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Re: “Greed seen as the church's top problem — so why isn't Elevation angrier at pastor's excess?”
The purpose of giving to the church is not to pay a pastor's salary and fund a pastor's unaudited (unlimited?) budget. Yes, the staff of the church needs to be paid, but the purpose of tithing is to fund the work of the church. And the allocation of those funds -- from paying the electricity bill, to funding community organizations, to helping people who are in distress -- is decided BY the church -- by the members of that congregation, who hold each other accountable. Not solely by a pastor. All is -- and should be -- transparent. I don't understand this cloak-and-dagger approach to Elevation's finances. Churches must avoid even the hint of impropriety -- to avoid creating the appearance of greed and further driving people away. Yes, some things need to remain confidential ie. donors who wish to remain anonymous. But a church's books should be without reproach.
Our pastors need not be paupers. What kind of people would we be if we demanded our ministers and their families live in poverty, and all of the stress and hardship that comes with that? I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy. But -- Elevation's finances and pastor compensation reeks of excess and inappropriate boundaries, at the very least. It is very concerning and alarming for other churches, that this kind of behavior taints their mission and work.
