Televangelists: Who's Accountable?

Churches don't have to file tax returns with the IRS, nor are they required to share audited financial statements describing their tax exempt dealings. They don't have to publish the names of their board of directors or respond to reporter's questions. Now, five televangelist ministries under investigation by Republican Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, have decided they don't need to be accountable to the U.S. Senate either.

So who is accountable?

Kenneth Copeland Ministries told Senate investigators that the church is only required to answer to the IRS and indicated they would welcome an IRS audit.

Hundreds of ministries nationwide are voluntary members of Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA), which vets their financial information. So far, none of the ministries that Senator Grassley is investigating have signed up with ECFA.

Hundreds more sign up with Ministry Watch, a Christian organization that monitors the financial accountability of ministries and advises donors as to where to contribute. Ministry Watch tells CBS News it asked Kenneth Copeland Ministries for their financials 21 times, only to be told by one of Copeland's attorneys to stop asking.

"Our position is though, that if there is nothing illegal going on, why not disclose it?" asks Warren Smith of Ministry Watch in an interview with CBS News. "If there is nothing to hide, why are you hiding it?"

Representatives from Kenneth Copeland Ministries say all of their financial dealings are "squeaky clean."

But as Grassley's inquiry applies pressure nationwide, there are signs that financial transparency may be on its way to some of these mega-ministries. For example, one of the ministries under investigation has complied with Grassley's questions: Joyce Meyer Ministries of Missouri. Read the response here>.

And recently, the board of directors at Oral Roberts University, the epicenter of televangelism, was eliminated. Out with the televangelists and in with a new board dominated by former students and academicians. Gone is Kenneth Copeland and his son-in-law, the former chairman of the ORU board. The university also announced … it will soon become a member of ECFA.

[tomanyt]

jmg0...Did you actually read this article?

[sanfelz]

No contributions to religious organizations should be shielded from tax laws and personal cotributions to religious contributions should not be tax deductible, with the exception of medical facilities and hospices. The IRS should not decide which group is an actual religion and which is a phony religion. Everyone is entitled to their myths but taxpayers should not be obligated to support those beliefs.

[cstone13]

And I feel sorry for them. For on that day that they finally figure it out that they have been swindled and taken for a ride, they may lose their faith in God and all things Christian. And guys like these make my job a thousand time harder. When I try to talk to family, friends, etc, about Christ and being a Christian, stuff like this often gets brought up. And instead of me sharing the message of what Christ has done for us, it ends up me trying to defend Christianity due to the bad publicity from crooks like these who give Christianity a bad name. Many, many, many that COULD have been saved from hell will end up going there. Because they heard too many stories like these and ended up mistrusting all things religious.

[cstone13]

But when your congregation is financing your extremely lavish lifestyle, that is stealing. It is stealing from the congregation who are offering their hard earned income and it is stealing from the good work that God could have used it for. If the private airport, the fleet of planes and jets and the monstrous house were all paid for from the sale of books that he personally wrote, that would be fine by me. But since he has had book sales no where even remotely close to being able to pay for that type of lifestyle, the congregation is obviously financing it. I personally despise Rod Parsly and what he does. I have often thought that he would fry in hell when he died for what he has done. Kenneth might be joining him. Billy Graham has NEVER had any type of scandal. I believe that from day one that he has tithed 50% of his income. Billy Graham is a man of God. Billy Graham is a true Christian and a man of honor. Kenneth Copeland and Rod Parsly are charlatons. And anyone who doesn''t open their eyes and ask the questions,"Why DON''T they open up their financial books for us and everyone to see? What are they trying to hide?", is a fool.

[cstone13]

I am a Christian. I tithe 10% of my gross annual income to the United Methodist church that I attend. Every January, my church sends out printed statements to every person who donated money to the church so that the members can use it when they file their taxes. Our church prints out a financial statement at least once per year. This statement is given out to all of the members so that they can see where their money is going. If Kenneth Copeland has nothing to hide (which he obviously does), then why doesn''t he do the same? What intelligent "thinking" person would actually believe that paying for a pastor to have a fleet of airplanes, jets and an 18,000 square foot house is the best possible use of their tithes/offerings? As opposed to giving those tens of millions of dollars to the poor, or to food banks, or to cancer research, or to supporting missionaries around the globe who are actually doing God''s work of spreading the gospel and making disciples of Christ. Rod Parsley is right here in central Ohio. He also has a fleet of jets that his congregation is paying for. Rod and Kenneth may be "saved". They may go to Heaven. But I am guessing that that when they die, they are going to have a very, very high price to pay. I have no problem in a person generating as much income as they can. As long as it is done in a moral, ethical and legal way.

[jmg0]

Highly disappointed in this one-sided and misleading "news report". I agree it seems that 3 or 4 former disgruntled employees out of the hundreds who work and have worked there are supposed to be considered reliable sources. Again, an insult to the intelligence of your viewers. And I agree that CBS should have to answer the question-- I wonder why you couldn''''t seem to find a single one of the millions of people who''''ve been helped by the Copeland ministry. Or why you failed to report on their many outreaches, such as aid to Hurricane Katrina victims or outreaches to local police offers'''' families and prisons. Who cares that this ministry has an airplane -- Did you look into what the Citation aircraft is actually used for?
Again, this poorly written story with an agenda that could not have been more obvious was completely missing the facts, which shows why this news station''''s ratings are steadily dropping and will continue to drop. One less viewer right here.

[jmg0]

This is one of the most biased unprofessional news stories - with an agenda that could not have been any more obvious - I have ever seen, with a completely ridiculous choice of pictures of Kenneth Copeland. When did CBS become a tabloid? The things the "source" said who was afraid to reveal their identity showed their complete ignorance of that ministry. So they are basing the story on interviews with former disgruntled employees? This is an insult to CBS'''' viewers'''' intelligence and interest. I do not appreciate this type of totally biased and substandard "news coverage", and will no longer be tuning into CBS news.

[jmg0]

I have been involved in this ministry for years, and they have made a very positive difference in my life. There is so much good that this ministry has done all over the world, but every news story CBS has done so far has shown an agenda and bias that could not be any more obvious. When did CBS become a tabloid? The things the "source" said who was afraid to reveal their identity showed their complete ignorance of that ministry. So they are basing the story on interviews with former disgruntled employees? This is an insult to CBS viewers'''' intelligence and interest. I do not appreciate this type of totally biased and substandard "news coverage", and will no longer be tuning into CBS news.

[historybee]

Kenneth Copeland has been preaching false doctrine for a long time. Claiming that he is a god and that we are all little gods. The bible says in Isaiah 43:10 %u201CYe are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.%u201D 2 Peter 2:1 %u201CBut there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.%u201D Kenneth Copeland is about to meet his swift destruction. God does not take kindly to perverting His word, Romans 12:19 %u201CDearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord."

[lsjmnj]

think we have to ask ourselves why we are ok with cocain snorting musicians, Hugh Hefner''s "girls next door" and sports stars to fly in private jets and have lavish homes but it''s not ok for a Minister of the Gospel? The local Church and worldwide ministries are our cities and nations best friend - they are the only organizations that are actually able to transform the lives of drug addicts, those living on welfare and criminals. Look at the statistics of those who don''t return to prisons and addictions - the large majority will tell you, it''s because of their relationship with Jesus Christ. But yet, we can''t handle it if a minister doesn''t beg for money, has a legal board that governs their affairs and is compensated as their board dictates. Kenneth and Gloria Copeland have won millions to Christ over their 20 years in Ministry and they have done it in integrity. Why does this bother news organizations? Why are we ok with having to paying hundreds and thousands of dollars to see a Miley Cyrus concert, but we aren''t ok with someone who preaches the good news of the gospel - the Bible for free? I think we should be asking ourselves questions like that, instead of thinking we''d be much more satisfied if all preachers and ministers lived impoverished lifestyles. Why does all the wealth of the Catholic Church not bother us?