Promise Keepers Founder Paid For Speeches, Despite Claim Of No Salary

The founder of the Christian men’s group Promise Keepers gets paid for speaking at its rallies, despite the organization’s claims to the contrary.

The organization’s literature says Bill McCartney refuses to accept a salary, and spokesman Mark DeMoss has said McCartney gets only health insurance and expenses from the ministry, which he serves as chief executive.

But tax records show the former University of Colorado football coach has received $61,833 in compensation, plus other benefits over the past two years from Promise Keepers, which stages mass conferences in football stadiums.

DeMoss cknowledged this week that McCartney receives a $4,000 honorarium for speaking at most Promise Keepers conferences.

McCartney and other directors also speak at as many as three rallies annually for free, he said.

McCartney pays his own travel expenses to the meetings, DeMoss said, but Promise Keepers provides him with a hotel room and meals.

“He still does not receive a salary,” DeMoss said.

McCartney last year received $41,833 in compensation and no benefits, records show. In 1995, he received $20,000 in compensation plus $2,943 in contributions to benefit plans and $432 in unspecified allowances.