U.S.|Billionaire Makes Public Break From Mormon Church
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Jeff T. Green, the chief executive of a technology firm, said he was leaving because of the church’s wealth and stance on social issues such as gay rights.
A billionaire from Utah, Jeff T. Green, said he was resigning this week from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in an unusually high-profile rebuke of the church’s wealth and position on social issues.
Mr. Green, who runs an advertising technology firm and is believed to be one of the wealthiest people from Utah, did not say what caused him to make such a public exit this week. But he said in a letter to Russell M. Nelson, the church’s president, that he was concerned about the church’s history, finances and advocacy.
“While most members are good people trying to do right, I believe the church is actively and currently doing harm in the world,” he wrote in the letter, which was reported Monday by The Salt Lake Tribune.
In the letter, a copy of which was dated Dec. 23, he said he had stopped believing in the church’s teachings more than a decade ago and had spent several years reflecting on his issues with it. “I believe the Mormon Church has hindered global progress in women’s rights, civil rights and racial equality, and L.G.B.T.Q.+ rights,” he wrote.
The church’s press office did not respond to a request for comment.
In the letter, Mr. Green, 44, asked for his records to be removed from the church and for his only other contact from the organization to be a letter confirming that he was no longer a member. One of his friends and 11 of his family members were also resigning, he said.
Kathleen Flake, a professor of Mormon studies at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, said this sort of formal exit from the church was similar to a renunciation of citizenship. To return to the church, a person would have to be rebaptized.
“Renouncing it is a political act; it’s a way of making a political statement, not just a religious statement,” she said.
She said it was unlikely that the church, which has more than 16 million members, would respond.
“I think they care, but I don’t think they are surprised by such public statements,” Professor Flake, a church member, said. “They’ve simply had too much experience with it to think that they will escape this kind of public engagement with their moral standards.”
Mr. Green, who now lives in Southern California, was also critical of the church’s wealth, which includes an investment fund paid for with contributions by members. The fund had $48 billion worth of stocks as of Sep. 30, according to SEC filings.
“This money comes from people, often poor, who wholeheartedly believe you represent the will of Jesus,” Mr. Green wrote. “They give, expecting the blessings of heaven.”
The management of the fund has come under scrutiny in recent years after a former manager accused the church of misleading members about the use of the funds. Church officials told The Wall Street Journal last year that the money was to be used during possible economic downturns.
In September, a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit brought by a prominent former member, James Huntsman, that accused the church of using the money for commercial purposes.
Mr. Green, the chief executive of the firm The Trade Desk, is worth $5.2 billion, according to Forbes. In November, he pledged to give away more than 90 percent of his wealth before or at his death.
This week Mr. Green also announced he was donating $600,000 to Equality Utah, a group that advocates L.G.B.T.Q. rights in the state.
He told The Tribune that almost half the money would go to a scholarship fund for students in Utah, including those who “may need or want” to leave Brigham Young University, which is sponsored by the church and has an honor code that prohibits same-sex “romantic behavior.”
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As an enthusiast with a demonstrable understanding of the topic, I can provide insights into the various concepts mentioned in the article about Jeff T. Green's public break from the Mormon Church.
Jeff T. Green, the chief executive of The Trade Desk, a prominent technology firm, made headlines by publicly resigning from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His decision was motivated by concerns about the church's wealth and its stances on social issues, particularly gay rights. Green, being a billionaire from Utah, brought attention to the church's financial practices and its impact on global issues such as women's rights, civil rights, racial equality, and LGBTQ+ rights.
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Wealth of the Church:
- Jeff Green expressed dissatisfaction with the church's wealth, highlighting an investment fund worth $48 billion as of September 30, according to SEC filings. This fund, financed by contributions from members, raised questions about transparency and the use of funds, with previous accusations of misleading members about its purpose.
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Social Issues and Advocacy:
- Green criticized the church for what he perceived as hindering progress in women's rights, civil rights, racial equality, and LGBTQ+ rights. This sheds light on the ongoing debate within religious institutions regarding their stance on contemporary social issues.
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Religious Beliefs and Formal Exit:
- Green stated that he stopped believing in the church's teachings over a decade ago, emphasizing a personal and intellectual departure from the faith. His formal exit, requesting removal of his records from the church, is described as a significant political and religious statement. Kathleen Flake, a professor of Mormon studies, likened it to a renunciation of citizenship, noting the rarity of such formal exits.
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Impact on Membership and Public Engagement:
- Green's resignation was not isolated, as he mentioned that one of his friends and 11 family members were also resigning. The article suggests that the church, with over 16 million members, has experienced similar public statements before. The formal exit is seen as a way of engaging with the church's moral standards on a public platform.
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Legal Issues and Scrutiny of Church Finances:
- The church's investment fund faced scrutiny in recent years, with accusations of misleading members about its use. A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit by a former member accusing the church of commercial use of funds. The article touches upon the management of the fund and the church's explanation that the money was intended for possible economic downturns.
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Personal Philanthropy and Donations:
- Jeff Green's personal wealth, estimated at $5.2 billion, is highlighted, and his commitment to donating over 90 percent of it is mentioned. He announced a donation of $600,000 to Equality Utah, a group advocating LGBTQ+ rights. This showcases the intersection of personal wealth, philanthropy, and alignment with specific social causes.
In summary, Jeff T. Green's public break from the Mormon Church brings attention to complex intersections of wealth, religious beliefs, social issues, and individual autonomy within religious institutions. His actions and statements contribute to the ongoing discourse on the role of religious organizations in contemporary societal issues.
