US televangelists asked again for cooperation in financial probe
by Lillian Kwon, US Correspondent
Posted: Sunday, January 20, 2008, 10:17 (GMT)
With still little cooperation from ministries that have been asked to turn over their financial statements for investigation, Senator Charles Grassley plans to send out another round of letters requesting that they comply.
In the next few weeks, letters will again be sent to Christian television ministries that have not responded or raised concerns about the probe, which is being conducted by the Senate Finance Committee led by Grassley.
Only two of the six ministries under investigation - Joyce Meyer Ministries and Kenneth Copeland Ministries - turned over their documents last month and only Meyer has pledged full cooperation.
The probe began in November after ministry watchdogs alleged opulent spending and possible abuse of their nonprofit status. Besides Meyer and Copeland, Grassley sent letters to Paula and Randy White, Creflo Dollar, Eddie Long and Benny Hinn - all of whom are popular televangelists whose ministries each collect tens of millions of dollars in donations each year.
Grassley requested cooperation from the ministries, asking that they provide financial records as well as responses to a wide range of questions regarding their personal and organisational finances.
Paula and Randy White and Benny Hinn have been in contact with Grassley's office but have yet to give a clear response on whether they will cooperate.
The other two ministers, Creflo Dollar and Eddie Long, who have raised questions about the committee overstepping its authority and its attack on religious freedom, said they will not comply. They also made it clear that they have been following IRS rules and contend that the IRS, not the Senate committee, is the proper forum for investigating complaints.
Jay Sekulow, a Washington lawyer in evangelical and Republican circles who heads the American Center for Law and Justice, has given advice to the ministries, according to two anonymous sources, as reported by The Associated Press. And while the ACLJ is concerned about the constitutional issues raised by the inquiry, it will not be making any appearances on behalf of any of the ministries before the committee, a statement by the centre read.
"It's been extremely rare for tax-exempt groups to decline to cooperate with his requests for information," Jill Gerber, spokeswoman for Grassley's finance committee, told AP. "Tax-exempt groups usually work to answer questions from a leader of the Senate committee that sets tax policy. Senator Grassley hopes that these groups will be similarly cooperative with this inquiry."
The follow-up letters will describe Congress' authority and duty to investigate and evaluate laws over which it has legislative authority - in this case, tax-exempt policy, according to AP.
The Senate probe has garnered support from several Christian groups as well as opposition from others who fear the investigation may delve improperly into theological questions. The six televangelists preach what critics call the "prosperity gospel", which teaches wealth as a sign of God's blessing.
Copyright © 2008 Christian Today. All rights reserved.
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The comments below are readers' personal opinions and are in no way intended to reflect the editorial opinion of Christian Today.
Added: Thursday, February 14, 2008, 0:53 (GMT)
I’ve been there, that’s why I am here.
Exactly who does have a right to question Copeland about where the money goes? Copeland put on a exhalent performance at his latest ministers conference, visible at http://www.wittenburgdoor.com/copelandclips , in which has now gotten the attention of people all across the USA, and abroad. If I didn’t personally know better, one would actually think he cares about the protection of all his followers (partners),that pour money into his ministry. Requesting a summery of my mothers (Bonnie Parker) contributions, a long time partner of KCM, we like Grassley got little or no response. (Request viewable at http://sis359.blogspot.com/ ). If their partners aren’t entitled to this privileged information, even though they are funding this lavish lifestyle KCM has grown very accustom to, nor is the Senate entitled either, then who is? The IRS perhaps? Are the teachings of the Prosperity Gospel message being misconstrued? Do we, any of us, have a valid argument, or the right to ask for these records ? I believe with all my heart, we should let the ones affected most by this money making scam have a say in determining the answer to those questions..
“ I had a home“, “I had a life“, “I had faith“, “I had a family“, “I lost a loved one“, “I have no clue what the truth is anymore!” “I will never trust any form of religion.” these are merely a handful of endless testimonies coming to light nationwide. Ranging from all walks of life, their heartbreaking testimonies can be found throughout the web, yet inconceivably, victims are being labeled as fools, ignorant, and basically downright blind for not seeing the truth behind the Prosperity Gospels falsehoods. ” Being only human, our quest for health and wealth, regrettably does lead some in the wrong direction. Promises and guaranties, made by the Prosperity Gospel ministers, give people that have not obtained these blessings on their own, a second chance at achieving their goals in life. An important discovery I made while reviewing testimonies, revealed the fact numerous victims had very little knowledge of the Prosperity Gospels dark side. These unfortunate victims, appear to be equipped with only a small portion of the web of deceit these ministers weave . Picture yourself being raised in a small country town, with a population of only a few hundred, the closest city, only a population of only a few thousand. Computers, internet, cable, satellite TV, and other high tech gadgets are not needed or desired. You are living a simple , solemn life you wouldn’t trade for any amount of cash. After your working day is done, you gladly remove your shoes, kick back in your easy chair, and relax without a care in the world for a while. After flipping on the TV to view the local evening news broadcast, you are reminded to give thanks that you don’t have the worries that accompany life outside the safe haven of your home, and your community. Religion is your safeguard, your faith is strong, and you have no doubts about the truth behind your sacred beliefs. This was my life, before KCM.
Prosperity Gospel ministers enter the homes of many victims though a thirty minute Sunday morning worship service on a local broadcast station. Growing up in Jigger La., truly located in the middle of nowhere, I can testify to the fact that we only received on a clear day about three or four channels at most. Warnings of dangers associated with Prosperity Gospel ministries, made by critics, ministers, and victims go unheard, therefore tragically for many, when the realization of this scam is discovered it is already to late. Family’s have lost their homes, lifesavings, and some even their lives due to the Prosperity Gospels misleading doctrines. Unfortunately my mother was not one of the lucky ones, her confidence, and faith in this false Gospel, ultimately cost her, her life. After more than a decade of programming her mind to believe and think the Prosperity Gospel way of life, she lost her battle with cancer. By refusing medical attention, she sealed her fate, but the programming she had acquired from Kenneth and Gloria Copeland proved strong all the way to her last breath. A diary she left behind revealed the horrific tale of her life from 1992-2002, the top of each page titled with Kenneth Copeland, Gloria Copeland, or BVOV. Some mistakes in life we can not undo, and good intentions don’t always go as planed, these victims are simply following misleading promises of health and wealth. The use of miraculous healing confessions, and newly found wealth testimonies, are their sales pitch, sadly my mom among many other are proof that their sale pitch works. The possibility these Mega churches were misusing finances for personal luxuries is what brought this scam to the publics attention, not the loss of life, the financially bankrupt, and numerous homeless victims they have been left in the wake of this devastating hoax. So, do we continue blaming the victims, or do we stand up beside them, learn from there mistakes, and put an end to these senseless tragedies? Even I being a victims daughter have many lingering questions, such as follows, “How is it that some see the truth, and others do not?” ” What leads these victim to believe the unbelievable?” “ Are some more vulnerable to these sort of money making scams than others When all is said and done, perhaps they will be tagged, not as the Prosperity Gospel, but the false gospel. One Quote from Copelands mouth should erases any doubts of KCM innocence,
“It’s not yours, it’s God’s and you’re not going to get it and that’s something I’ll go to prison over. So, just get over it!”
The family of Bonnie Parker
E-MAIL sis359@gmail.com
Photo, before and after KCM,
http://picasaweb.google.com/sis359/BonnieParkerDiaryPhoto
Documentary Suffer The Children, exposes televangelists lavish lifestyles ,
http://www.wittenburgdoor.com/suffer-children
Book recently published by Sara Posner, also looks into these subjects,
http://www.amazon.com/Gods-Profits-Republican-Crusade-Values/dp/0979482216
Kristy Beach, Wisner La.
Added: Tuesday, February 12, 2008, 16:28 (GMT)
I’ve been there, that’s why I am here.
Exactly who does have a right to question Copeland about where the money goes? Copeland put on a exhalent performance at his latest ministers conference, visible at http://www.wittenburgdoor.com/copelandclips , in which has now gotten the attention of people all across the USA, and abroad. If I didn’t personally know better, one would actually think he cares about the protection of all his followers (partners),that pour money into his ministry. Requesting a summery of my mothers (Bonnie Parker) contributions, a long time partner of KCM, we like Grassley got little or no response. (Request viewable at http://sis359.blogspot.com/ ). If their partners aren’t entitled to this privileged information, even though they are funding this lavish lifestyle KCM has grown very accustom to, nor is the Senate entitled either, then who is? The IRS perhaps? Are the teachings of the Prosperity Gospel message being misconstrued? Do we, any of us, have a valid argument, or the right to ask for these records ? I believe with all my heart, we should let the ones affected most by this money making scam have a say in determining the answer to those questions..
“ I had a home“, “I had a life“, “I had faith“, “I had a family“, “I lost a loved one“, “I have no clue what the truth is anymore!” “I will never trust any form of religion.” these are merely a handful of endless testimonies coming to light nationwide. Ranging from all walks of life, their heartbreaking testimonies can be found throughout the web, yet inconceivably, victims are being labeled as fools, ignorant, and basically downright blind for not seeing the truth behind the Prosperity Gospels falsehoods. ”
Being only human, our quest for health and wealth, regrettably does lead some in the wrong direction. Promises and guaranties, made by the Prosperity Gospel ministers, give people that have not obtained these blessings on their own, a second chance at achieving their goals in life. An important discovery I made while reviewing testimonies, revealed the fact numerous victims had very little knowledge of the Prosperity Gospels dark side.
These unfortunate victims, appear to be equipped with only a small portion of the web of deceit these ministers weave . Picture yourself being raised in a small country town, with a population of only a few hundred, the closest city, only a population of only a few thousand. Computers, internet, cable, satellite TV, and other high tech gadgets are not needed or desired. You are living a simple , solemn life you wouldn’t trade for any amount of cash. After your working day is done, you gladly remove your shoes, kick back in your easy chair, and relax without a care in the world for a while. After flipping on the TV to view the local evening news broadcast, you are reminded to give thanks that you don’t have the worries that accompany life outside the safe haven of your home, and your community. Religion is your safeguard, your faith is strong, and you have no doubts about the truth behind your sacred beliefs. This was my life, before KCM.
Prosperity Gospel ministers enter the homes of many victims though a thirty minute Sunday morning worship service on a local broadcast station. Growing up in Jigger La., truly located in the middle of nowhere, I can testify to the fact that we only received on a clear day about three or four channels at most. Warnings of dangers associated with Prosperity Gospel ministries, made by critics, ministers, and victims go unheard, therefore tragically for many, when the realization of this scam is discovered it is already to late. Family’s have lost their homes, lifesavings, and some even their lives due to the Prosperity Gospels misleading doctrines.
Unfortunately my mother was not one of the lucky ones, her confidence, and faith in this false Gospel, ultimately cost her, her life. After more than a decade of programming her mind to believe and think the Prosperity Gospel way of life, she lost her battle with cancer. By refusing medical attention, she sealed her fate, but the programming she had acquired from Kenneth and Gloria Copeland proved strong all the way to her last breath.
A diary she left behind revealed the horrific tale of her life from 1992-2002, the top of each page titled with Kenneth Copeland, Gloria Copeland, or BVOV. Some mistakes in life we can not undo, and good intentions don’t always go as planed, these victims are simply following misleading promises of health and wealth. The use of miraculous healing confessions, and newly found wealth testimonies, are their sales pitch, sadly my mom among many other are proof that their sale pitch works.
The possibility these Mega churches were misusing finances for personal luxuries is what brought this scam to the publics attention, not the loss of life, the financially bankrupt, and numerous homeless victims they have been left in the wake of this devastating hoax. So, do we continue blaming the victims, or do we stand up beside them, learn from there mistakes, and put an end to these senseless tragedies?
Even I being a victims daughter have many lingering questions, such as follows, “How is it that some see the truth, and others do not?” ” What leads these victim to believe the unbelievable?” “ Are some more vulnerable to these sort of money making scams than others When all is said and done, perhaps they will be tagged, not as the Prosperity Gospel, but the false gospel. One Quote from Copelands mouth should erases any doubts of KCM innocence,
“It’s not yours, it’s God’s and you’re not going to get it and that’s something I’ll go to prison over. So, just get over it!”
The family of Bonnie Parker
E-MAIL sis359@gmail.com
Photo, before and after KCM,
http://picasaweb.google.com/sis359/BonnieParkerDiaryPhoto
Documentary Suffer The Children, exposes televangelists lavish lifestyles ,
http://www.wittenburgdoor.com/suffer-children
Book recently published by Sara Posner, also looks into these subjects,
http://www.amazon.com/Gods-Profits-Republican-Crusade-Values/dp/0979482216
Kristy, Wisner LA
Added: Sunday, January 20, 2008, 22:59 (GMT)
Senator Grassley must also investigate examine the origin, history and hypocrisy of Christianity Today and Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability which was founded by Evangelist Billy Graham who himself is a thief (http://cnt10.tripod.com/graham.htm) and Charisma which supported and supports thieves such Benny Hinn, Pastor Karl Strader, Rodney Howard Browne, Richard Roberts, Bishop Randy White, Paul Crouch, and others in the Neo-Pentecostal movement.
All these groups have refused to expose wolves in sheep’s clothing when asked to do so – See “Not Innocent” http://crooksaog.tripod.com/
The flagship magazine of the movement, Christianity Today, editorialized this month that the Grassley probe amounted to "oversight overstep" that risked delving improperly into theology…. This is not the first financial scandal in the church. The silver lining to past embarrassments is the greater transparency they launched in the evangelical movement. In response to some nonprofit scandals in the late 1970s, George Wilson (Billy Graham's business manager) and Sen. Mark Hatfield took the lead in creating the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability, a "Christian Better Business Bureau." One concern was donor confidence, but another was fear of government intervention. Some similar reforms came out of the televangelist scandals of the 1980s. (THIS REMARK IS A JOKE SEE http://cnt10d.tripod.com/ecfa.htm)
YES CHRISTIANITY TODAY, ECFA, AND CHARISMA HAVE NO INTEGRITY AND DON’T TELL THE WHOLE TRUTH AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH BUT HAVE HIDDEN AGENDAS INCLUDING THE LOVE OF MONEY WHICH IS THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL!
But don’t take my word on the matter do you own homework including checking out the following truthful websites:
The Thieving CEO Billy Graham http://cnt10.tripod.com/graham.htm
“The Fleecer” Rodney Howard Browne http://cnt10d.tripod.com/rodney.htm
“The felon” Jim Bakker http://cnt10d.tripod.com/bakker.htm
“The Charlatan” Karl Strader http://cnt10d.tripod.com/strader.htm
Integrity of Pastor John Arnott? http://apostasytoday.tripod.com/arnott.htm
ORAL ROBERTS IS A FALSE PROPHET http://torontoblessing.tripod.com/or.htm
walter kambulow, Canada
