A federal court has issued a preliminary injunction prohibiting Moses Tyson Jr. from continuing what the court described as a campaign of defamatory statements against the Church of God in Christ, Inc. (COGIC), its governing body and senior leadership.
The ruling, handed down by the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee following an evidentiary hearing, determined that Tyson’s statements were made with actual malice, caused reputational and financial harm, and were not protected by the First Amendment.
The injunction bars Tyson from publishing or disseminating allegations of criminal conduct — including claims of fraud, theft, and elder abuse — that the court found to be unsupported by evidence. The court clarified that the order does not limit legitimate dissent, theological debate, or criticism, but instead addresses the continued spread of demonstrably false allegations to a national audience through social media, mass emails, and online broadcasts.
“I’m pleased with the outcome of the evidentiary hearing,” Bishop Drew J. Sheard, presiding bishop of COGIC, said Thursday. “This case has had a negative impact on our denomination, and I’m grateful that the judge saw the need to provide this injunction.”
The church filed a $500,000 defamation lawsuit against Tyson Nov. 2025, that alleges Tyson’s campaign caused confusion among congregants, eroded trust in church governance and contributed to a documented decline in charitable giving — harms the court determined could not be fully remedied by monetary damages alone.
The Memphis law firm Bailey & Bailey, PLLC represents the plaintiffs.
Atty. Walter Bailey emphasized that the case carefully balances free speech with accountability.
“You have a right to be critical of the church, its policies or any public institution. But you cannot act maliciously and slander individuals or institutions without being held accountable,” said Bailey, who, for decades, has litigated high-profile civil rights and public interest cases.
Bailey described Tyson as a former parishioner without official rank, noting that “nothing entitled him to go around and make malicious accusations.” He added that the court found Tyson’s conduct potentially demonstrated actual malice, which is not protected under the First Amendment.
On the broader implications of the ruling, Bailey said: “Freedom of speech is among our most cherished liberties. But it is not a license to knowingly spread false accusations that destroy reputations and mislead the public.”
The allegations at the center of the lawsuit circulated widely online through social media platforms, podcasts, email campaigns, and YouTube.
Tyson, a California gospel musician and producer, frequently discussed church governance and controversies within Black faith communities on YouTube programs such as the “Official King Jives Show.” He has hosted extensive discussions of the dispute, including interviews and commentary related to the case.
COGIC attorney Taurus Bailey, speaking with WMC Action News 5 on Thursday, explained that the statements were presented publicly as assertions of fact rather than opinion, despite what the church considered a lack of supporting evidence. He said COGIC leaders felt a responsibility to act to protect their reputation and their members from what they viewed as misleading accusations.
He said the judge found sufficient preliminary indications that Tyson may have acted without regard for the truth, leading the court to temporarily bar him from repeating the disputed statements while the case proceeds.
The preliminary injunction remains in effect as the case proceeds toward resolution.
