Posted on 11/11/2007 5:20:17 PM PST by Graybeard58
An Atlanta megachurch took in $69 million in 2006, according to a financial statement the church's minister released in response to a Senate investigation into him and five other well-known televangelists.
The Rev. Creflo Dollar disclosed the World Changers Church International's financial information to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, but said the money he spends is his own.
Dollar said his income comes from personal investments, including businesses and real estate ventures. But the church gave him a Rolls Royce, which he mainly uses for special occasions, he said.
"Without a doubt, my life is not average," he said. "But I'd like to say, just because it is excessive doesn't necessarily mean it's wrong."
Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, the top Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, launched an investigation into the finances of six ministers after hearing reports of some preachers' lavish and opulent lifestyles. In a letter last week, he requested answers by Dec. 6 to questions about their executive compensation and amenities, including use of fancy cars and private jets.
(Excerpt) Read more at kansascity.com ...
I agree with your concern. I’ve always thought those televangelists to be shady characters. However my basic belief in the right of each individual to make a fool of himself (a right I have exercised many times) trumps my concern.
Actually, if these CEO’s were taking in that kind of money for a regular business they would be grossly underpaid. I am sure there are a few of them that get the jet as a status symbol, but as much as some of them travel it could be both practical and economical to have their own jet.
The God I believe in isn’t short of cash, mister...
Nor is He short of shepards ready to fleece the flock.
NO!
But when they make more than a quarter million dollar$, I compare that to Jesus' "salary"!!
Commercial air flights is appropriate. My late Pastor, Dr. D.James Kennedy, who was a TV "celebrities" like these "false" prophets, ALWAYS flew tourist class making sure to have a middle seat so that he could spread the GOSPEL to the passengers on each side of him because they did not stand a chance to run away from him!!
Jesus did NOT owned or used Lear Jets, etc., he rode a donkey!!!
Remember he cleansed the Temple chasing out all the money makers, saying "Take these things away! Do not make My Father's house a house of merchandise!", according to John 2:13-17???
I would certainly NOT be comfortable if my church was footing the bills to pay housing for a pastor's 4 children, like Joyce Meyer, and her likes, not talking about her extreme lavish lifestyle including paying housing for security guard
Federal law prohibits religious groups such as Meyer's from giving excessively to anyone who heads a ministry. Wall Watchers is asking the IRS to investigate several other charismatic televangelists as well.
While Meyer's previous salary is unknown, a recent series of investigative articles in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch revealed Meyer's ministry purchased for Joyce and Dave a $2 million home, a $10 million private jet, and houses worth another $2 million for the couple's children, who also work for the ministry. The articles also outlined Meyer's recent personal purchases, including a $500,000 vacation home. Meyer, 60, lives in Fenton, Missouri, near St. Louis.
Misdirection is going on and it's working here.
This whole thing doesn't pass an odor test.....what's going on?
Why the investigations at this time? Why an investigation by the congress (senators or congresspeople)? Why Grassley? Why the Republicans? What are the actual charges as opposed to innuendo?
Something political as opposed to financial has prompted this bolt out of the blue at this moment in time. What is it?
I'm not an evangelical of the types under scrutiny. Just have my Hercule Poirot beret on here. Something smells rotten in Belgium.
Leni
At least that's what I've heard.
No he does'nt. But He does require them to "not be greedy for filthy lucre". No problem with a pastor being blessed with a decent house, a decent vehicle, decent clothes, a nice vacation or two during the year, and the ability to put his kids through college. Mansions, Rolls, Armani, first class flights to timeshares in Vail -- well that's just outrageous.
Even worse, this reinforces the external view of "hypocrisy in the church" that makes the work that other, genuine, modest workers for Jesus do with joy and much less compensation. Some of the hardest workers for God I have seen around the world were pretty darned poor and at times, dirty. Can't be helped when the nearest running water is a two hour drive from where you live and work.
Broward county just spent $70 million on a cricket stadium in a ghetto neighborhood while people are being taxed out of their homes.
Can’t argue with anything you said. Any church, or organization of any kind for that matter, is prone to corruption. The targeted churches may or may not be doing anything illegal or even unethical.
I’m not a big fan or TV ministries generally, but I do think that the “mega” label is misleading. These churches by membership are miniscule compared to the mainline denominations. And that, IMO, is exactly why they are targeted. “We’re going after the ‘mega’churches!” Oooh, scary, megachurch. But the reality is that they are easy targets because of their relative small size. Go after a larger denomination and suddenly you have voters and politicians who are members of these denominations to contend with. So the so-called “megas” are easy targets. The supermegas will be next.
How big of you.
Ain’t that the truth. It’s pathetic, really.
Evander Holyfield said after he gives his money to Dollar the money is in God’s hands and he does not think about it. My first thought was no, it is in Creflo’s hands but I changed my mind. If that is how Holyfield chooses to look at it fine. It is what he wants to do and he is free to do it.
Politicians looking into extravagant spending. To coin a phrase, LOL!
“No problem with a pastor being blessed with a decent house, a decent vehicle, decent clothes, a nice vacation or two during the year, and the ability to put his kids through college. Mansions, Rolls, Armani, first class flights to timeshares in Vail — well that’s just outrageous.”
Yes it is outrageous. The answer is not for Congress to take control of churches or limitations on what individuals can give to the church of their choice. God seems to have handled these cases in his time.
“Even worse, this reinforces the external view of “hypocrisy in the church” that makes the work that other, genuine, modest workers for Jesus do with joy and much less compensation.”
Those that hate God will use anything to attack his church. Yes these instances give them ammo and these instances waste millions that could go to help spread the Word. In the scheme of things these millions are a minor foot note compared to the $$ our government wastes. The BILLIONS of dollars wasted by Grassley and company could do so much more good if they weren’t spent on pork.
“Some of the hardest workers for God I have seen around the world were pretty darned poor and at times, dirty.”
Each to their own calling. Our rewards will be granted when we go home and not on this earth. The books will be balanced and those spending their fortune here will answer to God when they reach the accounting.
“Why the investigations at this time? Why an investigation by the congress (senators or congresspeople)? Why Grassley? Why the Republicans? What are the actual charges as opposed to innuendo?”
Perhaps its payback for the evangelicals failure to tow the party line?
I agree with you. Something is going on. What really is prompting this? Why now?
But I also wonder: why the select six? Surely there are more than the six that “need investigating.”
‘But I also wonder: why the select six? Surely there are more than the six that “need investigating.””
Ahh yes we must have the state investigating our churches. That will certainly fix any problems.
Few others on this thread do.
But the conversation on the life styles of the rich and impious is interesting, at any rate.
Leni
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