With the Bishop Eddie Long story surfacing recently, a familiar undertone seems to be emerging during the many conversations on the topic. Nope, I'm not talking about the "DL" phenomenon in black churches. I'm talking about the issue of pastoral compensation. Namely, is it right for a pastor to drive around in a Bentley while his congregation struggles to hold on to their homes in the midst of this (supposedly long-since ended) recession? As part of the allegations against Bishop Eddie Long involve allegedly gifting the accusing young men with "cars, clothes, jewelry and electronics" (Christian Science Monitor), it is understandable that the question of how a pastor gets his wealth and what he does with it has come into play. But...
This issue always irks me, because it casts a wide net over the profession as a whole. Sure, there are megachurch preachers who are indeed rich. A study released just last week revealed the pastors of "megachurches" make about $147,000 a year, which is obviously no couch change. This includes "the combined total of cash salary plus any housing allowance" and "salary amounts funded by love offerings if applicable." Yeah, that's still a lot of money, but obviously every pastor doesn't lead a "megachurch", which is loosely defined as one having about 2,000 attendees for a typical weekend service. In fact, there are fewer than 1,500 (of the 300,000 total) churches that meet this criteria in the US. Painting all pastors with this same "greedy mofo who buys a Benz with tithes" brush is intellectually dishonest. A majority of pastors who lead your typical small congregation still have day jobs just like you and me.
That said, some (not all) of those who do lead large congregations in many cases do indeed lead lavish lifestyles, but who's to say they cannot or should not?
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Black Spiritual Leaders
Bishop Eddie L. Long, New Birth Missionary Baptist
HOMETOWN: North Carolina ABOUT HIM: He first served as pastor in 1987 for a congregation consisting of just more than 300 members. Now the Lithonia, Georgia-based megachurch's membership has totaled to over 30,000 members. FACTOID: Long has authored numerous books, including 'What a Man Wants, What a Woman Needs' and 'The Blessing in Giving.' The bishop is also featured on rapper Ludacris' latest album, 'Release Therapy,' and appeared on the hit Bravo reality show, 'Real Housewives of Atlanta.'
Johnny Nunez, Wire Image
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BlackVoices.com
Black Spiritual Leaders
Influential Black Spiritual Leaders
People around the world look to pastors, preachers, bishops and reverends for spiritual guidance and inspirational nourishment. In the black community, popular clergymen such as Bishop T.D. Jakes, Prophetess Juanita Bynum and Rev. Al Sharpton are held in high esteem and have much influence over congregations and countless followers alike. Take a look at them and other influential black spiritual leaders.
Black Spiritual Leaders
Bishop T.D. Jakes, The Potter's House
AGE: 51 HOMETOWN: South Charleston, West Virginia ABOUT HIM: The entrepreneur and chief pastor of the The Potter's House, a 30,000 member non-denominational megachurch church in Dallas. FACTOID: Jakes, who was named among America's "Top 10 Religious Leaders" by 'Time' magazine, has recorded Grammy- and Dove Award-nominated music projects. He also produced the movies 'Woman Thou Art Loosed' and 'Not Easily Broken.'
Black Spiritual Leaders
Reverend Jeremiah Wright, Trinity United Church of Christ
AGE: 67 HOMETOWN: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania ABOUT HIM: For 36 years, Wright was the Senior Pastor of the Chicago megachurch -- which boasted around 8,500 members. Controversial remarks made during his sermon shed negative light on the popular church, and one of its most well known parishioners: Illinois Senator and U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama. FACTOID: Named one of 'Ebony' magazine's top 15 preachers, Wright has received a Rockefeller Fellowship and seven honorary doctorate degrees, including from Colgate University, Lincoln University, Valparaiso University, United Theological Seminary and Chicago Theological Seminary.
Black Spiritual Leaders
Juanita Bynum, televangelist
AGE: 49 HOMETOWN: Chicago, Illinois ABOUT HER: A former beautician, flight attendant and drug abuser, Bynum transformed herself into one of the most popular celebrity clergywomen after being introduced to the masses by Bishop T.D. Jakes. With a highly rated TBN show and a thriving television ministry, she gained national attention in 2007 when her estranged husband, Bishop Thomas Weeks, III, allegedly attacked her in a hotel parking lot. FACTOID: Bynum, a best-selling recording artist and author, has crossed over into entertainment. In 2008, she starred on episodes of the hit ABC Family network TV series 'Lincoln Heights' and will also appear in the big movie adaptation of the off-Broadway musical 'Mama I Want To Sing,' alongside Ciara, Lynn Whitfield and Patti LaBelle.
Black Spiritual Leaders
Bishop Eddie L. Long, New Birth Missionary Baptist
HOMETOWN: North Carolina ABOUT HIM: He first served as pastor in 1987 for a congregation consisting of just more than 300 members. Now the Lithonia, Georgia-based megachurch's membership has totaled to over 30,000 members. FACTOID: Long has authored numerous books, including 'What a Man Wants, What a Woman Needs' and 'The Blessing in Giving.' The bishop is also featured on rapper Ludacris' latest album, 'Release Therapy,' and appeared on the hit Bravo reality show, 'Real Housewives of Atlanta.'
Black Spiritual Leaders
Rev. Al Sharpton, National Action Network
AGE: 54 HOMETOWN: Brooklyn, New York ABOUT HIM: Mostly recognized as a staunch civil rights activist for people of color, the former James Brown tour manager is the founder the National Action Network, a nonprofit, civil rights organization with over 40 active chapters nationwide. FACTOID: A 2004 U.S. Presidential candidate, the divorced father of two daughters has written a memoir (with Karen Hunter) hosted his own TV show (on TV One) and nationally syndicated radio program.
Black Spiritual Leaders
Bishop Noel Jones, City of Refuge Church
AGE: 57 HOMETOWN: Spanish Town, Jamaica ABOUT HIM: In 1994, Bishop Jones founded Noel Jones Ministries (NJM), formerly known as Jesus Alternative Ministries, in an effort to address religion's inability to offer real relevance to the changing climate of the times. His Gardenia, California-based church boasts 7,000 members. FACTOID: One of seven children born to Bishop Robert and Marjorie Jones, Bishop Jones attended St. Jago High School and went on to attain a B.S. in Theology from Aenon Bible College. He is the younger brother of entertainer Grace Jones.
Black Spiritual Leaders
Jamal Harrison Bryant, The Empowerment Temple
ABOUT HIM: Bryant founded Baltimore's Empowerment Temple in April 2000, which became the fastest growing church in the A.M.E. denomination with over 11,000 members. Prior to his role as pastor, he served as director of the NAACP's youth and college division. FACTOID: Despite dropping out of high school, Bryant later obtained a GED and went on to further his education, receiving a degree from Morehouse College, a masters of divinity from Duke University and doctorate in ministry. Today, his 'Power for Life' broadcast is heard weekly across the United States, the Caribbean, England and throughout the continent of Africa.
Black Spiritual Leaders
Pastor Cynthia Hale, Ray of Hope Christian Church
HOMETOWN: Roanoke, Virginia ABOUT HER: Hale is the founding and senior pastor of the Ray of Hope Christian Church in Decatur, Georgia, which has an active membership of 5,000 and an average of 1,500 in worship each Sunday morning. FACTOID: In 2004, Hale established a mentorship program to assist in the spiritual as well as practical development of pastors and church leaders. She has been recognized by Ebony magazine as one of the greatest black women preachers in America.
Black Spiritual Leaders
Bishop Larry Trotter, Sweet Holy Spirit Church
HOMETOWN: Chicago, Illinois ABOUT HIM: Since 1981, Trotter has expanded his congregation at The Windy City's Sweet Holy Spirit Church from 22 members to over 5,000. FACTOID: In addition to his preaching ministry, Trotter is also an accomplished musician who was nominated for a Stellar Award in 2003 for his rendition of 'Jesus is the Best Thing that Ever Happened to Me.'
Black Spiritual Leaders
While most megachurches don't publicly disclose salaries and compensation for their lead pastors, a good example might be TD Jakes. Yes, Jakes lives in a palatial $2 million Dallas mansion, flies on charter jets, and can out bling your favorite rapper. But the money he's using to fund this lifestyle isn't coming from his congregants. Most of it's coming from his own personal efforts, in the form of book sales, record royalties and speaking engagement fees when he visits other churches. Yes, he leads a church, but he's also a very talented person who uses those God-given talents to spread the word of Jesus Christ. Those talents just so happen to also make money. That money doesn't typically come from the collection plate, but rather by intentional purchases by those who want Jakes' various works. Common sense would dictate that Jakes tithes/offers a fair amount of this back to his church. So, again, why is it wrong for Jakes (and the like) to profit off his own hard work?
Some will invariably argue that it's wrong for a pastor to have all this stuff in the midst of a recession. Really? Where is it written that just because someone else is suffering, you need to? If any of you has sold a car or home to help out a fellow churchgoer in this recession, I'll stand corrected. I doubt this has happened though. On that same note, most churches (mega or otherwise) do indeed offer up financial help to congregants who are in dire straits, in addition to their myriad other services from childcare, to Spanish lessons, to aid for the homeless and parenting courses, often at no charge. None of this stuff's ever publicized, but let's not assume churches are just ATM's that suck in money and and never disperse any. Most do.
Finally, I'm sure someone's gonna argue that Jesus didn't need a nice car or house, so why does Creflo Dollar? If you want to take everything in the bible and apply it to the present day and time, then I'm sure many of us have no problem with getting pilloried with stones for our own personal indiscretions.
Related:
+
Bishop Eddie Long Pictures Paint an Uncomfortable Picture
+Multiple Men Allege
Bishop Eddie Long Coerced Sex From Them
Let the chuuuch say amen!
{crickets}
Again, I'd be the last one to excuse the small minority of churches where the pastor does indeed take advantage of the congregation's financial generosity. And the pictures of Bishop Eddie Long in his not one, but two marble-clad bathrooms might make him appear to be misusing his wealth. But we don't know how he earned his fortune. And those cases are the exception, not the rule.
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Comments: (38)
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By: The truth on 9/23/2010 6:24PM
As if the question really needs an answer.
It's not their money. It comes from those who scrape change from the bottom of their pocketbooks. Some give all they have without knowing jerks like this are using their money to "Pimp" around in style. It's not meant to benefit a con artist calling himself a man of god as he draws upon the coffer for personal gratification.
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By: Debra on 9/23/2010 8:38PM
This man and all the others, T.D, Sharpton, Dollar and Bynum etc.. They are teaching false doctoring. They are going to hell and all those that are following them. Read the bible for your self. Romans 16:16
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By: Deb on 9/23/2010 8:36PM
This man and all the others, T.D, Sharpton, Dollar and Bynum etc.. They are teaching false doctoring. They are going to hell and all those that are following them. Read the bible for your self. Romans 16:16
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By: ARNEADER on 9/23/2010 8:39PM
My ex pastor bought eight cars in 15 years for himself and his family. He and his wife went to LA and NY on $30K shopping sprees. They had a 8K sq ft (home in the South). His wife bought Dooneys and Coaches for their daughter and the ministers wives on a ladies of the church shopping/conference while the other ladies in the church with their daughters looked dumbfounded because they couldn't afford those things for there daughters.
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By: vdog on 9/23/2010 9:15PM
Looks like the BLING and the BIBLE have come together. That won't turn out good.
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By: vdog on 9/23/2010 9:17PM
The author forgot to note that this money is all TAX FREE!!!!
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By: Valeri on 9/24/2010 2:49AM
First of all the Pastors are not the church. They are leaders that can be replaced. When the saints presented themselves before God so did Satan.
The forces of evil will all ways operate within the Church. It's not about the evil inthe Church. It is about the individual and what type of relationship they have with God. I will not lose my soul because someone else sinned. Only my own sins will qualify me for Hell if left unrepented.
New Birth members should pull together and keep on praising God and he will see the church through this test.
It is not a sin for a Pastor to be wealthy. How the Pastor use or misuse that wealth is between him/her and God.
The Bible does not excuse anyone from giving because they are poor. When we give we are giving to God's work and to further the message of Christ. If one person is saved or brought to Christ your giving is not in vain. Don't microthink your giving once you give your job is done let God do the rest.
We should pray for Bishop long God still forgives. We should also pray that New Birth will remain strong in attendance and service to God. We should also pray for the three young men. This is not a time to hate on someone's wealth that is obviously troubled, but a time to show mercy and forgiveness.
Wealth has a tendency to corrupt and few are able to resist its corrupting powers and that include Pastors.
The problem is many churchs have become social money making entertainment centers lacking the life example and the teaching of the true messages of Christ.
Some church members and pastors have no fear of God. The fear of God defeats sin and allows us to live a God filled Christ like life. Fearing God is the beginning of wisdom. We should all keep giving where the work of the Lord is being done. If your church is not doing good works, give to a church that is.
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By: donjohnson0 on 9/23/2010 6:31PM
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By: AL on 9/23/2010 6:36PM
Isn't this the same guy who's sending photos of himself to young men in the parish? Photos of himself in front of his bathtub dressed in tight workout wear! Isn't this the same Pompous ass with his own private jet? My neice knows a pastor from Georgia that has a 10,000 square foot house with a full maintenance crew, a 100,000 dollar rolls royce and a personal trainer that looks just like this wolf in sheep clothing. OTHERS HARD EARNED MONEY IS NOT MEANT TO FUND ONE CON ARTIST'S OVER THE TOP LIFESTYLE. People are starving and think what little money they donate is going to a worthy cause. Wake up people. Mini versions of Madoff are all around us!
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By: westfall on 9/23/2010 10:44PM
Ye4p. This is the same one. Unfortunately, not the one and only one.
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