Assembling What We Know: The Terry Jones, Dove World Timeline

[Joanne98]

In recent posts, I have been examining various real estate transactions and IRS filings involving Dove Charismatic Ministries, Inc. and Terry Jones, pastor of the affiliated Dove World Outreach Center. As the organizer of various hate campaigns promoting Islamophobia or homophobia, Jones has actively focused significant attention on himself and his church. Even though the planned burning of the Quran was canceled at the last minute, reaction to the plan and to the media hype surrounding it has resulted in protests that have turned deadly. Although Jones’ and Dove World’s disgusting statements and signs are protected free speech, Jones’ action in promoting himself as a media figure brings with it the higher level of scrutiny that is routine for those who seek to become social icons.

In this post, I will provide the details from an extensive search of public records relating to several of the business entities involving Jones and Dove World, assembling all of the information into a timeline such as those for which Marcy Wheeler of Emptywheel is known. Data in the timeline can be verified by repeating the public database searches I carried out. For corporate information, sunbiz.org is the site where Florida corporate data can be found. For Alachua County property records, the website of the County Clerk is the appropriate starting point.

The overall impression from the amassed data is that, at the very least, Jones and Dove World have been extremely sloppy in mixing the use of the Dove World site for non-profit church activities and for-profit businesses. Jones has claimed that these businesses donate a portion of their proceeds back into the church to keep it operational. If keeping the church operational were the sole purpose of the private businesses, however, why aren’t those operations carried out under the non-profit structure of the church? If all of the properties had been purchased in the church’s name and all of the other business were also carried out by the church, with the cash flow clearly documented in up-to-date Form 990’s filed by Dove Charismatic Ministries, Inc., there would be no reason for suspicion. By mixing the church activites and private businesses, Jones has created an environment in which it appears that he and the other officers of the businesses can enrich themselves partly through the tax status and volunteer labor status conferred by the church.

In summary, I have found nine residential properties purchased for a total purchase price of $947,900. These properties were purchased with the deeds being placed in various individual and corporate names as detailed in the timeline below. Mortgages still outstanding on these properties were taken out with original amounts totaling $620,632. Subtracting the outstanding mortgages from the purchase prices yields "cash" outlays for these properties of $327,268. This is remarkably close to the total of the two mortgages taken out on Dove World Property in 2006 of $305,000. However, the Form 990 filed for 2006 (pdf) also noted that a previous outstanding mortgage of approximately $46,500 was paid off from these proceeds. Adding in the old mortgage settlement, it would appear that less than $70,000 in additional funds would be required to purchase these properties if one assumes the Dove World mortgages were used for the purchases. Only an analysis of bank records, which are not public information, would be able to determine whether the funds raised by mortgaging the church property were indeed used in these real estate transactions

http://seminal.firedoglake.com/diary/71182

I wonder how many other so-called churches are doing this.

[Bluenorthwest]

1. The 'faith community' has been derelict in dealing with their own

The main issue I have with those who follow organized religions is that in America, these people tend to shut down their basic ability to judge character the moment anyone tells them they are 'of faith' of doubley so if they are a 'minister'. You see otherwise smart people try to rationalize idiocy, crime, slander and hatered because they function under the assumption that if a man calls himself a minister, he is pure of heart and lacks a personal agenda. We saw it with McClurkin, and again with Warren. The President becomes a fool, pretending that gossiping, backbiting invective breathers are 'of God'. The daft notion that a self proclaimed 'cleric' should be free of questioning, or inspection of motivations is harming this nation.
The cold hard fact is that many a crook will take up the 'collar' just to take advantage of the daft idiots who see a cross and shut their eyes to all wrongs. The fact is that the 'faith community' needs to deal with those crooks and liars, or be identified with them. The fact is, too many people of faith turn a blind eye to the slanders and the theft. They refuse to see the truth, which would set them free.

[Moostache]

2. Religion should never have been granted tax-exempt status in the first place.

In my opinion, even the most strictly compliant churches are getting a free ride that they do not deserve or warrant. They collectively bring in BILLIONS and pay nothing in taxes. I will make a deal right now with every Rethug hack in power - your precious top-2% can have one more year on the current tax rates (and you can claim victory on that as well) BUT in exchange, you sacrifice ALL religious-based tax exemptions. Watch their fucking heads explode on that choice...especially Mittens!

George Carlin was right (as was so often the case) - in the race for the best line of bullshit, religion wins hands down.