Found this courtesy of Philanthropy Today:
So-called megachurches — those with members numbering in the thousands — are starting business ventures, sparking economic development, and raising questions about tax exemptions, unfair competition with private businesses, and a monopoly on faith, reports The New York Times ("Megachurches Add Local Economy to Their Mission").
The Times analyzed online public records of 1,300 churches and found that some of these huge congregations have invested in basketball schools, aviation subsidiaries, investment partnerships, and a limousine service. At least 10 own and operate shopping centers; others are beginning to include residential and other commercial developments.
"We want to turn people on to Jesus Christ through this process," says Karl Clauson, a leader of the ChangePoint ministry, a 4,000-member Christian congregation that helped develop and pay for a sports dome and food-storage facility in Anchorage.
Contributing to the economic health of the region is a turnaround for tax-exempt churches, which are often blamed for being a burden on the tax rolls, the newspaper says. The churches often say that outreach and evangelism are the basis for their developments, but it is possible that they are also looking for new sources of income to support their programs, says the Times.
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