LOS ANGELES — The pastor for First AME Church in Los Angeles has apologized to his flock over his use of a church credit card for $122,000 in personal expenses.
Sunday's apology follows a Los Angeles Times report that John Hunter used a church credit card for vacations, clothes, jewelry and other items. The 51-year-old pastor has signed a deal to repay the money.
Hunter, who also failed to pay more than $309,000 in federal taxes, says he's working out a payment plan with the Internal Revenue Service.
Hunter reassured the congregation there's no criminal activity, saying it's embarrassing to see private church matters aired publicly.
Hunter took over at First African American Episcopal Church when the Rev. Cecil "Chip" Murray retired in 2004.
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Many of our so-called religious leaders are frauds and crooks. That's a fact we are reluctant to face, but face it we must.
mike, say what? You totally lost me on that one?
why don't you ask for a bailout.
mike, you're right and I've set under that type of preaching myself and I've asked God to never allow me to forget where I came from and that I too am still a sinner and to help me when I preach to be empathetic with the people I am preaching to. And if you consider what was at the heart of every well-known preacher who has bit the dust in the recent past you'll find two words both with the same middle initial, sIn and prIde! When I was a Captain in the Air Force one of the greatest compliments I got was a large group of enlisted folks in my unit did not think I was prior enlisted because I wasn't a jerk like all the prior enlisted officers and when I told them I was they asked me why I wasn't a jerk like the others and all I could tell them was I guess it was because I never forgot what it was like to walk around a jet fighter at o dark thirty in freezing weather and my hope is that as a Christian and especially as a Pastor or preacher that I never forget what it's like to be lost or to struggle with temptation and sin as well as living the surrendered Christian life.
to believer
but why do christians speak as if they are perfect? when you discuss an issue, their answer is 'because of sin' or you have a sin or all they point to or associate with is sin. as if they do not sin themselves.
h, you're right even Christians sin, as the bumper sticker says, "Christians Aren't Perfect, But Forgiven", that's why we need Jesus as both Savior and Lord.
I seem to recall an editorial on this site asking not long ago whether or not we can be good without god. Stories like this one make it increasingly obvious that Christians don't seem to be very good at being good WITH god.
Talk about being disconnected from reality. "Hunter reassured the congregation there is no criminal activity." Begging your pardon, Sir, it is all criminal activity by definition, but more importantly, it is immoral. It violates every precept of servant leadrship expressed in the Bible. Do the right thing. Repent. And then bless this church by resigning.
$122,000 in improper charges in 4 years? How can I say this with all love due a brother...
Thou Shalt Not Covet?