As his cross-examination continued today, Bishop Anthony Jinwright disputed some of the testimony given by earlier witnesses, including some of the testimony given by some of his former members and directors.

Jinwright, senior pastor of Greater Salem City of God, challenged earlier testimony that church resources were secretly spent to support his for-profit ministry, A.L. Jinwright Ministries Inc. Any such expenditures, he said, were by church consent.

The 53-year-old preacher also denied much of the testimony given by former Greater Salem member and director Regina Childs.

In court last week, Childs told jurors that Jinwright often “rebuked” anyone who challenged his authority, typically from the pulpit. She also testified that, even after the church struggled to pay bills, Jinwright discouraged directors from reducing his salary or cutting his perks, saying any reduction would negatively impact his lifestyle.

Was Childs telling this jury the truth, yes or no? Assistant U.S. Attorney David Brown asked the witness.

“I would have to say no,” Jinwright replied. “…I would have to say she was not telling the truth in full detail.”

When Brown asked Jinwright to explain what portion of Childs’ testimony he wished to dispute, Jinwright did not answer directly.

Jinwright also disputed the testimony of former Greater Salem director Larry Gandy, who said the church kept a special checking account used to purchase luxury gifts for Jinwright and his wife, Harriet. Gandy also testified that, soon after Mecklenburg sheriff’s deputies came to repossess the church vans in 2004, directors asked to meet privately without Jinwright . At that meeting, Gandy testified, directors for the first time learned the full extent of the Jinwrights’ compensation.

Brown: “Was his testimony to this jury truthful?”

Jinwright: “Not in detail. There are other conditions surrounding the whole matter of Mr. Gandy’s motives.”

Again, Brown offered Jinwright an opportunity to explain.

Jinwright said the Greater Salem congregation was fully aware of his compensation and was the final authority on such matters.

One by one, Brown ticked off a litany of compensation perks that Jinwright received – college tuition for his daughter, church-paid taxes, church-paid vacations, etc. --asking the pastor after each whether the congregation was aware of that particular item.

After Brown had finished his list, Jinwright conceded that the congregation might not have been aware of each component of his compensation but was generally aware of its total amount.

Brown also asked Jinwright to explain why Greater Salem paid to support his for-profit ministry, expenses for such things as paper, office space, staffing and travel.

“The arrangement that was understood by us was not in the context in which you are phrasing it,” Jinwright replied.

Brown: “At no time did A.L. Jinwright Ministries reimburse the church for costs associated with running your business, correct?”

“What costs are you speaking of,” Jinwright asked.

The Pastor later explained that “A.L. Jinwright Ministries would tithe back to the church.”

Again Brown asked: “At no time did A.L. Jinwright Ministries reimburse the church for costs associated with running your business, correct?”

“No,” Jinwright responded. “I would tithe back to Greater Salem Church from whatever income I would receive.”

Brown: “Tithes are deductible on taxes as charitable contributions, correct?”

Jinwright: “A portion.”

Brown: “What expenses were not?”

Jinwright: “Mr. Brown, we did not view that or have that kind of understanding in the way you are shaping this. That was not our relationship at our ministries.”

Jinwright said his for-profit ministry had no expenses other than those paid by Greater Salem.

With that, Brown displayed a copy of the company’s 2004 tax return, which showed that Jinwright Ministries claimed $11,000 in expenses.

“I didn’t prepare that document,” Jinwright said.

“You couldn’t explain one dime of what those expenses were for, could you?” Brown asked.

“No,” Jinwright said.

“But you sure got the tax benefits out of it, didn’t you?” Brown said.

Jinwright’s attorney, Ed Hinson, objected, saying the prosecutor was being argumentative.

Judge Frank Whitney sustained Hinson’s objection.

Jinwright’s cross-examination was expected to continue after lunch.
 

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