Sutherland Springs church responds to questions over handling of donations

SUTHERLAND SPRINGS, Texas – Leadership for the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs is speaking out after donors, survivors and victims' families questioned how the church is spending millions of dollars of donations made after a mass-casualty shooting at the church.

Gary Ledbetter, a spokesman for the church, released a fact sheet and open letter from the church, outlining how the funds are being tracked and disbursed.

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READ THE FACT SHEET | READ THE OPEN LETTER

Demand for more information grew after the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs announced plans for a new $3 million sanctuary last month. But, volunteers, gifts in-kind and other resources make it likely the project will be less than the $3 million estimate, church leaders said.

Church leaders also clarified that victim assistance funds will, "under no circumstances, be used to fund building projects." A fact sheet states that none of the funds received by the church have been used to fund the proposed building.

The fact sheet explains that "no cash outlay from the church was required" because it received in kind donations from My Title Company and engineering firm Pape-Dawson, along with a donation from the Rebuilding Sutherland Springs organization.

According to the fact sheet, "designated money has been carefully used according to the donor’s intent with respect to victim assistance versus church related activities." Donations received for victim needs are kept in accounts separate from church operating funds, according to officials.

Some services that have provided to victims using the funds include medical supplies, home repairs, food, gas, meeting handicap accessibility needs for residences, utility and other bills, vehicle repairs, mortgage payments, expenses associated with the probate process and other living expenses, the document states. 

The funds are managed by the Restoration Committee, which is comprised of two longtime church members, one new church member and two non-members. The committee considers requests, needs and allocations of the funds that were donated.

The church has established an account with Wells Fargo for victim assistance and an additional lock box account at Amegy Bank.

The fact sheet states Amegy Bank separates mail designated for individual families and ensures the mail is delivered to the families. Church leadership states Amegy Bank also scanned in checks designated for the church, and then provided cover notes with well wishes to the church, creating a "third party independent data record" of how the funds are being managed.

The church declined to report fundraising totals and won't have to disclose details to the IRS.