When will be made aware of the new pastor’s salary and be able to vote on it by the bylaws?

Have there been any instances where restricted or unrestricted church funds have been used to pay ABY West financial obligations? Are funds being managed according to donor intent?

What is the status of the 2023 Audit?

Was the church audited in 2024? If so, what was the outcome?
please share with the congregation the Statement of Activities and the Balance Sheet.

Article 1, Section 3 of the Trustee bylaws, requires that the Trustees provide timely reports to the congregation on the church’s financial condition. Will the Trustees schedule quarterly financial updates to the congregation on ABY West, the Church and its affiliates?
This question was asked in May 2024 by Ed Lloyd and not only did he not get answer but the congregation has also not received any update. 

There should be an orderly question and answer period during the yearly Church meeting and Corporate Meeting. The congregation has a right to inquire about anything church related as we are the spiritual and financial providers of the Abyssinian Baptist Children. 

Is there a reason why the agenda, minutes, and other materials are not distributed in advance of the meeting? If the minutes are distributed in advance they could be approved without reading out loud, in the interest of efficiency.

As a Christian minister, why do you allow and support the narrative that the concerns of members for their church are reduced to simply “not liking Rev. Johnson”?
For the record, that is untrue. 

Years ago, the entire congregation would read the church covenant in unison on communion Sunday. Would you consider reviving that practice as a way to strengthen our congregation?

Are new members required to review and agree to abide by the church covenant when they join? 

How can we develop (I) policies and practices to promote orderly Biblically based resolution of conflicts within the Church, and (ii) establish clear codes of conduct for members and officers, including accountability and consequences (including "disfellowship") when individuals violate our church covenant and policies repeatedly?

At the 2024 annual church meeting, there was no budgetary line item for installation celebrations for a new Pastor as we were still in the middle of the Pastor Search process, from what line item were these expenses pulled? What was the budget for the celebration and what was the actual spend?

Did ministries suffer financially because of the installation celebrations for a new Pastor expense? Did the church have to downsize in workforce as a result?

Is the installation celebrations for a new Pastor expense why Rev. Hoggard couldn’t not receive an increase or payment of certain benefits?

On the website, we can no longer search and view 1) sermons and services from past years 2) the recording of Rev. Butts last virtual interview in October 2022 3) the files of past “What’s Your Story ?” Interviews, …Can Abyssinian’s rich history be accessed via another method? Have files been permanently deleted? For current church information will the website be updated and maintained in a timely manner. (In October, Men’s Week details were not posted. Well after Sister Grubb’s passing and Memorial Service, her name remained on the website sick list. Four months later, the Gala photographs are still the opening “greetings” on the website… Please keep the website current, and please replace the archives. Thank you.

Robert’s Rules of Order govern Abyssinian Baptist Church meetings, allowing for open discussion and questions at the appropriate times.

Abyssinian is not Allen AME.
Kevin Johnson is not Stephen Green.

No one is daring to imagine here.

The last minute move to silence the congregation via pre-submitted questions requested less than 24-hours before the church meeting is not only fundamentally anti-Baptist, it borders on perjury.

Tread carefully.

Article VII, Section 4 of the Abyssinian bylaws indicates that “the salary of the Pastor shall be fixed by the Church in a Church Meeting and incorporated in the Annual Budget, and paid monthly on the last day of each and every month for services rendered that month, at the rate so fixed and voted upon by the Membership.” When will Rev. Johnson’s salary be shared with the congregation for approval?

Annual Meeting Question(s)

There appears to be a pattern in which Rev. Johnson and church leadership on only answering questions in carefully scripted or controlled situations and environments? Is that intentional or merely an impression formed from recent events? What lessons from this displayed profile in courage are we as members of Abyssinian Baptist Church to garner and apply in our daily struggles? How does Rev. Johnson’s and church leadership’s actions provide an example or blueprint for Abyssinian Baptist Church’s leadership in our community and world during troubled times? Is the church’s call to members and other Christians in the community to join Rev. Johnson and church leadership as you lead a growing ministry, boldly answering all questions and challenges that come at us with answers that even our adversaries recognized are from the wisdom of God or are you preparing the church for an anticipated crucifixion or other persecution? Is it the “We Ain’t Scared” or “Keep Running” message we should follow, words or actions?

Fn1: Jesus Christ in the gospels routinely answered questions from the crowds that followed him, whether they were from friend or foe. The wisdom of his answers often was a mike drop and people in the crowd stopped asking questions.

You preached a sermon “We Ain’t Scared” on January 25, 2025. However, you duck and avoid questions from media and members alike if you remotely perceive the source of the question may be hostile as if you are scared.

Here are several instances where, after hearing Jesus’ answers, the Pharisees and others stopped asking Him questions:

1. After Answering About Taxes to Caesar
• Matthew 22:15-22; Mark 12:13-17; Luke 20:20-26
• The Pharisees and Herodians tried to trap Jesus by asking whether it was lawful to pay taxes to Caesar.
• Jesus’ response: “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”
• Result: “And they were unable to trap Him in what He had said there in public. And astonished by His answer, they became silent.” (Luke 20:26)

2. After Answering About the Resurrection
• Matthew 22:23-33; Mark 12:18-27; Luke 20:27-40
• The Sadducees, who denied the resurrection, asked about a woman who had been married to seven brothers.
• Jesus’ response: He explained that in the resurrection, people will not marry but be like the angels.
• Result: “And no one dared to ask Him any more questions.” (Luke 20:40)

3. After Answering About the Greatest Commandment
• Matthew 22:34-40; Mark 12:28-34
• A scribe asked which commandment was the greatest.
• Jesus’ response: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart… and love your neighbor as yourself.”
• Result: The scribe agreed with Jesus, and after that, “no one dared to ask Him any more questions.” (Mark 12:34)

4. After Jesus Questioned Them About the Messiah
• Matthew 22:41-46; Mark 12:35-37; Luke 20:41-44
• Jesus asked them how the Messiah could be both David’s son and Lord.
• Result: “No one was able to answer Him a word, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask Him any more questions.” (Matthew 22:46)

These passages show how Jesus’ wisdom silenced His challengers, leaving them unable or unwilling to continue questioning Him.

However in Mark 15:3 – 5 (see also John 18:33-37) when the chief priest accused him of many things in front of Pilate, Jesus was silent for a moment as he mentally prepared for his crucifixion: “And the chief priest accused him of many things. And Pilate again asked him, “Have you no answer to make? See how many charges they bring against you. But Jesus made no further answer, so that Pilate wondered.”

In Jan 2024, KJ informed his non denominational church that he would become the next pastor of Abyssinian Baptist Church, and the two churches would become 1 church with two locations. Now, the two churches share pastors and administrators. However, Abyssinian members were promised that the two churches would remain separate. What is the current status of this? 

Hello, would it be possible to publish a weekly PDF bulletin of known announcements on our church website? I think it would help keep everyone aware of weekly activities and details emphasized during service. Love that we are environmentally friendly by eliminating printed programs, however, I do think this is another useful way to communicate in addition to the emails, texts, app, etc. Thank you. 

Why are the monthly Good Grief Ministry sessions led by Deacon Dr McCurtis no longer listed on the Church calendar?

What are the plans to for paying the balloon loan payment that Rev. Johnson mentioned in a town hall meeting will be due in 2025, and what is the amount and the due date ?