Street preacher sets up new gig
He’s alleged to have been physically and mentally abusive, and a drug user. Now Lincoln Russ wants donations for his new church.
Astreet preacher with a controversial past is setting up a centre of faith in Christchurch called Church on Fire. Lincoln Russ has registered the church as a charitable trust with himself and Sonya King as trustees so he can provide a “giving number” for people to donate.
Last March, Stuff revealed Russ was alleged to have physically and emotionally abused an ex-girlfriend, and abused a vulnerable male who was once his right hand man. He was also alleged to have been a regular drug user.
He denied all allegations.
Russ had already gained a profile for homophobic speech when he conducted a “repentance tour” of some towns in the South Island last year, where he preached on street corners.
He has also protested at LGBT events, and has publicly expressed negative views of the community.
Initially Russ promised the first church service, held the Sunday before last, would be at a 800-seat venue, but instead was held outdoors at a local park.
In a video taken of the service, it shows at least two people and a child attended.
Russ offers anyone attending a free sweatshirt and barbecued sausages.
During the service he promised the church would soon have a building and said he and King were forming a charitable trust so “everything” was legitimate.
In a social media post about donations, Russ said he had no legal say over any payments or remuneration and said those that gave money would be giving to the church and not him.
He said he would not be allowed to be in charge of a reimbursement to himself. “That’s what trustees do.” However, according to the deed, Russ will make financial decisions with King, and he can be paid remuneration for services to the trust. The deed also states the trustees can use capital and income to advance religion.
The national manager of business registries, Bolen Ng, confirmed Church on Fire had been accepted as a charitable trust on April 18 under the Charitable Trusts Act 1957.
Under the Act, the trust was not required to open its books – unlike a registered charity.
Russ refused to discuss his role in the trust, or how it would operate.
Ng, who works for the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment said there were no disqualification provisions in the Act for who could be a trustee and formal character checks were not undertaken at the time of application.
However, the registrar can make a declaration that a board dissolves if they believe it was no longer carrying on operations or had been registered because of a mistake of fact or law.