Bellevue’s Money “Hard at Work”
What does Bellevue Baptist Church have to do with Memphis politics?
Take a look at the enclosed video, which was taken Sunday morning, September 30, 2007, outside Chief Cornerstone Church, located at 4255 Overton Crossing in Frayser. (Click on link to view video). It appears that Pastor Preston Poindexter is utilizing the church and his position as a minister as an advantage for his own personal political ambitions.
There are numerous political signs posted on the property of Chief Cornerstone Church soliciting support and votes for Pastor Preston Poindexter, who is running for a position with the Memphis City Council, District 7. There are additional political signs on some of the vehicles in the parking lot, one being a Cadillac Deville parked in the space marked “reserved for pastor”. This political activity and endorsement is a clear violation for a nonprofit tax-exempt organization. It is in violation of IRS rules.
Bellevue Baptist Church has financially supported this church at the Frayser Outreach Ministry, with Poindexter being on the church payroll for numerous years. Through the community missions program, Bellevue has donated “hundreds of thousands of dollars” for the church facility, repairs, and salaries, with purchase of the building about two years ago in the amount of $200,000.00. Although the church has a worship service scheduled for Sunday morning at 11:00am, there were only twenty-five (25) cars in the parking lot at 11:45am on September 30, 2007, with space available for well over one hundred (100) cars.
Due to public exposure of information, the Bellevue congregation, as well as government officials and fellow citizens, has the right to know: Is this a legitimate and forthright mission ministry sponsored by Bellevue Baptist Church? Are church funds being utilized for expenditure and endorsement of this political candidate or any other candidates running for public office?
Even though Poindexter is receiving a generous salary as an outreach minister, evidently he is having financial difficulty maintaining his lifestyle. (Click on blue link below to view article).
A reporter for The Commercial Appeal newspaper recently conducted background checks on several local politicians who are running for office. According to public records, Preston Poindexter has filed bankruptcy twice since 1995 and also lost his home to foreclosure in March 2007. This political candidate vows to “bring honesty and integrity back to government”. Money has been spent on a large billboard overlooking Interstate 40, showing the smiling Poindexter with his message, “A Change Is Coming!”
It appears that Preston Poindexter lacks the ability to be a good steward of his personal money. Do the citizens of Memphis really want a politician of this caliber making important budget decisions for the city with their tax dollars? Do Bellevue church members really want a person of this caliber utilizing their tithing money to further the mission field in such a dubious manner?
It makes one wonder if the Missions Chairman and Committee at Bellevue did a thorough job in evaluating this particular “mission” prior to making such a huge financial commitment. Do the leaders at Bellevue include a “background check” before hiring nice, pleasant ministers or do they simply take them at face value and get swept away with charisma, pouring out the dollars for what was intended as a righteous cause. Obviously, this mission project should be carefully monitored.
By Carol Pemberton