Plunderbund

The Dispatch is reporting that Rev. Russell Johnson is leaving the Fairfield Christian Church in Lancaster to work as a fundraiser for Kentucky Christian University- his alma mater.

Johnson, you may remember, is the gay-hating, mega-church pastor behind the Ohio Restoration Project- the group that attempted “to recruit thousands of ‘patriot pastors’ to register ‘values voters’ and back Christian causes.”

(He is also the guy who sent out emails supporting Ken Blackwell’s campaign in blatent violation of IRS regulations against partisan political activity by non-profits.)

His departure, it seems, couldn’t have come at a better time…

As Johnson prepares to move on, all is not well with Fairfield Christian Church.

Some members have been upset by deep financial losses after the church’s purchase and operation of the adjacent Lancaster Inn hotel last year. The church ministry and its school, Fairfield Christian Academy, also showed losses.

The church, school and hotel showed a nearly $1.5 million operating loss for the fiscal year ending June 30, according to a financial statement obtained by The Dispatch.

…

Records also show that the IRS filed a lien against Johnson and his wife, Barbara, last year that said the couple failed to pay $22,269 in federal income taxes and penalties from 2002 to 2004. The Johnsons paid up in a month.