“The problem with the Black church is there are no Black theologians.” Dr. James Cone
Financial News 03/14/2015
Georgia megapastor Creflo Dollar has been under fire recently for going above and beyond in his requests for financial benefits to his ministry. Most paraishioners are accustomed to the pastor reaching out for a few dollars here and there, but the world was shocked by his most recent request.
Dollar recently asked his members to give him $65 million dollars so he could buy one of the fanciest and most expensive private jets known to man.
“Sow your love gift of any amount” is what Dollar said, pleading with his members to help him to purchase the G650 private jet that he and his wife Taffi would use to travel the world. The two are the leaders of World Changers Interational Church in College Park, Ga.
The current plane being used by the ministry is apparently unacceptable for use. It was bought in 1999, built in 1984 and has flown over four million miles. They claim that the plane is no longer safe. They could have a point, since another prominent pastor, Dr. Myles Munroe, died last year after his private jet went down during landing.
“(W)e are asking members, partners, and supporters of this ministry to assist us in acquiring a Gulfstream G650 airplane so that Pastors Creflo and Taffi and World Changers Church International can continue to blanket the globe with the Gospel of grace,” the ministry’s website said.
The exact asking price for the jet is $67,950,000. The plane isn’t brand new, however. It’s already had 625 landings since mid-December. The plane holds 18 passengers and can take off with a maximum weight of 99,600 pounds.
“We are believing for 200,000 people to give contributions of 300 US dollars or more to turn this dream into a reality,” the website once said.
But after days of public criticism, the church changed what it was asking for from members and instead simply stated that “Your love gift of any amount will be greatly appreciated.”
Here’s what the church spokesperson says about the change in text:
“The ministry operates on the goodness of its followers and has always been a donor based organization. Every gift given is heartfelt and appreciated, and people who wish will give at the level comfortable to their situation and ability.”
But even after changing the text on the page, the organization went a step further and took the entire page down completely.
So, the major question is whether or not a pastor has the right to ask his followers to help him make purchases that might further increase the quality of his/her work. If Dollar’s members are glad to give the money, does that make them foolish, or could they be giving him the money for a reason?
In the video below, Finance PhD Dr Boyce Watkins gives a perspective on Pastor Dollar’s financial request. You can watch the video below:
“Signed…An Educated Brother!”
aneducatedbrother 