Channel 6 suing ex-Mequon minister

Journal Sentinel/January 6, 1998
By Tom Vanden Brook

Port Washington -- Chuckie Burris, the television evangelist now under federal investigation, owes WITI-TV (Channel 6) more than $39,000, according to a lawsuit.

Burris and his Rhema Worship Center Inc. failed to pay the station for airing several episodes of his "Word of Faith Ministry" program in 1996 and 1997, according to court papers.

The suit says the station billed Burris at an agreed-upon price for the half-hour programs and other goods and services.

In December 1996, for example, Burris' show appeared on five Sundays at 9 a.m. The station billed Burris $2,500 per show. Two other shows at 7 a.m. on Sundays in April 1997 also were not paid for, the suit says.

As of Friday, Burris owed the station $39,300.96 and refuses "to pay this debt despite due demand having been made," according to the suit filed in Ozaukee County Circuit Court.

An attorney for the station could not be reached for comment Monday evening.

Meanwhile, the FBI in Milwaukee continues to look at Burris and Rhema Worship Center. Agents declined to discuss details of that probe Monday.

The Journal Sentinel first reported on questions about Burris' Mequon-based ministry in November. Burris closed the church this fall, sold his Brown Deer home and moved to Arizona.

Former members of his congregation have raised questions about how money he raised for their church was spent.

Burris raised nearly $1.5 million from the congregation. Burris, his wife, Alethea, and another woman, Phoebe Humphries, constitute the church's board of directors.

Firstar Bank, which loaned Burris money to buy the Mequon church at 2415 W. Mequon Road, has begun foreclosure proceedings. Burris and Rhema owe Firstar more than $190,000 on two loans and have failed to make payments since late this fall, according to that lawsuit.

Records obtained by the paper show that Burris owned a variety of luxury automobiles and used money in Rhema accounts in an attempt to buy a $528,000 house in Scottsdale, Ariz., where he now lives.

Former church members estimate that more than 20 families may have relocated to the Phoenix area with Burris.

Repeated attempts to reach Burris, including several visits to his home in a gated community of the wealthy Phoenix suburb, have been rebuffed. Alethea Burris told a reporter that Chuckie Burris would not comment.

Burris, 40, also has had problems with a television station in Phoenix. He began telecasting his services there in the fall, but, after difficulties paying bills there, the station pulled his show, the station's management has told the Journal Sentinel.

Because of the concerns raised about his ministry, Burris will not be allowed to return to the air on KPHO-TV (Channel 5), station management has said.