Senator Raphael Warnock resides in luxury home purchased by Ebenezer Baptist Church

Raphael Warnock, Democratic senator for Georgia and pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church sold his Atlanta home in 2023, but he did not become homeless afterwards. He went on to live in a mansion valued at one million dollars acquired by his church, and which is also tax-exempt.

This is according to a report of the media The Free Beacon, who cites sources from the state and county housing registry in Georgia, and that show Senator Warnock as a resident of said property in DeKalb County.

According to the media outlet, the home consists of five bedrooms and went on sale in 2022. It is said to be equipped with a refrigerated wine cellar that holds 100 bottles of wine, a stainless steel kitchen with Bluetooth, custom crown molding and a walk-in closet attached to a "stunning" European bathroom with a remote-controlled privacy curtain. That privacy extends to Google Maps, where images of the property appear blurred.

Since 2023, Senator Warnock, who holds a prominent position at Ebenezer Baptist Church, moved there and made the mansion his primary residence. According to the report, he lives there without paying any rent. Any rent payments would be irregular, due to the fact that the home is tax-exempt as it is owned by the religious congregation.

Although prior to the purchase of the mansion Warnock already had his own home in Atlanta, he appears to be the only person who has resided in the home.

Criticism from within the Church

Albert Paul Brinson, who was ordained at Ebenezer Baptist Church by Martin Luther King in 1965, has openly criticized this situation, as reported by The Free Beacon.

King "would never have endorsed that in any way," Brinson said during an interview with local activist K.J. Boynton, adding that Ebenezer Baptist Church's housing allowance was intended to provide modest shelter for its pastors so they could focus their energies on fulfilling the church's mission.

Warnock solicited donations from parishioners

After the purchase of the home, still according to The Free Beacon, Warnock reportedly asked parishioners to make extraordinary donations to the Church.

According to Warnock, the donations would serve to pay off the church's mortgage debt. During that sermon, Warnock asked members of the congregation to donate "at least" $139 in addition to their 10% tithe in honor of Ebenezer Baptist Church's 139th anniversary.