Posted on 11/22/2012 12:43:59 AM PST by Steelfish
First AME Church In Dire Financial State The storied church in South L.A. owes about $300,000 to numerous creditors, officials say. Its new pastor vows to investigate possible financial mismanagement.
By Angel Jennings,
First African Methodist Episcopal Church, one of the oldest black congregations in Los Angeles, faces a financial crisis, owing roughly $300,000 to a long list of creditors, church officials said.
Revelations of the money problems come amid declining membership and tithing under the leadership of a controversial former pastor, the Rev. John J. Hunter, who was reassigned following a tax investigation, a sexual harassment lawsuit and questionable use of church credit cards.
The new pastor, the Rev. J. Edgar Boyd, spoke to reporters Wednesday morning outside the storied church that became the pulse of the black community after the 1992 Los Angeles riots. He vowed to restore the image and glory of the church and investigate financial mismanagement that may have occurred under Hunter.
He said he is willing to take legal action if necessary.
"This local congregation will undergo a thorough and comprehensive reorganization to protect the precious resources which have been and will be entrusted to its care," he said. "We are preparing and re-tooling."
About 50 worshipers stood by his side. Many said later they were shocked by news of the church's dire financial state.
Boyd said he has not been paid since the reassignment earlier this month and had to pay for his own moving expenses.
"I didn't know it was this bad," said longtime member Julie Jackson, 65. "This is devastating."
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
“Prosecutors looked stunned as they stared at the jury. The Goldman family looked horrified, and Kim and Patti Goldman burst into tears. The Brown family also looked stunned.
CNN’s Jim Hill reported that members of the Goldman and Brown families held each other up and almost staggered down the hall as they left the courtroom. They did not speak to reporters. Hill said a man’s voice, perhaps Fred Goldman’s, could be heard saying, “no, no, no.”
Crowds cheered in front of the courthouse and at the First AME Church in Los Angeles when the verdict was announced.”
Why worry? Your Messiah/Savior in Washington will fix things for you.
AME, you have worship at the altar of government and sin for decades. Now your people have no ability to discern what is best for them. Down you go.
(Yawn). So what. Call obama (small o, it’s intentional). He’s got all the free stuff you wanted.
When a “church” subverts the Gospel and focuses upon “social justice”, (which is not justice at all) it deserves to go under.
Ichabod (The GLORY has LEFT the Building)
Can’t think of a more evil church to suffer this product of SATAN! That said, maybe they will embrace The LORD now! and stop their Racist Ways!
YOU decided to be the AFRICAN Methodist Church. YOU decided to segregate yourself away from Americans. YOU decided to run up over a half million in debt. YOU decided to cheer when murderer was set free.
YOU figure a way out of your self inflected problems, I am sick tired of you and your people's whining and begging.
Some time ago I heard a Pastor in Memphis say:”Some call it a social gossip; He said I don’t believe in the “social Gospel” But I believe in the: “Gospel Of our Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ”
The “Social Gospel” just makes this world a better place to go to hell from!
“Social Justice” is a code word for marxism.
It does not make for a better world.
It makes a hell on earth, which proceeds to hell for eternity.
It has gotten so bad, there hasn’t been enough from the collection plate for the pastor to buy jewelry for his mistress. He’s even had to pay the Lexus payment from his own pocket. It’s hard on these churches when the Democrats can get people to vote for free.
So true. Had an employee 20 years ago who was in an AME congregation. He was very proud that the “Bishop”’ and his wife had matching BMW’s.
The Bishop is trying to push the pastor who looted this church off on a church in San Francisco. They have sense enough to know what he did to his former church and have thus far blocked the guy from the pulpit. Given how upset the Bishop is, the forensic accountants need to look if he was getting a cut.
Reverend? really?
If money is your god...I guess.
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