June 15, 2004
5thEstate.com's exclusive investigation revealed that School District of Lancaster Principal (SdoL), Bernard James was fired from a job less than one year before coming to Lancaster. In our continued investigation we have discovered that he was FIRED from not one job BUT two jobs in 14 months! Surprise, surprise, just like the other job he got fired from, James did not list this one on his resume either! Additionally, James' dedication to children is being challenged by the City of Philadelphia.
You probably didn't know this but Dr. Bernard X. James, is also REVEREND Bernard X. James. According to papers filed with Philadelphia's Prothonatary, here is what James said happened:
"REVEREND JAMES' employment with the METROPOLITAN BAPTIST CHURCH was constructively terminated as of July 22, 2002, when he was locked out of the CHURCH property certain members of the CHURCH'S Board. "
And why did they fire James? Here is what the church leaders filed in response to James' lawsuit AGAINST the church:
"The facts in this case are eminently simple. The Plaintiff Reverend Bernard James was hired by the Board of Metropolitan Baptist Church. After massive financial discrepancies were uncovered, numerous unauthorized expenditures and public defamation of private members of the church community, along with misquotation of bible text and teaching. Reverend James was relieved of his obligation to continue pastoring to the parish of Metropolitan Baptist Church."
And what did James do after he was fired? Again from the church's court papers:
"Immediately thereafter, Reverend James opened up various bank accounts and initiated the opening of several credit cards account, all obligating Metropolitan Baptist Church to his continued expenditures."
Now we know why James didn't want to brag about this gig on his resume! The case was to be decided in Philadelphia this morning at 9:30 AM @ the ARBITRATION CENTER, 1880 JFK Blvd., 5th Floor. However, in court papers filed last Thursday, the case has been settled! James' housing and salary package was $68,359 a year and he was trying to get $2,130.77 of housing allowance, nearly $4,000 of pay, $4,000 of vacation, $1,000 "pension contribution" and also money for James' belongings that were locked in the church!
Is James doing it for the Children?
And while James was the one doing the suing in this case, the CITY OF PHILADELPHIA is suing James and his wife Sharmon in another case:
"On December 27, 2001, the Health Department received information from a state certified laboratory indicating significant lead levels for Britney James (DOB: 06/13/00) constituting a serious health hazard. Subsequently, on January 11, 2002, the Health Department served an Order on the defendant-owners ordering defendant-owners to eliminate the dangerous conditions within thirty (30) days of the Health Department Order. A copy of said Order is attached hereto as Exhibit “B” and incorporated herein by reference."
So this 18 month old girl in James' $345,000 house has elevated levels of lead - what does James do?
Here the court documents say:
"A re-inspection of the subject premises on or about February 14, 2002, by the Health Department revealed that defendant-owners have failed and/or refused to eliminate the dangerous conditions."
James has a hearing July 6 at the Criminal Justice Center also in Philadelphia.
And what could happen if the judge rules against James and his wife? Again from the court documents:
"The defendant-owners shall pay a fine in the amount of $300.00 per day for each and every day the violation has existed uncorrected in the subject premises since the original Violation Notice; and that the defendant-owners shall pay all costs attendant to this action including reimbursement to the City of Philadelphia if the Health Department is required to abate or relieve conditions existing on the subject premises;"
NEXT UP: James lies on attendance records!
PS. As a footnote, several months after getting locked out of his church, the "Reverend" Bernard James started New Pentecost Christian Church And Ministries with his wife, Sharmon. If you drive by the store-front you will see an invitation to hear "Sister Sharmon S. James"!
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