The Seat Is Perpetual. Not the Person. This article examines the Constitution and General Decree of the Church of the Living God, explaining why the Office is perpetual while the individual who occupies it is temporary. Through constitutional principles, historical context, and recent events, readers are encouraged to study the governing documents for themselves.

As the General Assembly gathers, one question stands before every member, minister, bishop, officer, committee member, and Overseer: If Mother Mary Magdalene Tate submitted herself to the laws, rules, and government of the Church, who today claims to be exempt? This open letter examines Page 2 of the Decree Book and calls for accountability at every level of leadership.

In 2025, elderly church members who spent decades building and sustaining their congregations found themselves spiritually unhoused. But these names represent more than individuals. They represent families, legacies, and entire communities. Read their names. Remember their stories. Join the fight to protect the elderly and preserve the sacred.

For nine months, I asked one question: why? Why does a church founded by a woman who gave so much continue to wrestle with the same wounds generation after generation? This reflection considers Mother Tate’s legacy, the cost of power struggles, and the responsibility history places on every generation.

For generations women carried ministries, mentored younger members, and sustained congregations through difficult seasons. Today many longtime female leaders are quietly being replaced or sidelined. This transition raises important questions about institutional memory, leadership stability, and the future of church governance.

The office of deacon was established in the early church to protect the vulnerable and safeguard institutional integrity. From Acts to the present, deacons have stood at the intersection of people, property, and stewardship. In a time of governance strain and generational transition, the biblical mandate of frontline stewardship remains urgent.

The Black Church did not emerge in comfort. It was built during slavery, expanded under racial terror, and institutionalized during Reconstruction and Jim Crow. Through land ownership, disciplined governance, and collective sacrifice, it became the foundation of Black civic, economic, and spiritual resilience in America.

Hi Reader, Tomorrow night, 2.19.26, from 7:30 PM to 8:30 PM, CAI will be hosting a Zoom call that is open to everyone. During this hour, I will personally read the transcript of Bishop Lucas and Bishop Martha Thomas’ testimony so that we are all aligned on what was actually said. No summaries. No interpretations. Just the words as they were spoken. There will be no additional discussion during this call. No questions and no responses will be taken regarding the transcript. T