A group of Pentecostal ministers and churches have thrown their backing behind televangelist Kenneth Copeland and his refusal to cooperate with a Senate probe into his ministry's spending.
Assemblies of God International Fellowship released a statement in their latest newsletter saying the current investigation, led by Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), into the financial records of six prominent ministries "seems to be crossing a legal boundary."
"Politicians enact laws to separate Church and State which many think to be unconstitutional and then try to intrude into Church affairs while denying the Church discussion of State (political) affairs. This sounds like a one way street in favor of the State," the group said.
Grassley launched an investigation last November, requesting financial records and answers to questions regarding organizational and personal finances from ministries led by Joyce Meyer, Kenneth Copeland, Paula and Randy White, Creflo Dollar, Eddie Long and Benny Hinn. Each has millions of followers and collects tens of millions of dollars in donations a year.
The senate probe was prompted by media reports and ministry watchdogs that alleged opulent spending and possible abuse of their nonprofit status.
Copeland submitted limited responses to the Grassley office and recently launched a Web site, www.BelieversStandUnited.com, questioning and protesting the senator's investigation.
The televangelist, who has said his ministry fully complies with all laws, believes the inquiry is a violation of religious freedom, an invasion of privacy and a threat to the separation of Church and State. He also raised suspicion over Grassley’s targeting of only Pentecostal churches that preach the “prosperity gospel” – a teaching that God wants his followers to be rich both spiritually and materially.
A Grassley spokeswoman told The Christian Post that it's unusual for a tax-exempt group to take such action against an investigation. She noted that Grassley has looked at tax-exempt policy issues involving a variety of entities, including the Red Cross, the Nature Conservancy, the Smithsonian, non-profit hospitals and universities.
But some, including Assemblies of God International Fellowship, are backing Copeland and his questioning.
The fellowship believes that the IRS, created by the State, should be conducting an investigation, not the Senate.
"It seems that Rev. Copeland is right in ignoring the Senate’s investigation of Church affairs but pledging to fully cooperate with any investigation by the IRS," the group stated.
In response, the Grassley spokeswoman stated, "Senator Grassley points out that the legislative branch writes the laws, and the executive branch enforces the laws. His responsibility as a leader (chairman and now ranking member) of the Senate committee with exclusive jurisdiction over tax policy is to evaluate the effectiveness of that policy.
"He looks at whether the law is weak in certain areas and allows people to exploit, say, tax-exempt groups for personal gain," she continued. "He leaves the enforcement of existing tax law to the IRS, the executive branch agency with that responsibility."
As of Friday, Joyce Meyer and Benny Hinn are the only two ministries that have submitted full responses for the Senate probe. Randy and Paula White have submitted partial responses, Eddie Long and Copeland have submitted "very limited responses," according to the spokeswoman, and Creflo Dollar has submitted no requested information.
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to daniel paul - that is so typicl. when somebody disagrees, rebukes, correct or expose the sins of the status quo, the only way to quell that rebuke is to call names like liberals, leftist or unpatriotic.
christ was called illegitimate, lawbreaker, etc etc when he rebuked & called the pharisees hypocrites.
It seems to be quite like chess with some liberals. You have to look at where they could be going with this....
hawk49, I concur there is a lot more at stake here than just these ministry leaders.
JHS,
You should review the basic tenets of intelligent discourse. When you preface your comments (as you did earlier) with a statement using "Right Winger" as a pejorative, you are using the argument ad hominem.
A discerning reader will conclude that your use of that instrument is indicative of the lack of a cogent argument, and will thus tend to view anything else you write with a jaundiced eye.
believer,
The more I probe this issue the more enlightening it gets. Some of the flammatory allegations posted on this site came from stuff like this: http://blastfurnacecanada.blogspot.com/2008/04/ken-copeland-continues-shuffle.html.
But as I searched further tonight I came across this site that I believe explains everything we really need to know.
http://www.believersstandunited.com/index.html.
I am not a follower of any of these 6 Pentacostal/Word of Faith ministries but as a disciple of Jesus Christ and concerned about state encroachment upon the church I am in full support of Ken Copeland's efforts to force the Senate to fully abide by the Constitution. It appears he is cooperating to the maximum extent within his legal rights and allowing the IRS to perform the necessary audit to answer Grassley's other questions within the confines of the Constitution and forcing the Senate to keep private information private.
God Bless
Hawk
hawk49, I was responding to telles post with regards to some who are opposed to the ministries of some of those in question not the probe itself and the fact that the only way I could see the ministry practices being called into question by an IRS audit, I should have been more clear on that or maybe I am wrong in my assumption.
My error. It appears these ministries are not required to file the annual Form 990 per the letter Grassley sent out http://finance.senate.gov/press/Gpress/2007/prg110607f.pdf and corrobarated by the GuideStar.org search of Eagle Mountain International Church: This organization is a 501(c)(3) Public Charity.
This organization is not required to file an annual return with the IRS because it is a church.
Contributions are deductible, as provided by law.
From a Christian worldview perspective this is an issue the body of the Church needs to clean up (if necessary) and not encourage the intrusion of Government oversight and control; not just to these 6 ministies but to the whole assembly of churches. I believe this to be very dangerous precedent of the sovereignty between church and state.
believer,
Telles is correct. There is a very strict 501c(3) process for registering with the govt and making an annual report on income (IRS forms 990, etc) that clearly shows where all the money comes from and where it goes, including salaries to the top officials. Focus on the Family went through a year long IRS audit in 2006 http://www2.focusonthefamily.com/docstudy/newsletters/a000000953.cfm along with several other conservative Christian ministries based on empty allegations from liberal detractors. The IRS audits are thorough and by the book.
I do believe that most if not all the info Grassley and company are looking for is available from the Form 990s that these various ministries have filed.
A section from Grassley's press release reads, "The inquiry is part of Grassleyâs long-standing interest in making
sure tax-exempt organizations are accountable to donors... I donât want to conclude that thereâs a problem, but I have an obligation to donors and the taxpayers to find out more. People who donated should have their money spent as intended and in adherence with the tax code.â
The teachings and beliefs are not part of the investigation nor should be per the 1st amendment. In addition, tradition from the western world has accepted the church as the property and domain of God and not taxable and controlled by the secular government (Mat 22:21); the concept of the 1st amendment and separation of church and state is in jeopardy, I believe, if the government is to become more of a nanny and start controlling the internal workings of the church. It is up to the congregation to determine if their contributions are handled appropriately.
telles, the only possibility I could see that would disagree with your take is if any of the teachings or practices espoused by any of these individuals and especially any teachings or practices related to money contributed to the reason why they should come under the scrutiny of the IRS or any other government agency.
There seem to be a lot of opinions being offered that are based on biases rather than on facts. Some of the comments below are close to being slanderous and I am surprised this web site allows them.
I am confident that a legal investigation into the finances of Kenneth Copeland Ministries will uncover none of the underhanded activity being asserted by some of your bloggers.
Also, I think the reputation of the IRS as a thorough investigative branch speaks for itself. To assert that they will not get ALL of the details they need for an investigation is ludicrous.
JHS
Your assertion about what the IRS can or can't do can wait until we get past your allegation of party affiliation.
Where is the evidence for your claim that these 6 are part of the vast right wing conspiracy?
Hukabee has been out of contention for a few months so where is the current connection with Copeland? You ignored Hinn, Meyer, the Whites, Long and Creflo as part of your allegation. Where is the documentation that supports your claim that these 6 ministries are knee deep in Repub politics?
Then we can compare the current process from a Christian worldview perspective and a humanist worldview perspective.
reply to hawk;
Congress motivation is the abuse of the tax exempt status, I have talked to Grassleys office several times. They have had numerous complaints about what has been going on in these ministries. The IRS only knows what the ministries give them. The reason why Copeland is fighting this is because if they can prove through this ivestigation what they already know, he's toast and he knows it. Copeland has become a multimillionaire though his ministry by diverting money to his for profit business interest. Now they are trying to find the paper trail and he's fighting it.
Assemblies of God International Fellowship is not the assemblies of god in Springfield, MO it is small independent denomination according to their website "Our distinct and united testimony as a recognizable fellowship dates back to a regional gathering of Full Gospel ministers held in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1922. that meeting resulted in a unanimous desire and decision to be recognized as a fellowship of independent churches. Co-existent with our group were the Scandinavian Independent Assemblies, an incorporated unit. Their cooperative effort dated back to the early outpourings of the Holy Spirit particularly in the Mid-western part of the U.S." the author is deceptive in implying that ag is supporting the televangelists
Telles,
Thank you for that information. I am not a constitutionalist, but I do wonder if Grassley may not be treading on the first amendment by impeding the freedom of religion. Normally, a request is made to the IRS to audit these ministries for any improprieties such as recently occurred to ministries such as Focus on the Family, etc upon complaints by Barry Lynn.
It is my observation that a Congressional review of this nature could very well lead to additional control and regulation. Assemblies of God International Fellowship make a very valid case in their support of protecting these 6 ministries.
JHS
Before we can really continue with your contentions we must first establish the basis of your allegation about party affiliation and support. Where is the evidence for your claim that these 6 are part of the vast right wing conspiracy?
Hukabee has been out of contention for a few months so where is the current connection with Copeland? You ignored Hinn, Meyer, the Whites, Long and Creflo as part of your allegation. Where is the documentation that supports your claim that these 6 are knee deep in Repub politics?
It's OK to admit that you may have been wrong linking these 6 to party politics. At least that will allow us to then determine what other motives Congress may have in opening this can of worms.