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Christianity Today, June, 2008 |

Change of Address

Kenneth Copeland turns to IRS to avoid Senate inquiry into prosperity ministries.

Adelle M. Banks, RNS | posted 5/09/2008 08:48AM

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A ministry that has refused to cooperate fully with a financial investigation launched by Senator Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) has invited the Internal Revenue Service to conduct its own inquiry instead.

Kenneth Copeland Ministries of Newark, Texas, made the request on April 7. "We will provide answers to the IRS regarding questions that Senator Grassley has," said John Copeland, the ministry's CEO. "The church desires to protect its and all other churches' First Amendment rights, and by this action, we believe we are doing just that."

Rusty Leonard, founder of North Carolina–based MinistryWatch.com, a watchdog organization, called the efforts by Copeland "deceptive and misleading," because any investigation by the IRS would be confidential.

Grassley's office reported on March 31 that four of the six ministries under investigation are cooperating. Grassley, the ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, had asked last November for detailed information about the spending practices of the ministries—all legally registered as churches and thus not required to file disclosure forms with the IRS.

Creflo Dollar Ministries in College Park, Georgia, has also refused to submit financial records, expressing concerns about congregants' privacy. Grassley and committee chairman Senator Max Baucus (D-Mont.) had asked ministries that weren't cooperating fully to submit materials by March 31. "As for the Copeland request for an audit from the IRS, Senator Grassley has always said that the IRS enforces existing law, while Congress evaluates the adequacy of existing law," said Jill Gerber, a spokeswoman for the committee. "The two functions are completely different."

Related Elsewhere:

Our previous coverage of the Grassley investigation is on our site.

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June 2008, Vol. 52, No. 6

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harrytruman

Posted: May 12, 2008 10:41 AM


I simply think the government should not be messing around in church matters. While I applaud accountability, I think Kenneth Copeland Ministries have it correct in asking the IRS to be the ones to do the audit, not some Senator McCarthy hearings that seem to be targeting only Pentecostals, no one else. It doesn't feel right; it doesn't feel fair.

Phredone

Posted: May 09, 2008 4:00 PM

How is an audit by the IRS "deceptive and misleading," The current US tax law allows Churches to keep their financial private. If you do not like the law, work to have it changed do not accuse someone of wrongdoing because they are following the law. If you do not like any of the ministries do not give to them. And if you do not give to them why do you care anything about them at all? Where in the Bible is the scripture talking about or defining the office of "watchdog"?

Jerry Smith

Posted: May 09, 2008 11:27 PM


Just for the sake of the Christian church Pastor Copeland should devulge the church's finances. If the government wants to be involved in church matters the government should allow religious activities in the public education. Otherwise separation of church and state should apply to the government as well.