The mission of Sojourners, Inc. according to their income tax filing is "to articulate the biblical call to social justice, inspiring hope and building movement to transform individuals, communities, the church and the world."
They certainly have transformed one individual--their director. Jim Wallis' compensation has skyrocketed from $25,000 per year in 2003 to $218,000 in 2013. His compensation for 35 hours per week of work is now equivalent to almost $120/hr. Now that's hope! By contrast, the average American's hourly wage is about $25/hr in October of 2014. That's about what Jim Wallis' hourly compensation was in 2003 when he worked 20+ hours a week for Sojourners.
Wallis' compensation keeps rising even though the organization's assets are falling. From a high of $5.9 million in 2007 Sojourners' assets have dropped to $2.4 million in 2013. That's a drop of about 60%.During the same time period Wallis' compensation soared from $153,000 to $218,000. That's a rise of over 40%.
Interested in social justice? You might want to look somewhere else than at Sojourners and Jim Wallis.
4 comments:
Wow. This is one of the reasons why I don't buy into "social justice", TD. It's a catch phrase; who wouldn't be for social justice?
For starters, those who discover that their pockets are being picked.
Nice catch!
I've been following these guys for a few years because the compensation is so egregious. And you are absolutely right that "social justice" has become a catch phrase for taking things from people I designate as having too much and bloating government control over everyone--rich, middle class and poor.
It should be about protecting the legal rights of the poor and some of the built in helps (like the right to glean) in the Old Testament. There's even a provision that 1/3rd of tithes (which are voluntary) are laid aside to support the poor and the local clergy in the Old Testament.
I'd never even heard of these guys until you posted, TD - I appreciate your bring them up. They seem to harbor an abundance of evil. I'd go for "social justice" if it referred to what most people thing that it should, but I've never seen it work that way.
It should, as you note, be about protecting and aiding the less fortunate, but it isn't.
I was reading today where the Pope and his almanist have decided to build showers for the homeless in some of the public restrooms that have been constructed over the years around the Vatican to serve the needs of the many visitors. That's a good step.
That is a good step, Max. A place to shower is a wonderful gift. I often feel gratitude for the easy access we have to hot showers in our home. Kudos to the Pope!
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