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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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False Teachers

Posted: May 09, 2008 1:51 PM


These ministries are all so far off base from the teachings of Jesus and the narratgive of Scritpture it is patehtic that CT even covered this. Pentecostal renowned biblical scholar Gordon Fee wrote a helpful small book called "The Disease of the Health and Wealth Gospels," and let me tell you he takes them head on.

Alan Paul

Posted: May 09, 2008 11:53 AM


If Copeland has nothing to hide, why hide? The solution: If he doesn't come clean, stop giving to his ministry. You shouldn't be giving to him anyways - he's a health and wealth "gospel" heretic.

Jarred Haas

Posted: May 10, 2008 11:39 AM

The reason why our country was founded on principles that provided privacy for its citizens and for churches is to prevent what is happening in this investigation. By taking information from an organization and making it public, it can be taken out of context and used to destroy people of opposing view points. Just like this article does... by showing 28 mil in salaries... but ignoring that Billy Graham spent 30 mil. Just because we may disagree with the 6 ministries under investigation does not mean we should not stand up to defend the principles that allow for protection of churches. I am sure the IRS will find things if there are abuses, but the moment power is given to individuals there is nothing stopping a homosexual or Muslim senator from targeting those who speak truth.