Bishop, I think my pastor, as well as many other pastors, have become greedy. It's about making money, not saving souls. This is how I feel bishop and my wife thinks I'm wrong, yet even my son and daughter sees it.

Greed on the pulpit!

Letter to the bishop

Bishop Moultry:

I don't know who selects letters to you to be printed, you or the Call & Post, but I hope my letter reaches you.

My wife and I are not talking and I have not returned back to my church. I use to get on my twenty-one year old son because he says, "preachers are pimps working the emotions of weak women and old men who have nothing else to do but get played, and I never thought the day would come bishop that I feel like he does.

My wife is a Sunday school teacher and sings in the choir. I'm a deacon and teach Sunday school as well. Bishop, my wife owns her business, a beauty salon, and I have my own business, a construction company. We make good money and tithe as well as give in the general offering every Sunday. For the past eight years, both her and I, not including my son and our daughter, give three thousand dollars weekly – yes weekly! My wife gives all of her tips and 10% of her weekly income and I give my 10% of my weekly check. Our daughter works for her mother and my son works for me and both of them tithe and give in the offering.

Bishop, our pastor receives over Eighty Thousand Dollars a year his salary as pastor. The church pays for gas for both his car and his wife the first lady. Both cars were purchased and paid for by the church. The house they live in was paid off by the church. The car insurance for both cars is paid by the church, health insurance paid by the church monthly for their entire family. Bishop, as one of the deacons, whenever a deacon is with the pastor, we will make sure that he pays nothing when he's out eating and he pays nothing even when at the barbershop getting a hair cut. We the deacons in respect to him, pay it ourselves as he tells us, "Bless you."

Bishop Moultry, I know what the Bible says in regards to the Man of God receiving double honor, but I think he's gone beyond that double amount. Bishop, the church even buys the pastor cloths, for not only him, but his wife. I must say that as they come in the church on Sundays we feel so proud of how well they are dressed, but enough is enough.

My wife and I are not speaking and I have not been back to the church since, because after she gave a thousand dollars for his anniversary and then finance committee called for more money because they did not reach their goal. My wife said we should give another two thousand and I said "No" – and she did anyway, going against my wishes, even if it was her owned earned money.

Bishop, my pastor sends the deacons on hospital calls, communion calls and even to the grave site on funerals. What are we paying him for?

My wife says we should not question the man of God and once we give our offerings to the church, it's between him and God. Bishop, I just can't go with that any longer and I know I was not right, but I told my wife she was stupid to even say that.

If he's getting paid for everything working for the Lord, what is he doing for the Lord? We, the deacons should be getting paid since we do most of his work.

Bishop, I think my pastor, as well as many other pastors, have become greedy. It's about making money, not saving souls. This is how I feel bishop and my wife thinks I'm wrong, yet even my son and daughter sees it.

I respect you and hope you keep it real in regards to my saying the pastor is greedy.

I know and have heard you receive no salary as pastor and even when a love offering is lifted for you, often you return it so the church expenses will be covered. You should be paid a salary Bishop, but you're no way like my pastor who is getting paid for everything. It's crazy and others believe what I'm saying in the church but won't say anything. How could church people be so stupid bishop and continued to get played by a minister?

Bishop, help me ‘cause I love my church, but I'm tired of being played for a fool. Do you think my pastor is greedy?

Signed,

Help

Dear Help:

There is an old saying that goes like this: "If you don't have anything good to say, don't say nothing at all.

I suggest you talk to your pastor and share these concerns with him. Hopefully he won't charge you for the counseling session.

You can e-mail Bishop Moultry at bishopspeaks@aol.com. Write him at the church 969 E. 140th St. Cleveland, Ohio 44110 or call 216 761-7100. You can visit the bishop on Facebook under Bishop Prince J. Moultry or the church website www.intouchforchrist.com.

Visit the church each Sunday 11a.m Praise Service at the above address off St. Clair Ave in the heart of the Collinwood Community.