DENVER - The Democratic chairman of the Senate Finance Committee has thrown his support behind an investigation of allegations of lavish spending and lax oversight at a half-dozen "prosperity gospel" Christian ministries.
Sen. Max Baucus of Montana joined with Iowa Republican Sen. Charles Grassley in urging cooperation from four ministries. According to a statement from Grassley's office Wednesday, the four ministries have not responded to questions he posed in early November.
Follow-up letters the two senators have sent to the three ministries that have refused to answer Grassley's questions give a March 31 deadline for turning over the requested information. A fourth ministry has indicated it will cooperate.
Having Baucus on board is crucial for any potential bid to seek subpoenas forcing answers from uncooperative ministries. Grassley critics, including Creflo Dollar, one of the ministers not cooperating, have portrayed the senator as a renegade who has no real power because his party is in the minority.
The follow-up letters do not mention subpoenas specifically, but express hope that the requested information can be obtained "without resorting to compulsory process."
Some ministries have said Grassley's inquiries about private planes, oceanside mansions, board oversight and involvement in for-profit businesses should be handled by the Internal Revenue Service, but the latest letters cite the Finance Committee's jurisdiction measuring the effectiveness of tax-exempt policy, saying that role is distinct from the IRS job of enforcing existing law.
"This ought to clear up any misunderstanding about our interest and the committee's role," Grassley said. "We have an obligation to oversee how the tax laws are working for both tax-exempt organizations and taxpayers."
All the targeted ministries say they follow IRS rules governing churches.
So far only one ministry, led by St. Louis-area author and speaker Joyce Meyer, has "cooperated substantially" and turned over information, Grassley's office said.
Another, headed by Texas-based faith healer Benny Hinn, has indicated cooperation but so far has answered just five of 28 questions, Grassley's office said. Neither Meyer nor Hinn were among those receiving the follow-up letters.
The follow-up letters were sent to Dollar and Bishop Eddie Long, both of the Atlanta area, and Kenneth Copeland whose ministry is based at Newark, Texas.
All three have pledged to fight what they portray as an attack on their religious freedom. Some have expressed worry that private information, including salaries and the donors' identities, would be made public.
The letters from Baucus and Grassley say the committee is willing to work with them to protect confidential information.
A fourth letter went to Paula and Randy White of Tampa, who recently divorced and have said little publicly. Grassley's office said representatives of the Whites have indicated they will cooperate and their letter does not set a deadline for a response.
While Grassley has emphasized he is not interested in theology, Copeland and Dollar in particular have questioned whether he is targeting the ministries' shared prosperity theology. That teaching says that God wants people to flourish financially and spiritually.
The investigation has divided the broader evangelical community, with some worrying about the potential for stricter regulations on all religious nonprofits. Others praise it as an overdue check on a corner of the movement that preys on the vulnerable and thrives despite years of negative publicity.
Copyright 2008 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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"For you are becoming progressively acquainted with and recognizing more strongly and clearly the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ (His kindness, His gracious generosity, His undeserved favor and spiritual blessing), [in] that though He was [so very] rich, yet for your sakes He became [so very] poor, in order that by His poverty you might become enriched (abundantly supplied" 2 Corinthians 8:9.
But as a Christian I understand what that verse means as many of my fellow brothers and sisters. But how can we expect the Senator who probably has no idea what that means to understand why Christians are driving Rolls Royces.
ALSO-as a citizen who pays over 400's$ in taxes 26 times a year are we allowed to request the Senator's spending habits? After all I pay his way and his house and his expensive car (I am pretty sure he isn't driving a Hyundai) ha-ha!
Originally the US government made a law that said there should be a seperation of church and state. The reason they made this law wasn't so that the church stays out of the government's affairs. They made the law so that the government wouldn't interfere with God's church's affairs.
I also must add that if these Pastor's are doing something on the contrary to what the Word of God says they will beheld accountable in front of the judgement throne of Christ. So what's the worry? What's the defense? They should save the defense when God asks for the books.... uh-oh!
This is what the Bible says:
Ecclesiastes 7:12
"For wisdom is a defense even as money is a defense, but the excellency of knowledge is that wisdom shields and preserves the life of him who has it. "
ShirleyG from NYC
now that the democrats are backing the probe regarding the greed of tele evangelist, wil the democrats be labeled as leftist or other names bec. they are exposing the SINS of these hypocrites. NO MORE TAX EXEMPTION FOR THESE PHONY, GREEDY, LOVERS OF MONEY! one verse that they do not practice is 'SELF-DENIAL'!!!
canadianchristian
Very well said.
I wouldn't change a word.
Thanks.
We as a body of believer's must not stand idly by while the word of GOD is corrupted-it is the heart we must not judge, only CHRIST can judge a person's heart. I have a problem when fellow christians will not rebuke and correct with love, turning a blind eye to sin should not happen.We are commanded by scripture to correct and judge the words of other believers for accuracy and truthfullness- like the bereans did to Paul. Weigh everything according to scripture only and you can't go wrong in your walk with the LORD!!!
Those who preach the message of God; who took the form of a human being as Jesus
Christ who was born in a manger must have his humility and compassion, or they are going to
be judged by the world. I don't have any right to judge any minister of the gospel, but I was
greatly distressed by the way they have deviated from presenting the simple gospel of
Jesus Christ to a sin-sick world, but took the pulpit to preach another gospel of "prosperity"
and got rich. God wants His children to be blessed in every way, but preaching the gospel
of prosperity was simply putting the cart in front of the horse.
I pray that the truth comes to light...not to the eyes of all those who wish their downfall...it's never good to see anyone naming the name of Jesus take a publicity bath in condemnation.....