ATLAH Worldwide Church has been around for years and for years they have been in pretty clear violation of the rules and regulations of their 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. ATLAH rose to social network prominence, briefly, when Pastor James David Manning decided to start using his Church’s sign to say hateful things, and ran into problems when people pointed out that the sign wasn’t properly licensed.
Atlah’s infamous sign, which Pastor James David Manning uses to broadcast messages like “Jesus would stone homos,” and “Obama has released the homo demons on the black man,” was installed without the commission's authorization, spokeswoman Damaris Olivo said.
Sadly, even with Pastor Manning’s appeal to get Donald Trump elected (photo at top), the ATLAH Worldwide Church is now going up for public auction. It turns out that ATLAH is smothered in debt.
The Rev. James Manning said in a phone conversation with DNAinfo New York that the foreclosure was mostly over unpaid water and sewage bills and vowed to fight the order, claiming his church’s tax exempt status means he doesn’t have to pay.
“I assure you, it’s about a water bill and a tax that can’t be levied against this church,” Manning said. “I think it’s a land grab quite frankly.”
Knowing New York City real estate, Manning might have a point; but, I suspect that Pastor James David Manning has spent a lot more time spelling his name out to reporters over the past few years than paying the debts his organization owes.
What Manning didn’t say is that there are nine federal tax liens against him totaling more than $355,000 from as far back as 2002. He also owes New York State more than $28,000 and other creditors more than $30,000, public records show.
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The church does receive $186,000 in tax exemption benefits from New York City, records show.
Unfortunately, Pastor Manning didn’t pay off creditors by the April 2015 deadline given and now the ATLAH is being sold at public auction. In a ironic twist of fate, two LGBT advocacy groups—River of Living Waters Ministries and the Ali Forney Center—are getting a lot of donations in the hopes that the two groups can buy the church and turn it into something holy.
Since 2014, local Harlem residents have opposed Rev. Manning's messages of hatred and violence by organizing a series of events to raise funds for the Ali Forney Center, as well as to increase awareness of the needs of homeless LGBT youths. Also they have organized a series of protests outside of Atlah Church. These efforts, under the name of Love Not Hate, have been coordinated by Stacy Parker Le Melle.
“I am ecstatic to imagine a future where our Harlem corner will be a home of compassion, not hatred. We have a homeless problem in New York City. The de Blasio administration is working hard to remedy this, but LGBT young people are especially vulnerable with the shelter system. They need protection. The Ali Forney Center is a beacon, but they need more space for transitional housing and job training. I can't imagine a better use for that property. Who needs more luxury condos? We need to care for the most vulnerable in our midst.”
Light a candle!