Background

Pastors Chuck Smith Sr. and Brian Broderson – Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa in Santa Anna, CA

Source: CorporationWiki.com – Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa filed as a Articles of Incorporation on Thursday, December 21, 1961 in the state of California.

Source: Wikipedia.org – Chuck Smith [replaced an unknown pastor and] started pastoring at Calvary Chapel in December of 1965 with an [existing] congregation of twenty-five people.

Note: what was originally a public Church has now apparently been transformed into a Smith family private enterprise.

Source: Basic Christian Wiki – Church Scandals

See Also: Galatians 4 blog: Chuck Smith Sr. Exposed

Possible IRS Complaint

Reblogged from: Fatherless Children in the Church
Website: Fatherless Children in the Church

PLEASE PRAY FOR JUSTICE…IRS COMPLAINTS WILL BE FILED IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS AGAINST JON COURSON (APPLEGATE CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP) AND BRETT MEADOR (ATHEY CREEK CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP). IN MY OPINION, BOTH MEN HAVE VIOLATED THE IRS RULES (AS NOTED BELOW). NOW IT WILL BE UP TO THE IRS TO MAKE THE FINAL DETERMINATION.  (IRS rules noted below were coped from the IRS website)

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EXEMPT PURPOSES-INTERNAL REVENUE CODE SECTION 501(c)(3)

The exempt purposes set forth in section 501(c)(3) are charitable, religious, educational, scientific, literary, testing for public safety, fostering national or international amateur sports competition, and preventing cruelty to children or animals. The term charitable is used in its generally accepted legal sense and includes relief of the poor, the distressed, or the underprivileged; advancement of religion; advancement of education or science; erecting or maintaining public buildings, monuments, or works; lessening the burdens of government; lessening neighborhood tensions; eliminating prejudice and discrimination; defending human and civil rights secured by law; and combating community deterioration and juvenile delinquency.

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EXEMPTION REQUIREMENTS: 501(c)(3) ORGANIZATIONS

To be tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, an organization must be organized and operated exclusively for exempt purposes set forth in section 501(c)(3), and none of its earnings may INURE to any private shareholder or individual. In addition, it may not be an action organization, i.e., it may not attempt to influence legislation as a substantial part of its activities and it may not participate in any campaign activity for or against political candidates.

Organizations described in section 501(c)(3) are commonly referred to as charitable organizations. Organizations described in section 501(c)(3), other than testing for public safety organizations, are eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions in accordance with Code section 170.

The organization must not be organized or operated for the benefit of private interests, and no part of a section 501(c)(3) organization’s net earnings may INURE to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual. If the organization engages in an excess benefit transaction with a person having substantial influence over the organization, an excise tax may be imposed on the person and any organization managers agreeing to the transaction.

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INUREMENT/PRIVATE BENEFIT-CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS

A section 501(c)(3) organization must NOT be organized or operated for the benefit of private interests, SUCH AS THE CREATOR OR THE CREATOR’S FAMILY, shareholders of the organization, other designated individuals, or persons controlled directly or indirectly by such private interests. No part of the net earnings of a section 501(c)(3) organization may INURE to the benefit of any private shareholder OR INDIVIDUAL. A private shareholder or individual is a person having a personal and private interest in the activities of the organization.

Note: I think filing an IRS complaint though regrettable and if she chooses not to file then that is certainly understandable as well  though an official IRS complaint is probably the only plausible way that people can get an accurate and honest assessment of what is actually taking place within these family-run, non-profit, corporate church organizations.

God bless everyone,
David Anson Brown