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Hillsong mega-church is no stranger to controversy, but recent accusations by an Australian MP have cast a bit more light on the spending habits of those in the business of saving souls. Australian MP Andrew Wilkie has accused the church of wasting money on everything from private jets to skateboards, or as he notes, ‘the kind of shopping that would embarrass a Kardashian’.

The accusations were made under privilege in Australia’s parliament where he revealed leaked financial records and documents that ‘proved’ the church earned R 1.4 billion that were never declared. This money was allegedly used by church leaders to take lavish holidays and ‘gifts’. Claims of money laundering and tax evasion have been met with outrage by the megachurch. Australian authorities have also been accused of negligence in their oversight of religious groups.

“That is a failure of regulatory oversight every bit as alarming as Hillsong’s criminality.”

Claims include that four members of the church spent R2.7 million of church money on a luxury retreat in Cancun, Mexico as well as spending sprees on luxury watches, luggage sets, designer clothes, skateboards, and cash gifts to board members for birthdays or anniversaries.

In addition, private jets were ‘used as Ubers’, racking up costs of close to R3 million in three months.

“Hillsong followers believe the money they put in the poor box goes to the poor, but these documents show how that money is actually used to do the kind of shopping that would embarrass a Kardashian,”

This paints a dodgy picture of the mega-church with footprints all over the world and feels strangely similar to the Netflix series, The Righteous Gemstones. The creator of the show, Danny McBride, has been quoted as saying that the show was inspired by his experiences as a young member of the Hillsong church. In it, the Gemstones family uses money received via the church to live lavish lifestyles. Life imitating art or vice versa?

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Hillsong has denied the allegations.

“The claims made in Federal Parliament by Mr Andrew Wilkie are out of context and relate to untested allegations made by an employee in an ongoing legal case.”

Next to cryptocurrencies, churches are probably the quickest way to make money, and in Africa, there has been a lot of controversy surrounding pastors and their private jets – the ongoing Bushiri case being a good example. As tax-exempt entities, these ‘churches’ often make a mockery of the good intent most people have when paying their tithes.

The Guardian reports that the church has released a statement saying that they were ‘updating structures to be more accountable and transparent’.

The opulence of some ‘church leaders’ is putting the institutions that actually do good work in a bad light. The twelve apostles never needed a G5 to tend to their flock, never mind skateboards and luxury holidays in Cancun.

WWJD? Probably pay taxes.

[source:guardian]