I am Ed Young Jr

This week I am doing a series of posts based on the concept of this column called "I am Tiger Woods". I will be looking at where my life intersects with that of some well known people; kind of like name dropping, but not. Today we start with Ed Young Jr:

Last weekend a Dallas TV station did an expose on Ed Young Jr, pastor of Fellowship Church in Dallas. You can read the article (based on interviews with a disguised former employee) here and read Ed's response here. Bottom line is that the reporter said (among other things):

1. Fellowship owns a private jet that Ed uses to fly on vacations and other places
2. Ed lives in a 10,000 sq ft mansion
3. Fellowship pays Ed $1,000,000 a year plus a $250,000 a year housing allowance

Ed's response is everything he does is done under the scrutiny and approval of a board of directors. His contentions:

1. Fellowship does not own a private jet. He flies on "commercial, chartered and leased" airplanes
2. He does not live in a 10,000 sq ft mansion. His house is a little under 7800 sq ft
3. He is paid less than a $1,000,000 a year by Fellowship. He did not indicate how much he is paid.

The television report was sensational and designed to put everything in the worst light possible. ("We found the jet hidden in the corner of a hanger." Hangers are where private jets tend to be.) The former employee who appeared with a hood, disguised voice and blurred face is gutless. If you don't want people to know you are the one making the accusations, don't make the accusations. 

Ed confirmed that Fellowship leases a corporate jet, he lives in a very large house and he makes a lot money. Whether that is good or bad isn't really my business. I am uncomfortable with the cost of a church operating a jet ($1500 per hour and up), a pastor living in a huge house and a church salary approaching seven figures. But all of that is between Ed, the leaders at Fellowship and God. 

My concern is, What in my life would cause me embarrassment or worse if it were exposed on television? What about my lifestyle might require a lengthy public explanation? Is my personal life above reproach? If my internet history is published in the paper tomorrow will I need to call my wife before she reads the article? Do I handle my finances with complete integrity? If the congregation knew what car I drive, what neighborhood I live in, what planes I fly on would they be shocked? Surprised? Disappointed?

I am Ed Young Jr. My life is not my own. My secrets are not my secrets. I do not have any place to judge Ed or his actions or how he handles his finances. I have my plate full making sure I am living a life that brings honor to the cause of Christ. At some point the whole world will be able to see my life. How will I feel on that day? How will you?

Comments

[Gene]

Good read. "My secrets are not my secrets." Love that...well, I don't always love it, but it is true.

[Brad Ruggles]

Wow, that is such a fantastic post. I agree with you, I personally wouldn't advocate that level of "extravagance" for a church or pastor...but what are the things that I wouldn't want flashed in the news...even if it's not "wrong"? That is a great question and something we all need to think about every day.

Awesome post bro.

[Jeremy Davidson]

Great article that leaves me with a lot to think about and process through. How far above reproach do I live my life?

[Maurilio]

Great insight on the challenges that successful ministers face. How much is too much? Who should set standards for what a pastor should earn?

I remember wanting to buy an old BMW during my early days in ministry and being discouraged by a leader in my church because of what that status symbol implied. Even though everyone in the congregation knew how much (or how little) money I made.

Great post.

Maurilio

[eddie broussard]

Great perspective…kind of an inside the cup thing…

[Kyle Gilbert]

Really appreciate how you turned this topic away from Ed and what he should do to me and my responsibility. Good introspection. Thanks!

[George Westlake III]

Great angle Geoff....One of my greatest contentions of the modern day church, christian, christendom or christenDUMB....is our bent/slant toward harsh judgment. We from our "glass houses of perfection" throw boulders at virtually everyone who does not believe like us, live like us, worship like us, judge like us, sin like us. Some things that are done in the name of God, Christianity, the Holy Spirit, Holiness, Righteousness,etc....I will never understand (and most good christian people don't understand or agree w many of my philosophies and/or approaches). Does this mean that those things are wrong or done out of greed, rebellion or malice. NO..It doesn't Thank you for your direct, subtle, straight-forward, inside-out reminder. (smile;wink)
G