Well-Paid Riverside Church Pastor Addresses Controversy

After a Manhattan Supreme Court judge refused to block the installation of Riverside Church's new pastor, the Reverend Brad Braxton ascended to the pulpit Saturday to defend his $600,000 compensation package. In a sermon entitled "Fear Not," Braxton told the congregation that his critics were "mistaking molehills for mountains," and that his priority would be "the sacred business of moving mountains." Also, according to Braxton, the Almighty approves: "God told me all week, 'I got you.'" (Paid?) Earlier this month, dissident parishioners at the historically liberal church took the unusual step of suing to block his appointment after learning of his pay package, which they say wasn't fully disclosed before they voted him in. But 63-year-old Naomi Griffin, a 25-year member of the church, told the Daily News on Sunday that "these dissidents don't seem to want to do things right." Also in attendance was Governor Paterson, who was married at Riverside 17 years ago; he voiced his support for Braxton, noting his "rare combination of skills."

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By John Del Signore in News on April 27, 2009 12:15 PM

Comments [rss]

NannyState

"In a sermon entitled "Fear Not," Braxton told the congregation that his critics were "mistaking molehills for mountains," and that his priority would be "the sacred business of moving mountains."

Yeah, moving mountains of cash into his bank account. Whore.

jpeditor

"Also in attendance was Governor Paterson, who was married at Riverside 17 years ago; he voiced his support for Braxton, noting his "rare combination of skills.""

TRANSLATION: "I am still waiting for my check, Rev!"

matukonyc

My great-grandfather was a minister who probably made the equivalent of $200K in the 1940's -- it is a job, believe it or not.

hotstepper

"Gonna be a Baptist preacher, so I don't have to work"

--Robert Johnson, "Preachin' Blues"

nyorker555

600k is truly flabbergasting and doesnt pass the smell test. There's more to this story even if the news media never gets the whole story.

JacqueMehoff

they can come to my church, the church of da Fonz.

I'd wish the unhappy worshipers just boycott his church, it's not like there's not another one a few blocks over.

da Fonz be with you.

SP

People still fall for this whole religion scam huh? Amazing. They deserve to be fleeced.

Sleepy

You can't complain about Wall Street stealing all your money when you're paying some guy in a pink smock half a million to make you feel better about death every Sunday.