online clarification made on the New Creation Church regarding Senior Pastor Joseph Prince’s net worth." />SINGAPORE — Megachurch New Creation Church has issued a statement clarifying online reports about its founder and senior pastor Joseph Prince’s net worth.
online clarification made on the New Creation Church regarding Senior Pastor Joseph Prince’s net worth." />
SINGAPORE — Megachurch New Creation Church has issued a statement clarifying online reports about its founder and senior pastor Joseph Prince’s net worth.
A lifestyle website — http://www.richestlifestyle.com — had named Mr Prince as one of the top 10 richest pastors in the world, with a net worth of US$5 million (S$6.35 million) and an annual salary of US$550,000, raising eyebrows among members of the public.
However, the church council said in a statement posted on its website yesterday (Oct 21) that Mr Prince has not drawn any salary from the church since 2009. Also, while the council saw Mr Prince’s net worth as “being personal in nature”, Mr Prince has “nonetheless shared with the council that his net worth is substantially lower than the US$5 million that has been alleged”.
“The council is concerned by the aspersions cast by these unsubstantiated allegations on the church and the work of Pastor Prince,” it said. “Indeed, Pastor Prince recognises that a strong foundation of corporate governance can only enhance the church and had in 2009 voluntarily stepped down from membership of the council to focus on his spiritual role.”
The council added: “(We are) disappointed with the manner in which the reports were generated and circulated without proper effort having been made to validate the facts. The council asks that these reports be withdrawn or clarified, so as not to undermine the good work of the church and Pastor Prince.”
New Creation has more than 30,000 congregants, who gather at the Star Performing Arts Centre at Star Vista for church services. The 5,000-seat auditorium is owned by the church’s business arm, Rock Productions. The S$500 million facility — also a venue for concerts and performances — was built with the help of contributions from its congregants, who donated to its building fund.
Mr Prince, who has written several books, also hosts a religious television programme called Destined To Reign, which is broadcast in the United States, Australia and China, among other countries.
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