Washington, D.C. - Sen. Charles Grassley issued a memo Monday saying that his staff is consulting with Senate lawyers about “next steps” to take in an increasingly acrimonious investigation of the finances of televangelist Kenneth Copeland’s ministry.
While the Iowa Republican did not specifically threaten a subpoena of the Texas-based ministry, that is a tool Congress could use to compel Copeland to provide information. Copeland has said he would resist a subpoena “and that’s something I’ll go to prison over.”
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Grassley also said ministries that are not cooperating appear to be heeding the advice of lawyers who are not familiar with the concept of congressional oversight.
“These attorneys who aren’t part of the ministries themselves have a natural incentive to prolong the process as long as possible,” Grassley said in a written statement.
Grassley, the top Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, has been looking into the finances of six tax-exempt ministries since late 2007.
He asked for detailed information about ministry spending from each, based on information he had received from news reports and whistle-blowers.
Some of the ministries and their supporters have objected, saying that Grassley is trying to tear down the wall of separation between church and state and is asking for confidential information, or that an investigation is the responsibility of the Internal Revenue Service, not Congress.
“The most successful nonprofit organizations recognize the need for transparency about their operations and accountability to their donors and the taxpaying public,” Grassley said Monday. “They appreciate that Congress has a responsibility to review the effectiveness and fairness of tax laws for taxpayers and tax-exempt groups alike.”
The memo from Grassley’s office said two of the six ministries, Joyce Meyer Ministries and Benny Hinn’s World Healing Center Church, provided responses that were “in good faith and substantively informative.”
Another two ministries, Without Walls International Church and New Birth Missionary Baptist Church/Eddie Long Ministries, are talking with Senate staff members about responses to remaining questions, the memo said.
But Copeland submitted only partial responses to most questions and did not respond to any questions about compensation, the memo said.
In addition, Creflo and Taffi Dollar of World Changers Church International “have declined to provide any of the requested information,” the memo said.
Grassley has never ruled out issuing subpoenas, though he has said he has never had to do so in investigations of other nonprofits through the committee.
Senator Chuck Grassley’s Memo: GRASSLEY UPDATE ON MINISTRY RESPONSES
The investigation began by Grassley is one that should have started with the IRS. The information he wants could be obtained that way. The details he is asking for leaves me wondering what he wants with them? There are so many issues here that could come into play and end up affecting the future of all of our rights. Also, Grassley’s sources are something to be checked into…interesting history lies there.
I am anxious to see how this all turns out and just pray the right decision is made.
Happy - some good questions, as I have asked myself similar ones. I am also not a follower of Copeland’s, but I do think that he is the one in the right here. If we do not begin to fight the government’s invasion into our lives, the future looks bleak. This decision WILL affect us all, I agree Happy.
Copeland has good ground to stand on here. I have been following this story for a while now. I am glad to see that Copeland has picked up support along the way from leaders across denominational lines. I think you are right Jack - the government is pushing its way hard into our lives. I think this is one area we need to fight.
This investigation is one that has been handled the wrong way from the beginning. Copeland has every right to defend his stance besides the fact there is no evidence of wrong doing by any of the ministries. Copeland has invited the IRS investigation, which is the route Grassley should have started with.
Copeland DOES have valid points here. The government does not need any help making its way into our lives any more quickly than it already is. Copeland is standing up for something that could easily affect all of us, as you mentioned Jack. If the wrong decision is made, there will precedents set that will affect so many other future issues.
Stand firm Copeland!
to all of you that have responded thus far. I disagree with you all and I think it is an affront to God and the American church and believers everywhere when ministries try and hide behind a non-profit status as a means to not divulge info. or compensation. First and foremost we are called to be servants. If that servant is profiting in any way beyond a normal salary, or if he or she thinks they are above scrutiny, they are no longer a servant.
I come from an American tribe of people that are constantly being audited and have Govt. oversight on everything we recieve. Much like ministry, we have public monies we recieve and we should be accountable. If we don’t have oversight or we think we are above having audits and probes it looks like we have hidden something that may be revealed, sounds like a verse from the bible.
If Copeland wants to go to prison, let him go. There are plenty of people like him that thought they were above the law or scrutiny there.