The $6000 Disney Vacation and $1736 Cell Phone Bill
- Posted by: Todd
- Posted on: Sun, September 11, 2005
- Viewed 201
- (78) comments so far
Take, for example, a recent article I read this week from a regional newspaper. To save some embarrassment, I'll not disclose the location, the church, or the people involved; but what happened is chilling; and in my opinion, sickening. (Please note that these details come from newspaper reports on what is alleged to have happened in this instance.)
Let's set the stage. A pastor is at a church of around 250 people. And he's been there for a significant period of time. But he leads a secret life. And no one at his church knows about what's really going on in the life of their pastor.
In 2003, the pastor uses church funds to pay $600 of his son's college tuition; $100 to a hairdresser; and even doubled his paycheck one month. No one noticed. Oh, and he took his family to Disneyland on a $6,000 vacation. Still, no one was the wiser.
Everyone in the congregation was unaware that their pastor filed for bankruptcy in 2004 to protect himself from 160 creditors. (that's one hundred and sixty creditors!)
Through this whole period of time; this pastor continues to pastor the flock, visit the sick, teach the Word... you know, the things church leaders do every day. And no one has a clue.
Still after all this, the pastor paid $20,000 of church funds for a wedding. Still, no red lights for anyone in the congregation.
Remember, this all happened in a church of 250 people.
The alleged misuse of money surfaced only when a new church secretary began getting calls from collection agencies about unpaid church bills. Upon checking the details, up to $100,000 is missing and unaccounted for.
How could this happen? How could one pastor be left so unaccountable?
It was really very simple: He had sole access to the bank account.
The pastor was immediately fired (although regional denominational officials wanted to put him on administrative leave. They still pay his rent, utilities, and health insurance). Why did this happen? Three real reasons, I think:
1. The Ignorance of the Church's Governing Board
You know... I don't think ignorance is a strong enough word here. The newspaper report said, "Because [the pastor] had sole control of church accounts, officials didn't know how he was spending the money." There was NO accountability. He was paying his own salary; church bills; and doing a little here and there on the side because he didn't think he'd get caught. Again, according to the news report, the pastor never even turned in any bank statements. The church's co-treasurer (I assume this was a figurehead position) didn't want to comment much.
Another example: The church's co-treasurer said that the church board did agree to pay the pastor's phone bill; but was appalled to find out that the bill was for $1700+ dollars. According to the board member, he had no idea it had gotten that high. Huh?!
So the leadership of this local body totally botched this one. The lesson learned: " A future pastor will no longer have total control of church accounts. Instead, checks will be signed by himself, the other co-treasurer and another church official."
2. The Calloused Heart of a Pastor
Sin has a strange way of slowly working it's way in to your life until (if left unchecked) it will control you. The small $100 payments to hairdressers lead to a $6,000 vacation, followed by a $20,00 wedding. I'm sure that this pastor would never have guessed a few years ago that he would become so involved in this one sin. But he did. He hid it; and continued to feed it. Before long it was out of control. Eventually someone had to find out.
3. An Apathetic/Unknowing Congregation
Unfortunately, there was no one close enough to this pastor (whether on the church board or just a friend in the congregation) who knew of his plight. No one was there to see the cracks in the armour. No one was a close enough friend to see that he was living beyond his means. And if they were there, they remained silent. The co-treasurer of the church said he was suspicious of the pastor's spending a few years ago, but said it isn't easy to suspect a preacher of wrongdoing. No, it's not. And evidently it was too hard for anyone who had any concerns to approach the subject.
So, why does this make me so upset?
Because this happens over and over again. And it happens in small churches and large churches. And because I've lived through a situation just like this in a church (probably a couple of them in my lifetime).
You see, this happens with all kinds of sin... money, sexual sins, integrity issues, etc. And it happens over and over again.
I write this so that this doesn't happen to you.
I write this so that this doesn't happen to your church.
Set up parameters. Protect yourself before any problems happen. Do it today. I mean, right now.
If you have total control of the church checkbook; get someone else into the loop.
If you have total control of the church's internet and computers, install some accountability software.
If you do counseling with the opposite sex, make sure all protection is taken... open doors, another person in the building, etc.
That way, you can not be accused of something that you didn't do. And you'll safeguard yourself against the temptations that grabbed this pastor by the neck.
Sorry to rant; but this seems so logical to me. Protect yourself and your church. Keep your staff members accountable. And submit to the accountability of your board. It can save your job, your marriage, and your future. It's that important.
I'm sorry, but I just get really tired of reading stories like this from all over the country every week.
Today's deep thought: Don't be Stupid.
FOR DISCUSSION: Wow... I'd like to hear your comments on any aspect of this article. Could this have happened in your church? What kind of things are you unprotected from right now? What will you do to change it? Is your board too controling or too lenient? How do you think this church's/pastor's problems could have been avoided.
Todd
We often hear about mega-church pastors that fall from grace. Sexual affairs; pornography; financial and integrity issues are all major reasons that many influential church leaders have fallen over the years. Many times we feel think that it’s easier for the large and powerful to fall; but that’s just not true…
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Susie B on Mon, January 30, 2006
But are there laws written about this sort of thing? Outside of an orgainization, where does one find laws that govern churches, accountability, and finances? I see the results of situations gone bad in newspaper articles, but how does one know what is legal and what is not?
Susie B on Tue, January 31, 2006
I am really hoping for a reply to the above email. Is there a way to check out the laws/regulations on this if you are not part of an organization, or the organization is very loose and small?
SB
Sergio on Mon, July 06, 2009
Good Day. Over the years your bodies become walking autobiographies, telling friends and strangers alike of the minor and major stresses of your lives.
I am from Czech and too bad know English, give please true I wrote the following sentence: “Here is what you should do with credit card debt.But the question arises in the mind of many people that whether they can get their free credit report without a credit card.”
http://www.mondaymorninginsight.com/images/smileys/wink.gif Thanks in advance. Zada.
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