Unorthodox Ministry -- Christian Musician Carman Packs Them In At Concerts, Using A Unique Business Setup To Spread The Gospel

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The biggest crowd ever to attend a Christian music concert didn't see Amy Grant, Point of Grace or The Imperials.

Last October, 71,132 people packed Texas Stadium in Irving, Texas, to see Carman, an eclectic Christian entertainer who has sold 7 million records since 1982 - more than Christian music star Michael W. Smith.

Since then, Carman, a New Jersey native whose last name is Licciardello, has moved from Tulsa, Okla., to Middle Tennessee, living on a 34-acre spread near many other music luminaries.

Carman says he moved to the area because of the Born Again Church, a charismatic, 2,000-member congregation also attended by Christian star CeCe Winans.

But don't look for him to blend quietly into the landscape of suburban Nashville. Carman's enterprise, his outspoken nature and the way he organizes his concerts are unique in the Christian-music business, which is centered in the Nashville area.

Carman wears two hats.

He is president of Carman Ministries, a nonprofit organization that puts on "concert crusades" - free shows, promoted by volunteer labor from the local Christian community - that combine his music with an impressive stage show, a verbal message and an altar call. For that duty, he earns $194,116 a year, according to 1994 tax documents.

Carman Ministries' main sources of income are donations collected at concerts, Carman's music royalties and sales of music through the ministry.

He also draws $403,179 through a related for-profit entity called Carman Inc. This venture receives revenue from Carman's paid appearances at "secular" forums such as music festivals.

"In those cases, I'm just providing entertainment, although it's Christian entertainment," Carman says. "I view that as kind of a part-time job."

This arrangement, - with most of Carman's income going into a ministry - is unique among big-name Christian-music stars. One obvious advantage for it being nonprofit is that it doesn't have to pay corporate income tax.

"One could always argue that it is a pretty slick way to get out of paying taxes," said Tom DiLorenzo, a professor of economics of Loyola College and the author of "Unhealthy Charities." "But it doesn't sound like there is any legal problem with the way they do it."

Carman maintains the arrangement lets him bring the Christian message to far more people.

"You can't put me in the category of a pastor, because I'm not a pastor," Carman says. "If you compare what somebody who sells the amount of records that I sell and has the type of crowds that I have would be making, then I think you would find that what I make is OK."

Paul Nelson, president of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability, concedes that a case like Carman Ministries creates a bit of a quandary.

"In general, a $9 million charity doesn't pay $200,000 to its CEO," Nelson says. "But we are in an age of unbelievable compensation for big-name athletes and high-profile entertainers. It's where our culture places its priorities. In Carman's case, it may be that there would be no $8 million or $9 million without him."

One of the main sources of revenue for Carman Ministries in 1994 was $1.5 million in record royalties, money that would be going directly to Carman under a for-profit arrangement.

Carman is unique in Christian music because of the sheer number of fans he draws. Recently, he played before 45,000 at the Houston Astrodome. In 1993, about 50,000 came to see him in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The main reason: He generally doesn't charge admission. Instead, Carman takes up an offering, which accounted for about half his ministry's $9.3 million in income in 1994.

Another reason for Carman's broad appeal: He draws from a wide variety of musical styles. The title song from his new album "RIOT" can be best described as rap. But other singles on the album are closer to pop or country.

"Carman has broken a lot of barriers," said Ron Smith, who manages Christian star Clay Cross. "He's created a niche for himself like no one else has ever done before and has done a great job drawing a lot of kids to Christian music."

Theologically, Carman's music reflects a belief in a literal Satan who often wins battles - but will lose the war. In a video for a song called "Witches Invitation," Carman and a warlock argue whether God or Satan is more powerful.

His songs aren't all about devils. In the 52-minute video "RIOT," Carman tries his hand at acting. He portrays a Chicago police officer and single parent who moves to small-town Oklahoma to get away from gang violence.

Within the Christian-music business, there are few signs that others will soon be organizing ministries similar to his.

"I can't make any decision on the integrity of what Carman does, or how he handles his ministry," said Dan Harrell, who co-manages Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith. "But I don't think Carman considers music the most important element of what he does. He considers himself a minister of the gospel who happens to sing and perform."

Harrell says Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith chose to handle their affairs as a for-profit entity because they consider themselves singers, not ministry heads.

Carman has his own site on the World Wide Web: http://www.carman.org