(OPINION) After promising to refund the donations of members who questioned the stewardship of his church’s finances, outspoken Tennessee Pastor Greg Locke has reneged on that offer, and his attorney has allegedly threatened at least one donor who asked for their money back.
Locke, who leads the Global Vision Bible Church in Mount Juliet, made the offer during a diatribe against some members of his church during an Oct. 27 service amid a dispute about money donated to the church’s building fund.
“Listen, we got IRS paperwork. We got lawyers. We got a CPA that says we have a squeaky clean book, and you’re like, ‘Well, [why] won’t you show them to me?’ You think I carry them around in my iPhone?” Locke asked.
“If you’re that worried about it, listen, if you think we abscond with money, then we can look up your giving record, and I’ll give it all back to you tomorrow.
No matter how much you’ve ever given to this church, you can have it [because] it’s there. And by the way, every dime that’s ever come in for that building at Love’s Way is still in the bank right now,” he said.
Locke claimed that critical members had falsely accused him of mismanaging and misappropriating funds from the church’s building fund.
The accusations arose as members questioned why the church failed to close on a real estate deal to move the church from its current location at 2060 Old Lebanon Dirt Road in west Wilson County to the Love’s Way Church facility at 310 Coles Ferry Pike in Lebanon.
Locke stated that he was under contract to buy the Love’s Way property for $5.5 million, but the building fund was $5 million short, which he said would require a miracle from God to fulfill. He added that the real estate deal would not go through if God did not provide this miracle.
Love’s Way Pastor Johan McGregor confirmed on Oct. 30 that Global Vision Bible Church could not close on the sale, and they would remain in the building for the next few months.
“The church in Mt. Juliet was unable to close and we will continue to pray for them God’s blessing and favor in the next season,” McGregor said.
Several YouTubers, such as Corey Minor of Smart Christians Life, highlighted that at least one donor to Locke’s ministry sent him an email requesting the return of their donations following his service comments.
“Based on your publicly stated verbal contract on October 27, 2024 (see included video clip), the stipulation for receiving these monies is that we must think that you abscond with money.
We therefore state that we think you abscond with money. The conditions to receive all monies back have therefore been met and no further conditions shall be required,” the redacted email from the donor said, in part.
An Oct. 29 response on behalf of Locke from the Rose Firm made it clear to the donor that no refund would be made, and if the donor insisted on trying to recover their donations, the church is prepared to defend itself legally.
“Please be advised that I serve as legal counsel to Global Vision and Pastor Locke. All subsequent communication regarding this matter should be directed exclusively to me. If you continue to attempt communication with Pastor Locke, please be advised that all of those communications will be ignored,” the attorney wrote.
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