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.
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.
What Copeland has done has ''stored'' all the gifts, and not reimbursed his followers with a tax form....hence as report indicated.
Correct me if I am wrong.
"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you,because of me. Rejoice and be glad because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you" -- Jesus -- Matthew 5:11,12
If you want to see persecution, then go visit the secret home churches in China, Indonesia, or North Korea. Or better yet, read the book entitled: "The Heavenly Man."
The Church needs to get out of its pathetic self-centered state, and learn what real Christianity and faith in Jesus Christ is all about.
These people better be very careful messing with the servants of God.
Duhuhuhuhuh!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What the ministries are doing is legal and correct. They are saying we have no problem giving you the info. Just do it correctly and within the law. Believe it or not Congress and the Senate have to obey the law too. It''s just sometimes they don''t seem to know what they are doing.
If I am correct the Tax man a Creflo Dollar ministries is the former IRS head man over such ministries. He is the one that has said do it right. Think about it.
Would your bussiness get checked by the IRS or Congress? IRS first then if need be (really need be) in Washington. Do it right!!!!
Go figure.
KCM ministers have called my home during storms, hurricanes, 911 and other disasters just to pray with me as their partner. Again, not asking for a donation!!!
There are times when I have called or written to them with a prayer request and they sent me, free of charge, gifts, tapes, cd''s for my benefit. Any money I have given has been a freewill offering and yes, I have received 30, 60 and 100 fold return over and over again. They also financially support many other ministries. If they benefit from preaching a prosperity message, MORE POWER TO THEM.
KCM has ''offering day''. They ask the TV audience to pray and ask the Lord what to give to them. They emphasize that tithes are to go to our local church and only give KCM what God says. KCM has NEVER said they need my money to stay on TV. I used their teachings and the results are people set free from debt, sickness, hopelessness, depression, despair and even divorce. I''m sure that as KCM is being investigated if there is any indiscretion, it will be rooted out.
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.
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by tomanyt
February 1, 2008 3:37 PM PST
- jmg0...Did you actually read this article?
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