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P.S.
White Collar Lies: Carlton Byrd’s Plagiarism and Adventism’s Culture of Credentialism
November 14, 2025|
A plagiarism scandal involving one of Adventism’s most prominent leaders has reignited debate over honesty and accountability in preaching and publishing. Carlton P. Byrd, president of the Southwest Region Conference and former speaker of Breath of Life Ministries, received public criticism after delivering a keynote sermon for Oakwood University’s (OU) presidential inauguration that closely mirrored a sermon by Baptist preacher Tolan Morgan.
The incident occurred on September 26, 2025, during the inauguration of Gina Spivey-Brown, OU’s 12th president and the first woman to hold the office. Byrd’s address—intended as a message of encouragement—borrowed heavily from Morgan’s 2020 sermon, “Why Did You Pick a Devil?” originally preached at Fellowship Bible Baptist Church in Warner Robins, Georgia. Side-by-side comparisons shared online showed Byrd echoing Morgan’s phrasing, structure, and biblical illustrations almost verbatim.
