One preacher's $900,000 paycheck
TV evangelist Joyce Meyer got a $900,000 annual paycheck -- her husband $450,000 in recent years. Their kids get houses and a housing allowance, all from Joyce Meyer's Ministries.
This is the first public look at how the worldwide broadcasting and publishing empire has compensated Meyer, a one-time bookeeper, and her family.
Some of the details first came to light as the ministry battled to keep its $30 million headquarters and its contents off the Jefferson County tax rolls.
The county maintains that the ministry's property does not qualify to be tax exempt: Meyer's headquarters has no public services; its chapel is used only by the 600 employees who produce and sell tapes and books, broadcast Meyer's television program and collect money for the ministries.
The tax assessor contends the ministry is a business -- the business of selling Joyce Meyer.
A watchdog group, the Charlotte-based WallWatchers, has previously asked the Internal Revenue Service to investigate the Meyer family's use of ministry money. IRS officials have declined to say whether they are doing so.
Should the ministry be forced to pay taxes?
Is it any of our business how much she gets paid? In "Approval Addiction," a $25 book available on the ministry website, she says: "It's time to take an honest look at ourselves and decide if we are getting our approval from the changing opinions of those around us, or the unchanging truth of God's Word."
Comments (7)
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I'm reminded of this article that I saw on the net today:
http://www.counterbias.com/287.html
"Pat Robertson, Infidels and Luke 18:22"
Saying that Joyce Meyer and so many other televangelists are "not for profit" is an insult to common sense. They should be taxed. Then again, I think all churches should be taxed anyway.
Not taxing privately held property leads to "land banking" and potentially severe harm to local government's ability to provide services to the community.
This is no new idea. Ulysses S. Grant also supported the idea... lot of good it did then.
Posted on May 12, 2005 3:49 PM
At first glance I find such a salary offensive. I don't beleive, however, the amount of income is directly related to scandal.
Every ministry has a board of directors to hold its leaders accountable. Joyce Meyer's ministry seems rather large. I wonder if the board wants it to live on beyond her leadership. Even Pat Robertson does not associate his name with his ministries.
Churches and nonprofits will never be taxed. Simply citing Meyer's income without eveidence of scandal seems petty at best.
Posted on May 13, 2005 12:43 PM
Thank you for covering this. I just found your site today and I've just added it in my bloglines regulars. :) Blessings!
Posted on May 14, 2005 9:25 PM
Leave the woman alone. She has worked hard to get where she is today.And she has helped millions of people along the way,Me for one.she deserves everything she has and more. Stop and think about it, she wouldn't be such a sucess if not for the fact she is following the call of god on her life and helping millions of people.As for her headquarters, I think it should be tax exempt because it allows her to have church in millons of homes everyday.I am praying for you Joyce.
Posted on June 18, 2006 7:11 PM
What is the big concern about a ministry being tax-exempt? The people that give will get the benefit of the seed sown and a write off anyway. Matthew 20:8-15 keeps me in a place to rejoce with Joyce. I sincerly believe if we as christians focus on our own personal ministry to this end time harvest of people we won't have the time to look into someone elses back yard and cast judgement. Let's let God do his job, and that is love. If you feel there is something wrong, just pray and love Joyce instead of counting "her" money. I believe that is what love would do.
Posted on January 5, 2007 10:49 AM
Show me any person who is blessed and is poor. The bible teach extensively about it. Why should only the people who serve idols and the devil have money. God does not have a poverty mindset(streets of gold). God is proud of His children and parade them.
Posted on January 17, 2007 1:27 AM
Sadly, well-meaning Christians give to greedy televangelists while the Salvation Army, Campus Crusade for Christ, and other selfless organizations struggle to survive.
Posted on February 2, 2007 3:54 AM