The Tulsa Forum by TulsaNow

Jesus House in OKC is in deep financial doo-doo.  They are a homeless mission of sorts.  And people wonder why I have issues with organized religion and charities operated in the name of religion.  Shameful.

"...Homsey issued his call for board action Friday after The Oklahoman requested and received copies of new tax documents that show Executive Director Janis Mercer was paid a $177,940 salary in 2009 — considerably more than her 2008 salary of $154,295 that prompted public outcry when reported earlier this month.

The $177,940 salary wasn't the only money Mercer received from the Jesus House last year.

Records show Jesus House donations were used to make more than $97,000 in personal loans to Mercer, her son and four other employees. There were no written agreements regarding repayment of any of the loans, and none of the money had been repaid by the end of 2009, tax records reveal. The records show a $46,000 loan Janis Mercer received in 2008 was increased to $67,250 in 2009.

Her adult son, Jesse, received a $1,000 loan in 2009 in addition to his $45,592 salary for serving as assistant executive director of the Jesus House.

Others shown as receiving loans included office manager Marilyn Young, $21,147; accountant Barbara Lewis, $7,082; employee Catlyn Lester, $757; and employee Aaron Cotton, $200. The Oklahoman requested copies of board minutes that might show who authorized the loans and salaries, but Homsey said Mercer was unable to locate them. Mercer did not return telephone calls to the Jesus House seeking comment.


Finances investigated
Homsey said from the documents he has seen, he doesn't think the executive director has done anything criminal, but a lot of things could have been done better.
The Oklahoma attorney general's office is investigating the charity's finances in response to an anonymous letter alleging the executive director mishandled donations and lived a lavish lifestyle while some Jesus House bills went unpaid.

The Jesus House is cooperating with that investigation, Homsey said. The charity is worth saving because of all the good work the agency has done feeding, clothing and providing shelter for needy individuals for decades, he said.

While gathering information to respond to inquiries, Homsey said he discovered a former Jesus House bookkeeper wrote checks to herself for cash, with apparently no other authorization. Homsey said he has seen three such checks so far, with the largest about $800."

Read more: http://newsok.com/shelters-board-called-to-action/article/3487510#ixzz0zoeg6Zkp

The same stuff is happening at non religious charities, school boards, non-profits etc all over the country. Not really fair to single out religious affiliated charities. Donations apparently are just too much temptation for administrators these days no matter how moral the goals.

I have my own suspicions why but it doesn't much matter. Very few organizations can withstand much scrutiny these days.

That is sad, I volunteered there a couple of time when I was living in OKC a couple of years ago.  The people who run these charities are just paid way too much and given way too much direct control over the finances. 

(http://www.hollow-hill.com/sabina/images/pissed-jesus.jpg)

FTFY

(http://www.sp-fan.ru/upload/iblock/f1c/js_vs_s_big.png)

Thats really sad. No one will donate to this charity now knowing that most of the cash is going to the directors rather than the needy.

What is wrong with people?