Comments on: Careful How You Build that Church

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 05:04:00 +0000

This is a tough one for us as readers to judge, since the “description” is admittedly the plaintiff’s and not the court’s Statement of Fact. Yes, it’s one to watch, but let’s not be too hasty to judge one-sided.

By: Melissa

Melissa — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 19:12:00 +0000

In a way, corporations are their own kind of magic. They only exist if you treat them as if they exist. Sounds like this guy was treating his not-for-profit as if it were not real, and as a result it might be treated that way by the courts. I would hope Pagans would understand more about the care and feeding of fictional creatures but I understand your fears.

By: Jason Pitzl-Waters

Jason Pitzl-Waters — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 18:20:00 +0000

“Those institutions would not qualify as churches, and never did.”

Perhaps, but all sorts of sins are covered over by the magic of the 501(c)(3). This ruling should have everyone taking a closer look at the religious organizations they are involved with.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 17:31:00 +0000

"This is a totally dysfunctional way to run a congregation, regardless of the marital status of the leader(s)."

True, true.

"I can think of some Pagan religious institutions founded, supported, and controlled by married couples right off the top of my head"

I think the operative word here is "controlled." Those institutions would not qualify as churches, and never did.

By: Shelby Meyerhoff

Shelby Meyerhoff — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 16:51:00 +0000

From a religious point of view, I think the take-away-message is that congregations can be too easily abused by a founder or charismatic figurehead. The notable characteristic about this congregation is not so much that is is led by a married man, as that the leader is dishonest and greedy:

“…defendant controls all of the finances of the Church and makes all financial decisions, defendant refuses to make any financial disclosures to the Church’s Board of Directors and the Church Administrator, hides his finances from the Church elders, determines his own income, refers to the Church as ‘my Church’ and dismisses anyone who challenges his operation and finances of the Church.”

This is a totally dysfunctional way to run a congregation, regardless of the marital status of the leader(s).