This is the “religion” that keeps its financial records a secret. I’m amazed that sheep can be so stupid as to give their money without knowing the detailed budget. It’s crass and crooked. Oral Roberts, Jim Bakker and Jim Jones would be proud.
You couldn’t be more wrong.
The church’s articles allow all members (and I don’t know how many there are...but there are several thousand) to vote on the church’s budget.
There may be a large contingent of “sheep” at Saddleback, but there are also a bunch of pretty bright people, including journalist, lawyer and author Lee Strobel.
It’s a Southern Baptist Church. The records are open to the members of the church. If you had actually read why they were in a shortfall this year you would see why there was a budgetary shortfall. This letter was sent to the members so that the church’s financial obligations can be met. This type of thing is not unusual in SBC churches. The response by the members isn’t unusual either.