Lax financial oversight riles some church followers

[pstokely]

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/16877951.htm

At First Family Church, money mysteries leave some of the faithful wondering: Is the church serving God’s glory or the pastor’s?
By JUDY L. THOMAS
The Kansas City Star
CHRIS OBERHOLTZ | THE KANSAS CITY STAR

Jerry Johnston, the dynamic Johnson County pastor who leads one of the fastest-growing megachurches in America, has an unusual problem.

As hundreds of new worshipers flock into his First Family Church, hundreds of others have bailed out, complaining that the pastor they once held in high esteem appears more intent on building his own kingdom than God’s.

“What he preaches from the pulpit, he doesn’t put into action,” said Bruce Shalberg, who was co-chairman of a fundraiser that he said raised millions of dollars several years ago to pay off the new church building. “You would have to call someone like that a hypocrite.”

What’s more, an examination by The Kansas City Star found that the church is structured in a way that provides little financial oversight.

[nitpicker]

1. This is all too common.

Even hole-in-the wall churches have similar problems. I know one congregation that finally got in a finance guy that insisted that the cash-on-hand (and the related expenditures) should be accounted for, and finally got the founder to agree. I can understand why cash-on-hand should exist at all (this is in a remote rural area mostly off the grid, why make the supplier neighbor drive 30 miles to the bank?), but...

[Coyote_Bandit]

2. Churches without denominational ties

are often structured in such a way that there is very very little oversight and accountability. I know that the board of directors of one of the large Tulsa mega churches consists of the pastor, his wife, and his mother. There is an advisory board whose recommendations are not mandatory and whose composition seems to consist mostly of pastoral butt kissers and yes men. This particular church takes pride in sending out people to start other churches, Christian schools, Bible schools and assorted ministries around the world. They train folks to use a similar legal structure. My understanding is that their own legal documents of incorporation and church bylaws were drafted by a Christian attorney (and ORU law school graduate) who also consults nationwide with various churches and ministries. They seem to favor this structure because of the control it gives the pastor. Nobody has the power to challenge the pastor. Anyone who questions can be told that they are in rebellion and to leave and not return until their attitude changes. Yes, it does happen. And, frankly, those folks are better off being out of that church. Much of the conduct by church leaders is legalistic, overtly religious, hypocritical and abusive IMHO.

[trumad]

3. Two Priests were busted last year for ripping their church off for 8 mill

over the last several years.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15053535/