When I drive through South Central Los Angeles (flickr), I cannot help but notice the profusion of storefront churches. Most fit into a 500 square foot office space. In some areas, there are six or seven clustered around a single corner. My assumption has always been they were legitimate. I have come to realize, many are not.
Take Pastor David John Gripka of Pensacola. The 67 year old Pastor was arrested for a drive-by shooting. Pastor Gripka was upset about his auto repair bill. He fired a few shots randomly into the occupied house of the manager of C&M Motors. Gripka then drove across town and shot up the exterior of C&M Motors. Besides being a menace to society, Gripka also appears to be a fraud, a pastor in name only.
Since there are no standards for establishing a church, anyone can start one. And once you start a church, the tax benefits are tangible. It is not surprising that men like Pastor Gripka are not real pastors, but petty con men abusing the special privileges our government affords the clergy.
Storefront churches are tax exempt and enjoy a lack of transparency. Why do we afford the clergy special privileges? Is there a legitimate reason?
