Presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee is standing by televangelist Kenneth Copeland as the U.S. Senate investigates the ministry’s potential financial misconduct.
Copeland has given his support to Huckabee and appears in ads with the Republican candidate in the religious magazine Charisma to promote the ministry’s upcoming TV special.
Despite the potential negative effect, former Baptist preacher Huckabee has expressed his trust in the Copelands and will appear on the ministry’s TV show next week.
“Kenneth and Gloria Copeland are about the most gracious, authentic, and humble people I know and I consider them dear friends,” Huckabee wrote to Time magazine. “They have brought hope to millions and have operated with the utmost integrity as far as I know.
“I have found them to be as warm and genuine in their private moments as they are in their public moments,” he said.
The Copelands are part of a faction of Charismatic Christianity which preaches what critics call the “prosperity Gospel” – a highly criticized theology which teaches that wealth is a sign of God’s blessing.
Copeland Ministries has expressed in a statement online that it is leaning towards not complying with the request for financial records from Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) of the Senate Finance Committee.
John Copeland – son of Kenneth and Gloria Copeland, and CEO of Kenneth Copeland Ministries – said the ministry “has been, and always will be, a ministry of integrity.”
“As a church organization, we are required only to share our information with the Internal Revenue Service,” Copeland said regarding the Senate probe, according to the Texas-based Star-Telegraph newspaper. “We operate our church in full compliance with IRS guidelines.”
“We are very diligent in protecting the privacy of our Partners and Friends. We will not participate in a public spectacle. We operate our ministry with privacy – not secrecy.”
The Copelands received the longest questionnaire about their finances, according to Time.
Grassley has asked six televangelists to submit information about their finances by Dec. 6.
“Jesus came into the city of Jerusalem on a donkey,” Grassley, a Christian, told the Los Angeles Times. “Do these ministers really need Bentleys and Rolls-Royces to spread the Gospel?”
The multimillion-dollar ministry heads, dubbed the “Grassley Six,” are Kenneth and Gloria Copeland, Binny Hinn, Creflo and Taffi Dollar, Bishop Eddie Long, Joyce and David Meyer, and Randy and Paula White.
Long and Dollar have said they will provide financial records requested.
Copeland will have Huckabee as a guest for five consecutive days on his internationally aired television show Believer’s Voice of Victory beginning Monday.
Comments
I would like to take the time to thank all who have stood beside us during this trying time! We are all so very grateful. I have a link all can visit to view pages of mom’s diary, there is only a few now but I hope to post them all on this site. If you have any questions about these pages please let me know.
Thank you!
Kris
http://picasaweb.google.com/sis359
Also if you would like to share your story you can visit,
http://phillyflash.wordpress.com/2007/12/26/mrs-bonnie-parker/#comment-1742
Or
http://www.steves-space.info/televangelists-exposed-discussion-forums/index.php
The following is a great article referring to Prosperity Gospel
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hKP3-tVm-viy8t0ccGbs6IP_zfUAD8TQ080O0
Grassley is also Freemason ACCORDING TO THIS WEBSITE http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuck_Grassley Acts 4:10-12 states, "Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." This Scripture passage alone eliminates 99% of this world's religions. There is "NONE OTHER NAME UNDER HEAVEN GIVEN AMONG MEN, WHEREBY WE MUST BE SAVED." Salvation is found ONLY in the name of JESUS. Jesus stated in John 14:6 in no uncertain terms, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." Freemasons deny Jesus' claim as sole Savior of the human race. Therefore, Freemasonry is diametrically opposed to the Word of God.
The thing that I really don't understand is this vitriol for the Copelands. I personally believe in speaking in the spirit, but I don't hate the Baptists for not. I don't hate the Catholics because they don't submerge during baptism.
We rush to judgement screaming GREED! But the screamers don't know these people. How are we to judge without knowing all the facts? How are they going to let every nutjob look at their finances? There are some kooks out there. Why can't a get out of my nice car and help the poor? Why are there poor people in America, the land of opportunity? Why are we throwing KCM to the wolves because he said at the cross vs while his body was in the tomb and he was in hell. (If you knew anything about him, that is what he teaches) Why are we conviced that since we can see his house from sattilites that it is too big, Guess what you can see my 2000 lb honda civic on google earth. There is always going to be differences of opinions and interpretation of the Bible. There is always going to be different parts of the body that are good at different things.
As someone who has watched this KCM for years, I'd say there are flaws in the priorities of the message that they put forth as a whole. But they do have some very valid points. I went to EMIC (the church on KCM's property) for several years. They give away ALOT of money. Every time a police officer or fireman died. They WITHOUT fanfare, donated a LARGE amount of money to these families in the DFW area. I'm talking over 50,000 dollars. No strings attached, They'd ask to pray, with the family, use it to open a door, if they said no, they left the check and left. I went to a school where every day people were trashing that ministry. But "someone" always paid for most of the missions trips that these same students went on. Without advertisement and fanfare. When the chuch the school was in had financial trouble, guess who came in and took over financial responsibility for the school's shortfalls. That ministry literally gives away MILLIONS of dollars each year, to different ministries, church, widows of slain law enforcement officers. So before you "cast the first stone" at Kenneth Copeland and his General Motors SUV. Look at yourself, at your church, how much income do you give. And thank God, that he has blessed one of your BROTHERS IN CHRIST. So that he can be a blessing, and live in comfort, and enjoy what God has given him.
The one person on this planet who should have prospered but did not is Jesus Christ. If we were to all prosper and live like the world lives with riches, cars, mansions, etc then what distinguishes us?
Jesus taught how the true meaning of life is not about you, it is about Him and helping others. That is what life is about. Do some prosper? Yes, of course, but He was not referring to monetary gains, it was spiritually blessed. The Apostles had enough at times to get by, and other times they had nothing. When Christ said to take nothing but their clothes, sandals and sword... what did that mean? Were they expecting to get something? No, they were provided with what they needed.
I am sorry, but the body of Christ is sick, disturbed and malnourished.
I can not believe there are fellow christians out there who do not believe in God's Word for prosperity. I am not rich by any means, but I am here to tell you ALL, that God does want the best for us whether it be a white donkey or rolls royce. Sen Grassley if this all you have to do with your time is to TRY and make these great men and women of God to stumble boy I am glad I am not you when you have to answer to God as to why you did this to them. This is a sad society we live in when if all people can do is condemn others because they have something the other doesn't. I can't wait for the day that I can have all these men and women do because that just means they are doing it right. Becuase they have this money just means they are a bigger blessing to those who are in need. You christians who say that prosperity is not for you and will pray that you get the revelation soon. I am glad that sit under pastors who believe the prosperity gospel as you say. And I will pray for you Sen Grassley that you get a revelation also. The God I serve wants me to prosper and I am willing and ready.
My response disappeared so here it is again.
If they "misappropriated" funds, then it is the responsibility of the IRS the arm of the EXECUTIVE branch of the government to investigate. And, based on all available information, the IRS has determined that each of these groups HAS complied tax exempt status regulations. These hearings are from the LEGISLATIVE branch of the governement, which is not charged with enforcing the law. In fact, the reason for that is that the IRS looks at ALL tax exempt orgranizations not just a few based on their religious viewpoint.
Again, look at it this way. Your post shows a rather loose interpretion of Scripture. In one post you make an allegation (bear false witness) that has not even been suggested. You indicate this is "stealing"--something not even being charged. Then you somehow are able to determine that this is a result of "greed" and not, say, legitimately held belief or even error. Then, having made this determination, instead of approaching these brothers and sisters in LOVE, as instructed by Paul, you post about them in a public forum. All of which is fine, but which is behavior that some, like me, would suspect is a result of faulty theological understanding. Now, based on this, I should email Senator Grassley and ask him to investigate you and your church and your religious community--after all, quite obviously, you are being duped and your leaders are stealing from you. Obviously, since I don't like YOUR theological view point, and I think you have fundamentally failed to live up to my spiritual ideals, then you or your leaders are "stealing" and "misappropriating funds". Whether you actually go out (like these ministries) and feed the poor, clothed the naked, give medical care to the sick is ilrelevant.
And that this a view point persecution is shown by the fact only "prosperity" ministers are targeted....and not ashram leaders who live off their followers, or the Catholic church (which uses funds donated to feed the poor to pay off sex abuse victims). "Misappropriation" allegations that target a specifc view point group are wrong.
I don't know much about these particular pastors/ministries' finances, but one thing does puzzle me: Why is the senator only picking out a few to investigate? Just in my local metro area, there are a number of churches that are mega-churches and would surely "qualify". I do know that one of the churches which has been named is in my area.
I do have a hard time with the "prosperity gospel" because I believe the Word of God which says that the LOVE of money is the root of all evil. Note, I'm not saying that all Christians must be poor, but I do believe that the Lord is to be our first love, and that we should live unselfishly.
I remember Billy Graham saying once that Harlem was a rich area compared to cardboard "houses" on the streets of India. To me, the bottom line is, God help America, help us wake up to reality. I fear we are much like the church at Laodicea who thought they were wealthy when they were in fact poor in the eyes of God.
From reading these posts it just comes to me that a responsible minister of the Gospel must not parade a lavish lifestyle if they are reaching out to the poor. The two just don't mix. It doesn't mean these ministers must look poor, but just don't cause others to feel envious, sad or even angry...we have to be careful about the image we present to the public. It must be modest and godly.
Every saturday I and a handful of volunteers feed the homeless in a downtrodden park. We minister to them and yes we give then money every now and then. And yes I even give the shirt off my back. But when these people come out of their shelters to just see us and not the food then you got to say the blessing is not about the money.
The church I attend has thousands of people and we seriously crank out some great ministries and there is money in the coffers for sure, BUT our pastors are not driving in Mercedes and living in extravagant houses. It would seem to me if God blessed your ministry with money and you started out giving that money to those who really need it then perhaps that is what one should be doing MORE OF with that increased blessing.
I believe God gives you more depending upon if you are able to responsibly handle what you have already been given. If God gave me a lamborgini for a mercedes then I would guess that God wants me to get 10 Honda civics to give away then for me to drive to my local star bucks waiting for God to give me a gold plated lamborgini.
pastorpablito - you are correct and I apologize if my post would lump all the pastor who are financially doing well in the same boat as I am not. But when you see a church make a statement that their finances are private and only for the IRS to see then something does not smell right...
anniefourjesus - You are absolutely right. We all do fall short. When I go serve on Saturdays, I see so much injustice and it breaks my heart to see SOME who claim Jesus is Lord to be blind to all the social injustice that I see. So forgive me as it is hard for me to see pastors driving BMW's and mercedes when I see children picking trash out of the dumpster a second someone tosses in a half eating sandwich or grandmothers crying because someone tells them to sleep with them or they will be kicked out for not having enough money to pay rent...
This is not to endorse “Prosperity Gospel” preaching, I am against that. We need to preach the Blessor, not the blessing. The blessing is a by-product of submitting to the Blessor. The bible tells us to “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness”, not His blessings. In doing so, He will provide for our needs.
In defense of money in ministry, how many people were around when some of these people started their ministries 20, 30, 40 and maybe even 50 years ago? How many years did many of them not have two nickels to rub together? We shouldn’t be too quick to be too critical of ministers making money. Some ministers who are successful today gave abundantly out of their poverty over many years.
Remember, I’m not defending prosperity gospel, but we moved real quick from that discussion to “Why do these people need to live lavish lifestyles”. Maybe they can’t out give God? Maybe they gave away their Volkswagen years ago and God blessed them with a Toyota. After giving that away, God blessed them with a BMW and after giving that away, a Mercedes and then a Bentley. What happens if they give their Bentley away? God may just bless them with a Lamborghini. Where would it stop?
Let’s take Joyce Meyer, a quick cursory exam tells me that last year (2006):
They had 91 feeding stations in 21 nations.
They fed more than 28,000 people per day (11.5 million for the year).
They fully fund and operate 41 orphanages with over 1000 children.
$1.7 million went to US disaster relief with 450 homes repaired or rebuilt.
3 new villages were built (500 homes) for Tsunami victims.
Distributed hygiene gift bags and books to 174,000 prisoners.
22,000 prisoners accepted Christ.
Reached 18,000 homeless and supplied 180,000 meals to homeless.
Visited over 20,000 elderly in nursing homes and retirement homes.
Supplied medical care for over 3,000 people per month in India.
Installed 300 home water filters in South America.
Reached more than 1.2 million people in a 4 day crusade in India with over 400,000 decisions.
Over 380,000 people ministered to in US conferences.
Not to mention the millions reached on TV.
WHAT DID YOU DO LAST YEAR????
I hear her preaching about things that help people, not a prosperity Gospel. Is her theology 100% correct? NO, neither is mine nor anyone else’s for that matter! We do the best we can and try to help people and show them love.
Some of these others are a different story. But let’s not lump every successful minister into one group and burn them at the stake.
"They will know we are Christians by our love for one another" Stop! helping the world beat up our brothers and sisters! None of us gets the Gospel 100% right! We all fall short of the Glory of God! Who is the accuser of our brethren, just think about that for one minute!
God calls for unity among brothers! I know that these brethren call upon the Name of JESUS CHRIST, no one can say JESUS is LORD unless The Holy Spirit is with them!!
God DOES bless His children and HE rewards those who earnestly seek HIM! Who are any of us to say HOW GOD can bless anyone of His children!
It is not a sin to share that GOD propers those who obey Him; prosperity is NOT a sin, UNBELIEF is sin. I used to have a very narrow mind when it came to blessings, and thank the LORD HE changed my view of things.
I have learned from PERSONAL experience; that GOD does bless us when we walk in obedience to Him and how that blessing takes shape is sometimes monetarily, sometimes He blesses us with a trial to teach us how to TRUST HIM as HE is our Jehovah-Jireh.
Envy is a sin, some people get envious of how God blesses someone. I want to know how anyone on this site knows the hearts of these people. Many many people including myself have been assisted by JOYCE MEYERS MINISTRY!!!
Check yourselves brothers and sisters of Christ, JESUS Christ is THE KING of Heaven and we are HIS children, HE chooses to whom much will be given, and much will be required.
Are you using what GOD has blessed you to have, time, talents and treasures for HIS Glory. Do you make an account of what you earn and do you tithe, give offerings, do you give to those who have no food, do you take in those who have no shelter, do you visit those in prisons and share the love of God with them, and do you clothe those who have no clothing.
Many of these Ministries are "doing unto the least of these, my brethren" are you???
People give to GOD and ministers, and ministries that look to Jesus, will have to answer to GOD for how they use those resources.
Honesty - you are right. It was not my intention to play any type of blame game as I believe we all hold ourselves accountable. If someone wants to give to these organizations then it is between themselves and God. But I am accountable to God for not telling people in a constructive manner things that do not line up with the character of Christ. I love the people expounding the prosperity gospel but I do not love the message. Love the sinner but hate the sin.
Nerodham, you put this very well and I am in complete agreement. If I may add to my previous comments, the prosperity gospel has been full of error. But the blame game is not right either (didn't Christ warn us not to judge lest we be judged?). I know that many of these ministries have given very generously to the poor. Why don't we pray for God to wake any up that have fallen into error so they can be restored? I have found that my own opinions are nowhere as authentic as how God sees it. We need his mind and heart of love.
It is not the fact they ask money and people send them money. It is the fact that they do not practice what they preach. They preach that somehow material wealth is a meter of God's blessing. So then why are they taking other's people's blessing and using it for themselves? Why are they not giving of their own PERSONAL wealth till it hurts like they are asking others to do?
This is not an attack by the government and taking away of liberties. Please... I get enough of that type of rhetoric from the ACLU. This is where an internal community like the church is not doing the job it is supposed to be doing like being open with their finances. So it unfortunately takes an entity like the government to reveal that to us. The church I belong to allows ANYONE to see the amount they get and where it is going. Not some corporate statement like we only allow the IRS to see our finance since it is private. For an organization like a church, finances that are private means secret. PERIOD.
If I am a pastor at a church and I get 50% of the finances coming into a church then I should be open and not feel bad about it. After all that is what the prosperity gospel preaches. In fact I should be getting more ("blessings").
Finally, these prosperity gospel expounders are the same as the Jimmy and Tammy Faye Bakers of the 80's. They are the same as the Oral Roberts closing themselves in a tower saying God is going to take them home unless people give them such and such money. PLEASE, God doesn't need their money. God wants their hearts and right now money is their god. BTW, the president of Oral Roberts University resigned. Yup the son to Oral Roberts. And for what? Taking university money is the allegation. Guess who is on the board for ORU? Yup Hinns (pun intended) of a feather flock together... :)