Comments on: What Do You Do When Your Church Is Attacked in the Media?

By: Brendan

Brendan — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 08:36:54 +0000

The lifestyle isn’t the big issue in the story. This is:
“He also sold the church’s membership mailing list to a newly-formed, for-profit company called EY Publishing.”
That is the kind of thing that anyone involved in church communications should cringe over. Your membership list is not a marketing tool to be sold for profit. It also must be guarded against unscrupulous people who know its value.

By: Tre Lawrence

Tre Lawrence — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 08:11:15 +0000

Nice write-up. Key points addressed.
When I was a teen, my pastor lived with his wife and 5 kids in a two-bedroom “flat” that was less than 500 square feet total.
My point? Before we throw rocks at pastors for the “lavish” lifestyle, let us remember lavish is a very relative term. While there is an increased need for Godly accountability, I’d be careful about lobbing projectiles at folks who may very well work very hard to obtain what they have.

By: none

none — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 21:58:40 +0000

The “Cribs” video is from Ed’s old house and was done in context of series done in 2003. The news report only mentioned one of Ed’s homes which is over 7000 sq ft and is now worth over a million. It was built in 2004 for $650k.

By: Art

Art — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 05:38:52 +0000

My pastor has 3 kids of his own, has adopted 4 more (nieces/nephew), and now has his ill mother-in-law and her 70 year old sister living with him. His house has maybe 2500 square feet. He also makes well under 100,000 a year.
Ed Young needs a reality check. He is paid too much and lives too lavishly for a minister of the Gospel.

By: Ted Bragg

Ted Bragg — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 19:11:29 +0000

The liberal press is out to destroy the church and Christians, plain and simple. When they got a whiff of Young’s lavish lifestyle, it’s like blood in the water.
I’m surprised they haven’t taken Joel Osteen through the meatgrinder yet.

By: Kevin D. Hendricks

Kevin D. Hendricks — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 10:49:01 +0000

C’mon Steve, the K triplets: Kent, Kem & Kevin. ;-)
I agree with you, Michael, but at the same time I think it gets difficult when we start judging another person’s supposed wealth or luxury. Your definition of a luxury car is different from mine and that’s different from the Junky Car Club’s definition. We all have our own reasons and justifications and it gets kind of ugly when other people start judging those.
I agree a 7,000-square-foot house seems excessive. But more than what you have, it’s how you use it. Ed has four kids. Maybe they host large groups of people all the time and need the space. Maybe they have family/friends/whoever spend the night all the time. Sometimes I think my house is too big.
Whenever I start thinking stinginess is next to godliness, someone reminds me of the woman who poured out the expensive perfume on Jesus’ feet. The disciples were horrified–we could have sold it and fed the poor!–but Jesus commended the woman’s action. Not comparing Ed’s house to the woman’s perfume, but I think you get the idea.
Like I said in the post, I think the real thing to focus on here is how you church would respond, not the specifics of Ed’s situation.

By: Michael Buckingham

Michael Buckingham — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 06:58:37 +0000

Great response and great lesson learned.
I think pastors should be taken good care of, the bible says we should take care of them.
I do think there’s a limit. Part of the gig is to keep that in check. Personally, 7000 sq. ft…wow, that’s tough for me to swallow. A private jet? I understand he travels a lot, but why not fly first class with people he might even be able to show Christ to?
If he, and the church board, think that these things are justified, then they should be clear. If you’re going to lease a private jet, that should be known to all. Transparency is key.
Because you’re not spending your money. You’re spending the tithe.
As someone who believes in tithing, I also believe in understanding how that money is being used. I don’t need line items, but part of being a good steward is knowing that I can trust the church leadership to be wise and faithful with that tithe.

By: Steve

Steve — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 19:27:20 +0000

Wow. what a post.
Totally agree with Kem and Kents remarks (Is it just me or is it mildly disturbing that you choose the K twins?)
I take another position. This isn’t a criticism of Ed Young or his church. Just an observation.
As soon as a news report has the words, church, private jet, large salary you can’t compete.
The horse has bolted.
Expanding on the reason why you have a private jet or explaining that your salary isn’t quite as big as reported just becomes noise. There isn’t enough air time, or column inches. People only see. Church, Private jet, BIG salary.
No amount of tidying up the message will bring you back in the public’s eyes. However untrue the reporting is.

By: Kirk Longhofer

Kirk Longhofer — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 18:05:38 +0000

I think the biggest mistake made in this particular situation was the decision not to have Young to address the allegations. A conversation, not on camera at least initially, with the reporter involved, might very well have changed the tone and focus of the story. Addressing the airplane questions in a more straight forward manner up front might have killed it all together.
Responding only with a statement or through a spokesperson can backfire quickly… chumming the water for a reporter already circling.

By: Kelli Munn

Kelli Munn — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 12:15:46 +0000

Kim’s advice is spot on and as Kent’s comments indicate, an equally important question is “how can churches be prepared for such attacks, minimize their damage, or even prevent them?” PR – especially at mega churches that can easily budget PR counsel/staff — should be a management function. Counsel should be at the table discussing the potential impact of the pastor leasing a plane and launching for-profit businesses – regardless of the need for or rationale for doing so — and advising him/her of how best to address perceptions that might emerge — from the congregation, community and, yes, the media. When this is done he/she is at least half-way prepared to answer questions when they arise.
I also agree that, regardless of the propriety involved in these actions, Young’s initial response to the media wasn’t helpful to the situation and defied best practices. I’m guessing he didn’t send a rep to talk to the media when the church was getting good press about his sermon series or to the Today Show. I would give him a high grade, however, for addressing the charges and publicity quickly and directly with his congregation via multiple channels. Like Kent indicated some people are funny about the personal wealth of pastors. Clergy in much lower income brackets have been criticized for much less. Fair or unfair those perceptions must be figured into the PR equation when decisions are made.