"Control Freak" Televangelist

(CBS)  CBS News producer Laura Strickler wrote this story for CBSNews.com.

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As the Televangelist Kenneth Copeland continues to defy a Senate Finance investigation, internal ministry documents shed new light on how Copeland runs his $100 million church.
Church bylaws obtained exclusively by CBS News say Copeland is "empowered to veto any resolution of the Board" concentrating all key decision-making power in the televangelist.

The bylaws indicate the president of the board is Copeland but Copeland's family members also play a critical role. His wife is the vice president. The senior pastor, secretary and treasurer roles are filled by Copeland's son-in-law. The operations vice president and CEO slots are both filled by Kenneth Copeland's son, John. Other documents previously obtained by CBS indicate in addition to family members there are ten other members of the church's board.

"My first reaction was that Kenneth Copeland was a control freak," says William Josephson, the former head of New York State's Charities Bureau after reviewing the Kenneth Copeland Ministries bylaws.

"Because control is vested in him and his family to the exclusion of any alternative source of authority and it is very unusual," Josephson tells CBS News.

And the many donors to Copeland's ministry have no say in how the ministry functions. According to the bylaws the church "shall have no class of membership entitled to vote." Josephson says that with the exception of Catholic parishes, this is also unusual. "Most churches are congregational and the authority comes from the congregation. They are the ones who approve who becomes the pastor and who succeeds the pastorate."

Another ministry document filed with officials in Tarrant County, Texas, indicates the church spent $28 million on salaries in 2006. $13.3 million went to administrative staff. Former employees tell CBS News the Copelands have about 500 employees on staff at their sprawling Ft. Worth, Texas, compound. In a prior broadcast Copeland said his ministry takes in about $100 million a year in revenue, leaving the unanswered question of what the church does with the remaining cash flow.

Copeland has refused to provide Senate investigators with any of these financial details.

Kenneth Copeland Ministries CEO John Copeland recently went to the local IRS office to offer cooperation should the IRS conduct a church-tax inquiry. Copeland has said repeatedly that it is the responsibility of the IRS to police church-tax issues and not the business of Congress.
By Laura Strickler

[southpaw08]

This posting just shows how brain-dead,the Christians in the USA really are. Here you have a fraud taking your money, twisting the gospel so he can justify his ponzi scheme. When it comes to religion and which is really closest to God, I must say the people of Eastern Orthodox and Judaism, and the old Assyrian churches. I spent time in each of these areas, and yes while it does take money to run churches and the like, these American evangelicals are nothing but a bunch of false money grubbing prophets. Whats worse, as I mentioned before is the brain dead congregation. It is obvious when Americans follow an Apostate gospel they are truly in their end days. I think Gods wrath will befall America, not just for the Abortion and Gay rights, but for twisting the gospel for profit. Yes, America, the day of reckoning is coming, and you will fall hard.

[johnathanamb]

OK people, come on. OK so Kenneth runs the coop in his ministry. So he doesn''t run things like everyone else. Who cares! It is HIS ministry. He runs it.

His rights are being violated by someone who has no right to ask of these documents.

Think about it this way...

You have your own business. You are legal, you pay your employees and your bills. You pay your taxes. You get big and have a lot of finances due to being international.

Then some congressman, with a grudge because he doesn''t like you, your business or how you run your business, and he demands your financial documents... would you hand them over to someone without proper authority... of course not. Any business person in their right mind wouldn%u2019t given their financial information to anyone unless they are being audited or investigated by the IRS. In this case they ARE NOT being investigated by the IRS. This Grass guy, whatever his name is, has no right to ask, therefore he will not receive.

For all of you who say that Kenneth Copeland should give their financial documents to the Senator, I ask you, give me your financial documents. I have as much right to them as this Grass fellow.

They''ve even offered that the IRS, those with the proper authority, come and do their own investigation. The IRS hasn''t, and won%u2019t unless there is something they see wrong. KCM is doing their part to pay who needs paid, just like anyone else with a business to run. This guy has no right, just like I have no right.

[msdreamer77]

The main issue here IS about Copeland''s rights, and the fact that Senator Grassley does not feel the need to go through the proper process or agency to begin one of these investigations. The IRS was created and designed to take care of situations such as these. If the Senator is given this authority, this may very well become grounds for future similar investigations. Good read to make you think...
http://www.spectator.org/dsp_article.asp?art_id=13003

[jntlw-2009]

If they are dumb and gullable enough to follow this phoney and greedy preacher, then they deserve what they get. He is a fraud, but his flock are blind and he feeds on the weak and blind. Not a true man of God if you knew your Bible.

[phredone]

So it has digressed into name calling now. I am not sure that Mr.Josephson has had much to do with Pentacostal churches. All the ones I know of the Pastor is the leader in charge and the congregation can only vote with their feet and leave if they don''t like the way the Church is run.

As to the financial info in the story you say Copeland has refused to give it to the Senator. So, how does this info come to be in this story? Have you illegaly obtained private information or is it a matter of public record for any one to see. If it is public record why did the Senator not just get the info instead of starting a media circus? If you have gotten the info illegaly maybe someone should investigate you.

[bobby_costa]

As an atheist, I find it amusing that peoiple feel they need religion, but this guy is peanuts. If you want to go after the real deal, try the Pope. the Vatican is the number one purchaser of Chanpagne. And all that comes with donations of starving people in third world countries. did CBS run out of real targets to go after small fry like Copeland? Or have you become so scared you''ll only go after the little guys.

[harrytruman4]

This is the deal. Whether or not one agrees with Rev. Copeland''s style, for many, many he feeds them spiritually. That is still a freedom in this country. And, we must remember that almost sixty years ago, America went through a horrible misuse of power that terrified all citizens from speaking their truth because they would be next. My favorite president, Harry Truman, had the guts (as always) to speak against this abuse. "Real Americanism means fair play. It means that a man who is accused of a crime shall be considered innocent until he has been proved guilty. It means that people are not to be penalized and persecuted for exercising their constitutional liberties." Senator Grassley''s investigation seems to me to be pushing the boundaries of Senator McCarthy''s infamous witch hunts.

[heath214]

I really don''t see what the big deal with $28 million on salaries in 2006. For a ministry with $100 million this is very reasonable.

One of my favorite ministries Billy Graham Association spent out of the $120 million brought in nearly $30 million on salaries in 2006 according to their website.

Ministries take money to run, and people who give to them know that they are going to pay their employee''s.

[pensacola88]

I have never heard of a more "Stupid" bunch of donors who support and empower a phony cleric to this level. It is clear that the donors love corrupting religion with their money. I wonder what they will feel when they wake up or sober up from their "religious ether". A good leader would open the followers minds, not close them.