07/05/2024
Final Statement regarding the Excommunication of Carl Matthew Joshua/Abel
Dear members of the Body of Christ,
Due to a number of pressing issues, we were unable to produce the final official statement regarding the excommunication of Carl Joshua. We now submit this statement to you.
A few matters need to be stated first, as to the reason we are providing the details of the case of his excommunication.
• Firstly, Carl has had a public ministry on social media and has become very well known, earning the trust of many godly Christians (this has led some to believe that he has not sinned grievously enough to deserve excommunication or a public statement as given previously).
• Secondly, Carl has not been forthright to those who are unaware of the details concerning his particular sins which demanded his excommunication (as he was instructed to do).
• Thirdly, we believe Carl has not shown signs of repentance and continues to present a double life to those who do not know him. We present this public statement, not as an attack on him, but for the purpose of protecting those he comes into contact with. We trust that the following information will justify our statement.
The charges brought against Carl are as follows:
1) Deception. Breaking the 9
th commandment (Ex. 20:16; Deut. 5:20).
Carl has repeatedly lied to the congregation. He has also lied about the charges brought against him until such a time as he was caught out with presented evidence. He has also lied about his academic qualifications. He has no theological qualifications as he claimed to have or also posted previously in his bio. He has for many years lived a double life, as noted below.
2) Stealing. Breaking the 8th commandment (Ex. 20:14; Deut. 5:19).
The church bank account was controlled by Carl alone. He had repeatedly lied about this to the congregation. He had repeatedly taken money from the bank account without the knowledge of any person or the authority of the church. In his defense Carl claimed that he had not taken a salary from the church and that he only withdrew money when in financial need. While we believe that it is true that a minister must be paid for his labours in theword (1 Tim. 5:17-18), yet using funds from any public organization without approval is equivalent to stealing or fraud. Furthermore, we ask that if there have been any donations made to the church, that these sponsors contact us and provide us with such details (We ask this because an individual has come forward recently with such information where funds were donated to the church but Carl has taken this for personal. When questioned about this Carl further lied that the funds were given to him and not the church).
Please note, that the church has not received any financial support from local or overseas donors, according to its banking records.
3) Sexual Immorality. Breaking the 7th commandment (Ex. 20:14; Deut. 5:18).
This has been the most grievous sins he has committed. Carl created a fake profile by the name of Michelle Tessa Bianci. He used this fake persona for multiple vile and wicked purposes. He had directed women from his church to this fake persona for counselling. To our knowledge, he has used this persona in an attempt to counsel women into a relationship with him. He has also made attempts (without success) to get explicit pictures from a woman using this profile. This fake profile has been removed from social media, and again, we ask that if there has been any conversation pursued by this name, that you contact us. Furthermore, his phone has revealed possession of pornographic material, as well as deep fake images of women in his own congregation, AI generated by himself.
These sins expose Carl as a danger to the congregation and is so grievous as to be likened to the Corinthian situation in 1 Corinthians 5:1-13. The nature of the offence, in like manner, demands immediate removal from the church (immediate excommunication). He has also been involved in swopping of naked pictures of himself with a female and requesting the same of this female to send such to him (also persuading this female using the fake profile).
We must note as well that the nature of his sins have greater consequences as he has been in the office of a minister (although self-appointed and not officially ordained). Having been entrusted with the care of the Lord’s sheep, he has turned and did them harm. For this he has failed tremendously in the superior office he held and brought disrepute to the name of Christ and the faith. Above all else, the Lord will not be mocked, and so we continue to impress on him the seriousness of these sins against the Lord. It must also further be noted that some of these sins are also crimes for which Carl can be arrested for and prosecuted.
We pray earnestly for Carl’s true repentance which if it had been shown till now, may have rendered such a public statement unnecessary. Unfortunately, he has not shown signs of true repentance. We take no pleasure in writing these things and understand the offended emotional responses of some when reading this. It is our duty to make sure that the public are aware of these things as he still may be a danger to others. The Lord is gracious and merciful and will powerfully save Carl if he will turn to him in faith and repentance.
As one who has been excommunicated, Carl is not simply removed from Reformers Bible Church but is removed from the Lord’s visible church having shown himself to not be one of the Lord’s sheep. In other words, excommunication shows that Carl is not a Christian. This does not mean that he should be shunned and not allowed into any church. It means that he must be ministered to as an unbeliever. The church does not hate Carl but feels great pity for him. These words are not intended to hurt Carl but to protect others from him and cause him to be reminded of the serious nature of his sins in the hope that he will truly repent and be forgiven.
