November 15, 2007 | Read Time: 2 minutes
The senior Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, Charles E. Grassley, has asked six prominent television evangelists to submit financial data detailing their ministry’s expenditures, compensation practices, and board structures.
The action comes in response to news coverage and complaints from the public about the ministries’ spending habits.
Citing the “possible misuse of donations made to religious organizations,” Mr. Grassley’s office sent letters to Joyce Meyer Ministries, in Fenton, Mo.; Kenneth Copeland Ministries, in Newark, Tex.; New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, in Lithonia, Ga.; Without Walls International Church (and affiliated Paula White Ministries), in Tampa, Fla.; the World Changers Church International (and affiliated Creflo Dollar Ministries), in College Park, Ga.; and the World Healing Center Church (and affiliated Benny Hinn Ministries), in Grapevine, Tex.
Classified as religious organizations, none of those groups are required to submit to the Internal Revenue Service a Form 990 detailing financial activities. The ministries are also under no legal obligation to provide information to the senator, as the letters are not formal subpoenas.
Mr. Grassley set a deadline of December 6 for responding to his wide-ranging requests for financial information regarding executive pay and the value of gifts, perks, and housing allowances given to church leaders. The letters also seek information about board structure and financial oversight.
Many of the questions are specific. The Joyce Meyer Ministries is asked to explain the “tax-exempt purpose” of a $23,000 marble-top commode reported to have been acquired for the ministry’s offices. Kenneth and Gloria Copeland, of the Kenneth Copeland Ministries, are asked about their use of the ministry’s jet to visit Honolulu and the Fiji Islands.
The Joyce Meyer Ministries responded with a statement saying it was “committed to financial transparency” and “diligently working on the presented requests and will continue to take the necessary steps to maintain our financial integrity.”
Randy and Paula White, who lead the Without Walls church, expressed concern “about the possible precedent and ramifications” of the request in a statement released through a public-relations firm. “We will be reviewing the request and its implications in detail over the coming weeks as we prepare our response,” the statement concluded.
The remaining churches did not respond to requests for comment.
