Annie2, uh, welcome to the Baptistlife forums.
Regardless of what you think, I do have some insight into what is going at FBCJax. I do not however, claim to know all that has gone on.
As for how the reporter got the court records, I have sent him an email asking him what prompted him to search the court documents and I will let you know what he says. I tried to call but he is not answering his phone.
Don't bore you? Don't bore me! I asked if anyone had come to the pastor, finance committee or pulpit committee back in 2007. Answer? NO ONE sought out a meeting and there were NO signed emails, etc. I was told that anyone that wanted to know about pastor's compensation would not get a detailed breakdown. "Why?" I asked. Because that is how they have done it for decades at FBCJax. This is not just something that Dr. Brunson brought to the church. If you have a problem with this then you have a problem with the late Dr. Lindsay Sr., the late Dr. Lindsay Jr. and Dr. Vines too and of course all the men that have served on the Finance committee over the past decades.
If this is such an issue for you why haven't you and others sought to have it changed years ago? My suspicion is some wanted it changed, but dare not challenge either Dr. Lindsays or Dr. Vines. You waited until there was a new guy, then pinned it all on him and the evil "MEGA-CHURCHES"! Then the best part was you guys did it anonymously on the WWW and demanded "transparency" from the church.
There may have been attempts after you and others had bashed the pastor for a few months but somehow I doubt they were sincere and more lame than real attempts. That way you can claim "We tried to go directly to the pastor; brick wall."
BTW, SLyons and I are having a rather civil discussion off-line about the issues. Maybe he can inject something into your post and my response.