This all began last year as WCCO released an explosive news video implicating Bishop Harding Smith of Spiritual Church of God in Robbinsdale for alleged wage theft. The nonpayment matter relates to questionable volunteer hours mentioned in the WCCO report, which said at least eight former employees, of which only one, at the time, came forth with allegations—Jermaine Garrett.
On June 29, 2023, a report by WCCO’s David Schuman broke the story across the metro.
Smith believes WCCO jumped the gun on this story before hearing both sides. He says Schuman did not speak to several people prepared to rebut Garrett’s story. “He had no interest in hearing both sides of the story,” Smith said. “It was a blind gotcha moment for the reporter.”
Smith also adds that WCCO ignores his group’s intervention relationship with the Cities of Brooklyn City and Bloomington, which found no contract improprieties or mishandling by Bishop Smith. As late as Dec. 14, 2023, Minnesota Acts Now still received payments from the City of Brooklyn Park, although the contract was not renewed. We contacted the Brooklyn Park Police, which works closely with the intervention program, to learn why it was not renewed but could not speak with the police chief before our press time.
The story took an unexpected turn regarding WCCO’s reporting when Garrett, the critical source they used, retracted his statement apologizing on social media for his involvement in the WCCO story. Below is Garrett’s complete Facebook statement posted on Oct. 29, 2023, and can currently be seen on Bishop Harding Smith’s page.
“My name is Jermaine Garrett; I’m just here to let you guys know that I’m sorry to mention the church and bring down their name like that because they gave us our wages, and everybody basically knows that too, so I just want to let you all know that. I went through my papers and found all my pay stubs, and it was all good.”
Bishop Smith believes that Garrett became bitter and created this false narrative after he told him he could no longer participate in the programs because he had a DWI on his record.
Since the WCCO news video was released, Smith says that his family and church have experienced significant hardships, including a loss of funding, and more importantly, his wife is now living with the aftermath of a stroke from the ordeal.
In February, Smith initiated legal actions against WCCO, alleging defamation of character. In the lawsuit, Smith says the allegations of wage theft were completely false. Minnesota Acts Now contracted with each employee to work a fixed number of hours per week at a fixed hourly wage. Every employee was paid for all hours worked. Because of the community benefit of the work, Minnesota Acts Now invited employees to work additional volunteer hours beyond the contracted work. It was always clear and understood that volunteer hours were optional.
We spoke to WCCO’s managing editor, Jen Jimenez, who said she could not comment because it involved an ongoing legal matter.
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