Posted on 05/02/2005 6:18:32 PM PDT by pissant
TV evangelist Joyce Meyer and her family have received millions in salary and benefits from her worldwide ministry in recent years, according to newly released records.
The documents, obtained by the Post-Dispatch under Missouri's Open Records laws, provide the first public look at how the worldwide broadcasting and publishing empire has compensated Meyer and her family.
They paint a picture of a minister and her family who have reaped large financial rewards from the ministry they created and control. Over 20 years, Joyce Meyer Ministries of Fenton has grown to a $90 million-a-year empire with TV and radio programs that reach millions of people in about 70 countries.
Among the details included in the financial statements, board minutes and other documents Meyer provided to the assessor of Jefferson County in a dispute over the tax-exempt status of its headquarters property:
The ministry's board of trustees, which is headed by Joyce Meyer, agreed to pay her a $900,000 annual salary in 2002 and 2003.
The board agreed to give her husband, Dave Meyer, the board's vice president, an annual salary of $450,000 in each of those same two years.
(Excerpt) Read more at stltoday.com ...
I begrudge nobody making as much money as they can. I'm a die hard Capitalist with a capital C.
And if people want to give Joyce another 90 million, fine by me. But I get a very bad vibe from preachers who emphasize financial success as a barometer of God's blessings.
The religious leaders I respect the most are Catholic Priests. Who get a pittance for a salary, minister to young people getting married, the dead and dying, perform baptisms, run orphanages & food banks, say daily mass, run prayer groups, etc, etc. All for nothing more than to be in God's good graces and to shepherd as many people to heaven as they can.
I look at the other televangelists always talking about what God can do for you (via a donation)and think: "hey buttmunch, you got it backwards".
God loves you Caroline and so do I! Thanks for sharing!
Ahem . . . . .
From this link comes the following quote:
"In St. Louis last month, Meyer asked for a $7 million check. "That would really bless me," she said."
Yeah, no spit. I'd be "blessed" if some idiot sent me $7 mil, too. There's more at that link if you check it out.
She's just another plastic-haired swindler.
I admire Catholic Priests, Nuns etc. too.
I grew up in a very organized religion where absolutely NO ONE is paid to do anything - from preaching, counseling, teaching, grounds-keeping, child care, or music.
The entire system is volunteer (well, actually God calls you and you gladly serve...who would turn down God).
Being that I'm from Utah, I suppose you can guess what that religion is. I'm now a born-again Christian, but I struggle with Pastors and Music Pastors getting payment or salary when I've seen Church work as volunteer.
I couldn't or wouldn't have told anyone 5 years ago.
I take it you do not hold the Mormons in high regard. Without them holding the line, the State of Utah would likely drift left much as Nevada and New Mexico have done. If for no other reason than that, I'm grateful to the Mormons!
Mormons are wonderful people. I really love them. I used them as an example of charity and volunteering. This is what I think religion should be at its heart....serving others without reward....it what Jesus would do.
But I think the LDS church has some problem with its origin and dogma...it's just not Biblical IMO.
You would be welcome to join the group that put the Bible together in the 1st place. Love to have ya!
It's a mystery to me why so many send their hard-earned dollars to Benny Hinn. He does not impress me. Just another Couch.
The ultimate goal of being CHRISTIAN while alive is to be HEALTHY and WEALTHY!
Nor is your behaviour godly.
Yeah, well, just hold on. There's no law that states a pastor or preacher or evangelist is supposed to be poor. Quite the opposite, as a matter of fact. I think there are those here who need to go do some homework on the issue (hint: the text is something called "The Bible"; well worth reading every now and then).
If you're of the school that equates poverty with piety, you're out of your mind.......as well as suffering from well and truly screwed up "theology".
Another hint: study tithing and its attendant results.
The Bible talks about "turn the other cheek".
NOW, depending on what debate you are in, you would choose one of the other to support your point.
They are opposite sides of the argument, yet both in the bible. JUST BECAUSE they are there, does that make them THE LAW OF GOD?
I'm not so sure this is wrong, personally. I've been in favor of it for awhile, although I continue various sides of the issue.
That is to say, I continue to CONSIDER various sides of the issue. Left a word out.
I have studied tithing, and since I am a Gentile Christian and not an Israelite living in Israel under the Law of Moses, the biblical tithe does not apply to me. A lot of pastors teach quite wrongly about tithing. I am expected to give to support my church, help fellow Christians, and support the preaching of the Gospel, and all of that might involve more than a 10% "tithe" every year.
Finish to the end of the chapter. We are told to judge with righteous judgment.
Also, we are told later to judge those within the church and cast out the immoral.
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