The church has always been a staple in the black community. However, several black pastors are getting negative attention for earning millions while they preach to low-income congregations.
Atlanta Black Star reveals how several pastors are making 200 times more than the people they serve. For example, Creflo Dollar of World Changers Church in College Park, Georgia, has a net worth of $27 million and has a private jet. The community (College Park) that he serves has an average annual income of around $29,000.
Bishop Eddie Long of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia, Georgia, has a net worth of $5 million and owns a $350,000 Bentley. Residents in Lithonia have an average annual income of $27,602.
T.D. Jakes has a net worth of $18 million. He preaches at The Potter’s House in Dallas. The community where his church is located has an annual income of $56,954.
Bishop Charles Blake of West Angeles Church of God in Christ has a $900,000 salary. But the South Central Los Angeles community he serves has an annual income of $28,000.
While looking at the financial numbers, it’s easy to believe that some preachers are using religion for monetary gains. Jeremiah Camara, the director of the documentary, Contradiction, believes that black churches have done a poor job of encouraging black-owned businesses in the community.
“Religion is the transport system into the psychology of people,” he said during an interview with rolling out. “It appeals to our greatest fears and hopes, so it’s relatively easy to manipulate people through their beliefs. Currently, there are approximately 100,000 predominately black churches in the United States but there is practically no business ownership in any of the surrounding areas. There are really no black communities (only black neighborhoods) in the U.S. and blacks own less than one-half of one-percent of the entire wealth of this nation. Religion teaches people that individual salvation is more important than group salvation.”
