Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Megachurch took in $69 million in 2006
Kansas City Star ^ | Nov. 11, 2007 | A.P.

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 ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Extended News; US: Georgia; US: Iowa
KEYWORDS: 110th; atlanta; christianity; christians; chuckgrassley; classenvy; congressionalprobe; creflodollar; elmergantry; filthylucre; fleecingtheflock; grassley; lordjesuschrist; megachurch; milliondollanoholler; money; moneychangers; pharisees; probe; religion; rollsroyce; sanhedrin; televangelists; wwjd
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 81-100101-120121-140141-153 next last
To: AndyTheBear

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.


101 posted on 11/12/2007 5:54:35 AM PST by Seruzawa (Attila the Hun... wasn't he a liberal?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 86 | View Replies]

To: danamco

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.


102 posted on 11/12/2007 5:56:41 AM PST by Always Right
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 88 | View Replies]

To: Graybeard58

The God I believe in isn’t short of cash, mister...


103 posted on 11/12/2007 5:58:19 AM PST by Constitution Day
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Graybeard58
"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."

Golly - Jesus must be looking down from Heaven and smiling...


/s
104 posted on 11/12/2007 5:58:35 AM PST by reagan_fanatic (Ron Paul put the cuckoo in my Cocoa Puffs)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Constitution Day
The God I believe in isn’t short of cash, mister...

Nor is He short of shepards ready to fleece the flock.

105 posted on 11/12/2007 6:00:24 AM PST by Graybeard58 ( Remember and pray for SSgt. Matt Maupin - MIA/POW- Iraq since 04/09/04)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 103 | View Replies]

To: driftdiver
So you have a problem with a minister making over a $100k and flying in fast planes?

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.

106 posted on 11/12/2007 6:07:18 AM PST by danamco (Now, I would LOVE to hear your solution as to how to remove 12 to 30 million people from this countr)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 91 | View Replies]

To: Graybeard58

107 posted on 11/12/2007 6:18:35 AM PST by B-Chan (Catholic. Monarchist. Texan. Any questions?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: eleni121
The posters who state that the IRS should be investigating these churches instead of elected reps are right on.

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

108 posted on 11/12/2007 6:24:47 AM PST by MinuteGal (Three Cheers for the FRed, White and Blue !!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 51 | View Replies]

To: VOA
Y'know... I can't say where I heard this, but this Dollar character is mixed up with some really low-rent charlatans in Tulsa. Low-rent charlatans who are located around 15th and Delaware...

At least that's what I've heard.

109 posted on 11/12/2007 6:25:00 AM PST by OKSooner
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: driftdiver
That said you won’t get too many people working for bread today. God doesn’t require that his servants be poor, dirty and hungry.

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.

110 posted on 11/12/2007 6:26:00 AM PST by L,TOWM (Liberals, The Other White Meat)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 99 | View Replies]

To: Seruzawa

Broward county just spent $70 million on a cricket stadium in a ghetto neighborhood while people are being taxed out of their homes.


111 posted on 11/12/2007 6:28:45 AM PST by Moonman62 (The issue of whether cheap labor makes America great should have been settled by the Civil War.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: LaineyDee

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.


112 posted on 11/12/2007 6:29:41 AM PST by Larry Lucido (Hunter 2008)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 82 | View Replies]

To: CheyennePress
I have nothing against preachers living above poverty lines.

How big of you.

113 posted on 11/12/2007 6:34:19 AM PST by P-Marlowe (LPFOKETT GAHCOEEP-w/o*)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: Graybeard58

Ain’t that the truth. It’s pathetic, really.


114 posted on 11/12/2007 6:35:35 AM PST by Constitution Day
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 105 | View Replies]

To: Graybeard58
That is so true.

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!

115 posted on 11/12/2007 6:42:48 AM PST by A knight without armor
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: L,TOWM

“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.


116 posted on 11/12/2007 6:56:09 AM PST by driftdiver
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 110 | View Replies]

To: MinuteGal

“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?


117 posted on 11/12/2007 6:58:06 AM PST by driftdiver
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 108 | View Replies]

To: MinuteGal

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.”


118 posted on 11/12/2007 7:00:03 AM PST by Lijahsbubbe
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 108 | View Replies]

To: Lijahsbubbe

‘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.


119 posted on 11/12/2007 7:03:16 AM PST by driftdiver
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 118 | View Replies]

To: Lijahsbubbe
You got it.

Few others on this thread do.

But the conversation on the life styles of the rich and impious is interesting, at any rate.

Leni

120 posted on 11/12/2007 7:03:33 AM PST by MinuteGal (Three Cheers for the FRed, White and Blue !!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 118 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 81-100101-120121-140141-153 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson