non-profits dont disburse surpluses. that is one theing they are NOT permitted to do. all surpluses must remain by law within the entity and used for the purpose of the non-profit. that is why they dont have to pay tax on their surplus

Brian Houston

The founding pastor of the wealthiest church in Australia, Hillsong Church, and president of the Assemblies of God (AOG). Houston owns a waterfront property in the eastern suburbs of Sydney, a house in Glenhaven, and he is a silent partner in various property developments. He makes part of his money from overseas speaking engagements at other charismatic churches. He also receives the royalties from the “Christian resources” sold at the front of the church. Houston rides a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, appears on his own television programme, which is broadcast around the world, writes books and has the pulling power to attract visits to Hillsong by the Prime Minister, John Howard, and Treasurer, Peter Costello. Hillsong has 18,000 members and made $40 million last year.

Nabi Saleh

Elder of Hillsong Church, a director of Southern Cross College of the AOG, a director of Jerry Savelle Ministries International, and a director of Kenneth Copeland Ministries Eagle Mountain International Church.

He has a 50% share in the fast-growing coffee shop franchise Gloria Jean’s Coffees, which is valued by BRW at more than $40 million.

The other partner, Peter Irvine, is a member of Hillsong. Saleh has stakes in many businesses (see the brains of the operation, page 41).

Phil Pringle

Pastor of Christian City Church at Oxford Falls in Sydney, which has a congregation of more than 7000 and revenue of more than $38 million a year. He has set up churches all over the world. Pringle makes most of his money selling books and travelling the world, speaking at other contemporary churches. Pringle is an artist who sells his art through the church’s gallery at Oxford Falls. His church is not part of the AOG.

Phil Baker

Pastor of Riverview Church in Perth and president of the coalition of charismatic and contemporary churches Australian Christian Churches. Baker appears on television every week in 50 countries, writes books, gives motivational speeches to business leaders and travels the world as a guest speaker at contemporary churches. Baker has a congregation of more than 3700, which generates more than $3.5 million a year in revenue. His goal is to create a new brand of church that is non-denominational but brings together all contemporary churches, as well as some Uniting and Baptist churches. This organisation would replace the Australian Christian Churches and represent at least 400,000 people. Baker would head the new body, which he says will be launched within the next five months.

Ashley Evans

Pastor of Paradise Community Church in the Adelaide suburb of Paradise, and an executive director of the AOG. Evans has doubled the size of Paradise to 6000 members in five years. It generates annual revenue of more than $5.3 million. Evans makes much of his money from “love offerings” paid to him by other Pentecostal churches when he appears as a guest speaker. Evans works on the basis of visions from God. The previous pastor of Paradise was Ashley’s father, Andrew, who left to set up the Family First Party. He won a seat in the South Australian Legislative Council. His brother Russel is a director and senior pastor of the Pentecostal Planetshakers City Church in Melbourne.

Neil Miers

International president of Christian Outreach Centre. Miers was one of handful of people who built up this church into one of the biggest Pentecostal groups in the country. In 1977, he founded the Suncoast Christian College and church. Today there are more than 1000 churches under the Christian Outreach Centre umbrella, located throughout Australia and overseas. The church in Australia generates more than $48 million a year in revenue. In his role as international president, Miers has helped export the church to New Zealand, South Africa, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Germany, South America, Tonga, Western Samoa and Spain. Miers travels the world as a guest speaker at various conferences and churches. Adele Ferguson

longweekend58 wrote on Nov 11^th, 2011 at 11:18am:


what does "non-profit" mean ?? That could mean anything. It looks like the churches just make it up to suit themselves. They are good at doing that. They have been making things up and twisting the sh.t in the old book for 1000's of years. They are experts at it and taking money from gullible people like yourself.

Sir lastnail wrote on Nov 11^th, 2011 at 11:02am:

Its obvious the money is not taxed.

The difference between your business and the church is after you pay your tax, you can do with it as you please.  Go on a holiday, buy a toy model car, whatever.

The Church must retain the funds, and use them for the sole purpose of running the church.

That my friend is the difference between not for profit and private enterprise.

Its not the same as any business, because any business gets to use the money and disperse for business OR private purposes.  The Church can not.  Any dispersements to employees of the church are taxed accordingly.

Churches should be fined for false advertising and banned as a health hazard. At the least 'branding' should be banned and nobody should be allowed to pray within a 100 metres of anybody else. The dangers of passive preying should be publicised. Think of the children.

Grey wrote on Nov 11^th, 2011 at 11:36am:



ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

... wrote on Nov 11^th, 2011 at 11:39am:



Stop praying on the sick and gullible.  

Verge wrote on Nov 11^th, 2011 at 11:29am:


Not if the income was given to the Church or a Trust of the Church.