.

In the words of the late Congressman and Abyssinian pastor Rev. Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., “keep the faith.”

https://www.nbcnewyork.com/investigations/new-pastor-abyssinian-baptist-church-harlem/5855831/