An auditor has flagged over a million dollars in spending by two New York City megachurch pastors, according to reports.
Pastors Josh and Georgie Kelsey, Australian founders of Fount NYC, are being accused of spending nearly $1.4 million on the church’s American Express credit card without proper documentation or approval from the church board.
According to documents obtained by The Roys Report, CapinCrouse reviewed nine years of spending and found what seems to be $900,000 in personal expenses.
Some of the expenses included:
- $67,151.69 in entertainment, including for sports, surfing, and golf
- $65,355.80 for health-related items and services, including therapy, supplements, and spa-related treatments
- $29,802.15 for parking, including tickets and fines
- $28,761.73 for electronics
- $25,000.74 for clothing
- $8,294.19 for personal trading and investment accounts
Another $222,916.79 couldn’t be classified due to the lack of documentation.
Josh Kelsey denies the allegations and reportedly told church members in a Jan. 6 recorded video call that the audit doesn’t include any context and that auditors refused to let him explain.
In addition to unauthorized spending allegations, former Found NYC board member David Chan accused Josh Kelsey of dismantling the church board that confronted him about the alleged spending. Chan said Kelsey then nominated new, hand-selected trustees. Kelsey denies these allegations from Chan as well.
In 2013, the Kelseys moved from Sydney, Australia, to New York to launch Fount NYC, previously called C3, in Brooklyn. The church was reportedly part of the Sydney-based C3 church planting movement that launched 600 churches in 54 countries.
Before the financial review last August, Found NYC voluntarily separated from C3, but no reason was given for the split. Some church members expressed concern that this latest incident could harm attendance figures.
“My concern over this whole incident is that it will turn young people away from the church,” Courtney Henley, a member for 10 years, told The Roys Report.