Fount Church NYC Pastors Face Allegations of Remote Leadership and Excessive Spending

Josh and Georgie Kelsey, founding pastors of Fount Church in New York City, are facing criticism from current and former members over allegations of remote leadership and excessive spending. The couple is accused of moving back to Australia in October without informing the church and accumulating nearly $1.4 million in charges on a church credit card, with insufficient documentation to justify the expenses.

The allegations were shared through an anonymous Google document. In response, Fount Church initially stated that the Kelseys had been working from Australia with the approval of church leadership. The church also claimed that all the charges from October 2017 to 2025 were approved by the accounts team.

A follow-up statement from Frank Wheatley, the recently elected Board President of Fount Church, addressed the allegations. Wheatley noted that some claims circulating online were inaccurate or taken out of context, while reaffirming the church’s commitment to transparency. He explained that the Kelseys’ relocation to Australia was supported by the board to be near family members battling cancer.

Wheatley emphasized that the board approved the move as part of the church’s vision to operate as a global church. He stated that the Kelseys would continue to lead from Australia, with Josh present in New York City for two weeks each month. The board also highlighted the strong local leadership in place and plans to formalize the new structure to ensure pastoral needs are met across all locations.

Josh and Georgie Kelsey founded Fount Church, originally named C3 Brooklyn, in 2013 after relocating from Sydney, Australia. A financial review by CapinCrouse of the $1.4 million in credit card expenses submitted in November found that $483,861.40 could be considered legitimate business expenses if properly documented and approved by an unrelated board member.

The situation highlights the challenges of maintaining transparency and accountability in church leadership, especially when decisions involve significant financial commitments and changes in leadership structure. Micah 6:8 calls for justice, mercy, and humility in all actions, a standard that applies to the responsibilities of church leaders.

Source: Read the original report