By The Associated Press Tue, Mar. 13 2007 05:19 PM ET [-]Text[+] E-mail Print RSS Subscribe to Newsletter More on Topic OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) - Questions about financial accountability at a fast-growing megachurch have prompted a leading Christian radio network to drop Rev. Jerry Johnston's daily show.
Bott Radio Network, which aired Johnston's 30-minute program Monday through Friday on KCCV-AM 760, dropped the program Monday.
The move came a day after The Kansas City Star reported that hundreds of people have left Johnston's First Family Church in Overland Park in recent years because of concerns about a lack of financial accountability.
The church has 4,200 members, a $17 million annual budget and a TV ministry that has gone global, and Johnston has become a leader in speaking out on conservative causes.
Dick Bott, founder and president of the radio network, said he was surprised to learn the First Family Church is not a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability, which sets standards for charities and religious groups.
Bott said his Overland Park-based network airs only programs that are members of the financial accountability group and Johnston's program would be discontinued until he joins the EFCA. The network broadcasts over 50 radio stations in nine states and is considered a national leader in Christian broadcasting.
"We make no claim as to whether he was right or wrong about anything, but it's just our own policy of major program ministries," Bott said. "We want people to be able to trust what they hear."
First Family Church spokesman Lawrence Swicegood said: "That's obviously Bott's decision. I really don't have further comment about it or any decision on that front."
The Star found that the church is structured in a way that provides little financial oversight and said Johnston has refused members' requests for information on the church's finances.
In an earlier interview with the newspaper, Johnston said the church is accountable because it is run by a board of trustees that oversees all of its finances. The church also is audited annually.
But Bott said the newspaper report raised some serious questions that could be easily answered if the church joined the ECFA.
"ECFA membership was to give the public the assurance that books were open, finances were disclosed, and when you donate, you can have assurance that where they have said the money goes is where it's going to go," he said.
Posted on Fri, Mar. 16, 2007reprint or license print email Digg it del.icio.us AIM LETTERS First Family Church Good reporting
I want to congratulate reporter Judy Thomas for her excellent articles on Jerry Johnston and his First Family Church (3/11, A-1, Lax financial oversight riles some followers). I also appreciate The Star allowing her the time and space for the stories. Such investigative journalism is exactly what newspapers should be engaged in and, I think, what they can do better than any other kinds of news organizations.
Jesse Truesdale
Lawrence
Demand accountability
As a Christian, Im guessing Im not alone in the sadness that comes when negative attention stirs in the Christian community. Im sure many of us have friends who dont attend church because they question the hearts and motives of Christian leaders.
I sincerely hope the congregation at First Family, and all churches, will stand up and begin to act in wisdom in their responsibility to hold their pastors and leaders accountable.
The Bible is a clear blueprint for how God intended our churches to function. Financial stewardship is beyond just tithing. It is about clearly knowing how Gods money is being allocated.
Those holding positions of Christian leadership need our prayers. In the months ahead, I pray that church members everywhere will take active roles in truly understanding the accounting and financial practices of their churches.
The Christian community needs to boldly embrace practices that ask: How much does our pastor make? Do we pay our debts? Are we using Gods money in the best way we can to impact lives in a meaningful way? and, most important, Can anyone tell were Christians by the way we live?
Gina R. Whitcomb
Overland Park
People deserve the truth
The articles on Pastor Jerry Johnston and the First Family Church of Overland Park bring to light some reasonable questions concerning church finances, involving millions of dollars in donations and for-profit income from retail sales and salaries.
The megachurch has huge cash flow and property holdings, and, because its positioned as a legal tax-free organization, it has tremendous responsibility to operate above the table with open books.
Pastor Johnston is creating his own problems by holding the churchs financial information in the dark.
The church is the people who attend, worship and provide, not the buildings.
Johnston owes the church and community financial accountability. There is no credible reason for one man to hide the churchs books from the people who are the church.
Open the books, pastor, and let the light shine forth.
