Greed: (Media Ministers) A Study of Nonprofit Exec. Pay
(Study Conducted: 1-20-04)
by Bernie Dehler
Selected: Twenty-seven of the most popular involved in "media ministries."
Results: See this webpage for all the data (tables and chart for the exec. pay of 27 media ministries.)
Summary:
Nonprofit ministries, by definition, are formed to benefit the public. When they claim to be "Christian" organizations, they aim to build God's kingdom and glorify Christ in word and deed. They are not meant to be a profit means for individuals.
Some of these ministries are well managed by good stewards, and they should be rewarded (such as Focus on the Family and Coral Ridge Ministries). Other ministries show gross love for money, by paying themselves outrageous salaries (such as Dr. Hagee, Peter Popoff, Billy Graham, & Paul Crouch). See the tables and charts for yourself (here).
Dr. Hagee, come on... $900K??? What are you thinking? Paul and Jan Crouch, why do you two get over $700K combined, yet pay everyone else in your organization so poorly? Did you not think that this information would get out, even though it is public information and required to be made public by law???
Billy Graham, don't you know that you have a sterling reputation and that your brothers and sisters in Christ are proud of you for your evangelism efforts? Why would you blow your reputation like this? Over $400K? Please don't tell us you are not aware of your compensation, or that you have no control over it. We expect more of a mature and visible brother in Christ. By the way, talk to your son Franklin, too (getting paid $300K to feed the poor is also a scandal).
by Bernie Dehler
Selected: Twenty-seven of the most popular involved in "media ministries."
Results: See this webpage for all the data (tables and chart for the exec. pay of 27 media ministries.)
Summary:
Nonprofit ministries, by definition, are formed to benefit the public. When they claim to be "Christian" organizations, they aim to build God's kingdom and glorify Christ in word and deed. They are not meant to be a profit means for individuals.
Some of these ministries are well managed by good stewards, and they should be rewarded (such as Focus on the Family and Coral Ridge Ministries). Other ministries show gross love for money, by paying themselves outrageous salaries (such as Dr. Hagee, Peter Popoff, Billy Graham, & Paul Crouch). See the tables and charts for yourself (here).
Dr. Hagee, come on... $900K??? What are you thinking? Paul and Jan Crouch, why do you two get over $700K combined, yet pay everyone else in your organization so poorly? Did you not think that this information would get out, even though it is public information and required to be made public by law???
Billy Graham, don't you know that you have a sterling reputation and that your brothers and sisters in Christ are proud of you for your evangelism efforts? Why would you blow your reputation like this? Over $400K? Please don't tell us you are not aware of your compensation, or that you have no control over it. We expect more of a mature and visible brother in Christ. By the way, talk to your son Franklin, too (getting paid $300K to feed the poor is also a scandal).
posted by FreeGoodNews.com | 9:15 PM
9 Comments:
Bernie---- you are on to something--but remember, it probably takes about $400,000 a year just to keep up all the properties and vacation homes that Billy graham and others own...
Good Job!
Bernie, you've brought up some good points. I do think your "top" is too low. In today's economy, I think $200K or $250K is a reasonable top. I'm not so sure qualified executives from the private world who make much more than that would do the job for even that. Maybe. But the bigger piece is they couldn't do what they do without their staffs and staff pay should also be higher. The discrepancy bothers me.
Bernie, you have a passion for the truth…
This has been one of my big scalding burns for a long time, but it did not seem to catch the attention of many people until the last few short years.
As it was in the time of the Savior, people today, are "sensitive" to the idea they are more materially than spiritually oriented, and often don't like to be reminded of it.
Bernie- You never need to apologize for speaking the truth, actually the Word speaks for itself, you’re just applying the truth to a situation that requires it! A lot of times when we hear truth and it cuts us, we either confess and repent or rationalize it by taking some other passage out of context, so just keep speaking the truth in love, but be aware that not everyone loves the truth when it hits home! Don’t stop! May our Lord guide you and keep you.
Hey Bernie, God has been dealing with me on the same issues but no one at my church seems to want to listen. Also what about all this prosperity theory? What about the faulty foundations of the Word of Faith Movement...? Joyce Meyers even. Benny Hinn... ??? They are all a part of this break down of why we are really here and what we are doing...
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Yup, it's a problem... Christians confuse culture with the Gospel. The USA culture (TV) teaches that everyone should own a home, cars, take fancy vacations, etc. Jesus doesn't. Who are you going to listen to? God gives us a choice. He's looking for true servants. Which way will we walk... with God, or with our flesh?
Too many Christians want it all, Christ and $$$. Jesus said "no way, you can't serve two masters... can't serve God and money."
Most of us are lukewarm; not hot or cold, which is disgusting to God.
Luke 12
32"Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 33Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Luke 16:13
"No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money."
Revelation 3:15-16
15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.
...Bernie
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