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TechnoratiBehr, who has dubbed the probe "The Grassley Six," says the government has the right to be able to look into churches and their financial records and that they are all held to the same standard as other nonprofit groups.
None of the ministries under investigation are listed under the ECFA, which is comprised of more than 2,000 evangelical Christian organizations, including such major nonprofits as World Vision.
Other ministries targeted by the Senate investigation are led by Randy and Paula White of Florida, Benny Hinn, Kenneth and Gloria Copeland of Texas, and David and Joyce Meyer of Missouri.
Some argue that the ministers have built media empires, operating their ministries as corporations. Dollar's ministries, for example, include international TV broadcasts, Arrow Records, publishing, home-schooling program, entrepreneurship classes, fitness classes and SAT preparation classes among others. And his next book, 8 Steps to Create the Life You Want: The Anatomy of a Successful Life, is due out in January.
"They are taking market principles, setting themselves up as corporations, and yet they don't want to be taxed – they don't want to have accountability," said Fredrick Harris, a professor of political science at Columbia University, according to the LA Times. "They are blurring the line between profit and nonprofit."
Still, Behr doesn't think it's necessary to update current tax laws to require stricter rules and transparency on how donations to churches are spent.
"There are tremendous supporters for religious liberty in churches," he said. "You have to be very careful about the rules you place in particular organizations, especially churches."
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