Lake Forest megachurch calls on followers to donate almost $1 million in 48 hours

Pastor Rick Warren, the Orange County evangelist who generated controversy for giving the invocation at President Obama’s inauguration, has called on followers to donate nearly $1 million in the next two days to make up for a shortfall in donations.

Late Wednesday night, Warren posted a letter on his Saddleback Church website telling congregants that Christmas offerings were far less than anticipated.

“This is an urgent letter unlike any I've written in 30 years,” Warren wrote. “On the last weekend of 2009, our total offerings were less than half of what we normally receive -- leaving us $900,000 in the red for the year, unless you help make up the difference today and tomorrow.”

A spokesman for the Lake Forest church said Saddleback provides many charity services each year, based on what it anticipates in donations. Because of the struggling economy, Christmas time donations are down, while demand for services like food pantries is up.

“Basically, the church is having to do more with less,” said A. Larry Ross. According to the website, 10% of the "church family" is out of work. 

Ross said it was still unclear what the potential consequences of the shortfall would be.

It was almost a year ago that Warren chose to deliver the invocation at Obama's inauguration. The choice generated protests from civil rights groups that were angered by Warren's support of Proposition 8, the California measure that banned same-sex marriage in the state.

-- Monte Morin

Comments

[lwps]

Bad management, to say the least. How could they not plan on a shortfall, with so much unemployment? How could they run out of money? If his congregation were smart, they would hire auditors. This is giant red flag surrounded by flashing red lights.

[Robert]

Gene, I would suggest that Pastor Warren make his income pubilicly known.

[Jeff]

Perhaps this is God's way to tell the church to go in a new direction. Cut back!

[Stever Robbin]

Whether Rick Warren, the congregants or God provide the wherewithal to continue the vital gifts the Church provides, I do hope that we all thank God for all the She has bestowed upon us.

Living in southern California, with our blessed weather, fine beaches, glorious mountains and majestic deserts, I am truly grateful for our community.

May you all enjoy a healthy and prosperous New Year!

SR

[Pete]

Can I donate some prayers? I figure it's as good as money, right? Better even!

[ty]

Donate to your local church or to an organization that u know does honest and good deeds and are good shepards of monies donated to them If a church cannot handle their finances then the lord doesnt want fools who part with money

[shane]

does the pastor really pull $1.2m from the church each year? it's been a bit of time since i read the new testament, but i don't remember jesus pulling that kind of cash from his ministry. This makes warren way more succesful than jesus. maybe it's just that jesus wasn't as savvy. he should have written down all that stuff he said and published it. he could have made a ton of cash on that stuff all those disciples wrote in the new testament. this warren guy could teach jesus a thing or two about capitalism.

[Dave E]

I'm not a big fan of churches making urgent pleas for donations, but Warren's the Pastor & he can send whatever e-mail he wants to his members to keep them in formed. At least none of the money he raises is going into his own pocket, and he's already giving far more than most members.

Michael,

I think you misread Gene & Mora's comments. Warren takes no salary from his church, and only takes 10% of the profits from his book sales, donating the other 90% to the church.

That's way different than taking 10% of the church's income--pretty much the opposite, since writing the books isn't part of his job at the church. Seems to me Warren is demonstrating a level of generosity and integrity that rises far above some televangelists, many Wall Street Executives, and most politicians (& public employees' unions?) I don't recally Bill Clinton or either George Bush working as President for nothing and then donating back to the U.S. 90% of the profits from their books.

I think most of us could learn a thing or two from Warren's pattern of generosity. Until I'm donating 90% of my income, I don't think I'm in a place to criticize him.

[duplojohn]

So let me get this straight, Warren a multi-millionare ( he cleary is in the realm of $10M. is begging others, in these economic times to contribute MORE?

I met RW in 1996 and can tell you he is fast and furious about his cause: BIG RICK.

This explefies the 2000-2010 decade.

Save your money feed your friends.

[Jay]

@ Michael, come on man, be serious, Pastor Warren donates 90% of his earnings to the ministry. That says a lot about the mans character, and I am not a member of his local church. He has written books that generated millions of dollars, and he simply donates it.

@Rachel, sweetie. Everyday you wake up God is making a way, so when Christians wake up, in their right minds, with all their functions, giving back is really a small drop in the bucket, thus God giving to us the abilities to give to others out of our skills and talents.

Want to know more about it? READ THE BIBLE.

[Craig]

Michael, I think you need to read the post from Mora a little more closely. That post stated that NO money was taken from the church for Rick Warren's income. His 10% income was from the royalties from the sale of his books. He also gives 90% of those royalties to the church. I think you need to read more carefully, and rethink that post.

[Kathy]

Pray, sheep, pray!

[John]

you know.

Pastor Rick Warren giving away 90% of their income and living off 10%.

And this is for donation.

I think this is good.

[Dr.NosePikens]

Please bear in mind that Rick Warren is a man profit and not the Creator's Prophet, that point made and continuing with His Truth, remember kids, Creator made man, man made religion and religion made their own profits, so don't blame Creator because of man's religious mandates, which is of course and always has been to legislate YOUR morality while enjoying the contents of your deep pockets.

[Nancy]

Hey Rick, What Would Jesus Do?

[D.]

As a Catholic I find the attitudes of evangelical Christians toward money to be interesting. Catholics will get a statement of revenue from their church every year, usually accompanied by a letter from the parish priest asking everyone to look into their hearts and give what they can if they can to help make up any shortfall. They would never presume to specify an amount nor to make it such a public spectacle. Evangelicals seem to have no problem with the whole subject of money. They actively seek it for its own sake, flaunt it and demand it continually. Anyone who has ever done business with an evangelical knows what I mean.

[srini]

Funny all that church haters want to make worthless comments about the church they have never been to. I invite you guys to come look closely at the services provided by the church for the community.

Looks like Pastor Rick sneezes and it will be national news.

[Rondo Calil]

Michael is right on with his comments. Guys like Warren feed off fear. They scare the literal hell out of so-called "members of their flock." I don't know about the other persons commenting on this story, but I resent being referred to as a "sheep" or a "member of a flock." (Think about the reaction if the message was to all the "member goats." Is "sheep" more acceptable because they bleat and don't complain when the long knives are unsheathed?) There is always a subliminal message in every "sermon," namely, that unloading your cash and sending it to their church (not the other churches, mind you!) will somehow punch your ticket into that place where all those virgins reside, waiting for the jihadists.

[Valerie]

It seems rather disengenuous to say that this 900K is for the needy and they are the ones who will come up short. Much of any church's money (especially megachurches) goes for proselytizing, ie marketing, and what economists call club services, meaning services for members.

On top of that, it is ironic to read comments that must be from Saddleback members talking about the need for churches to provide services that the government doesn't. The fact is that Warren has pushed his followers to support Republicans who oppose safety net spending. Bing "Beyond the Rick Warren Controversy: Two Questions about Love and Justice."

[srini]

Guess what guys!!!!!!!!! Miracles do happen and news is that Pastor Rick's call is heeded and beyond. That's GOD's way of working.

GOD bless those troubled hearts of haters. Bless them abundantly.

[I. B. Satan]

Unbelievable he has his hand out. I guess 10% of the congregation's income isn't enough.

At least he didn't claim god was going to "call him home" if he doesn't get the money like that charlatan Oral Roberts.

[Robert T. Green]

What a money whore!

[Teri]

Pastor Rick did not make a spectacle out of his monetary request. He sent the note to his church members. He never asks non-members for money. He sent out the need, knowing God would answer through His people. And they did. It is the media and whatever secret infiltrators there are that blew this out of proportion and the media had a whirlwind with it. If you're not a member of the church, then mind your own business! God's people are getting blessed by the faith they have, and that is what counts....