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Post by Nikkol on Nov 6, 2007 12:53:31 GMT -5
Nov. 6) - CBS News has learned Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa, the ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, is investigating six prominent televangelist ministries for possible financial misconduct.
AP (2) Eddie Long, left, and Benny Hinn are among six televangelists whose ministries are being investigated by a Senate panel. The other four are led by Paula White, Joyce Meyer, Creflo Dollar and Kenneth Copeland.
Letters were sent Monday to the ministries demanding that financial statements and records be turned over to the committee by Dec. 6.
According to Grassley's office, the Iowa Republican is trying to determine whether or not these ministries are improperly using their tax-exempt status as churches to shield lavish lifestyles.
The six ministries identified as being under investigation by the committee are led by: Paula White, Joyce Meyer, Creflo Dollar, Eddie Long, Kenneth Copeland and Benny Hinn. Three of the six - Benny Hinn, Kenneth Copeland and Creflo Dollar - also sit on the Board of Regents for the Oral Roberts University.
A spokesperson for Joyce Meyer Ministries provided CBS News with an IRS letter to the ministry dated October 10, 2007, that stated: "We determined that you continue to qualify as an organization exempt from Federal income tax." The letter could not be independently verified in time for this story. The ministry also pointed to audited financial statements for the last three years that are posted on the organization's website.
In a statement, Benny Hinn's spokesperson, Ronn Torossian, said the ministry was in the process of determining the best course of action in response to the Senate investigation. "World Healing Center Church complies with the laws that govern church and non-profit organizations and will continue to do so," Torossian wrote.
The other three ministries did not respond to requests for comment from CBS News on Monday.
Because they have tax status as churches, the ministries do not have to file IRS 990 forms like other non-profit organizations - leaving much financial information largely behind closed doors.
The letters sent Monday were the culmination of a long investigation fueled in part by complaints from Ole Anthony, a crusader against religious fraud who operates the Dallas-based Trinity Foundation, which describes itself as a watchdog monitoring religious media, fraud and abuse. "We've been working with them for two years," Anthony told CBS News. "We have furnished them with enough information to fill a small Volkswagen."
Anthony said after twenty years of working with media organizations to expose televangelists, he saw little reform. He says that's why he turned to another tactic, going straight to Grassley. He is confident that Grassley's inquiry will be different, "What we hope is that this will lead to reform in religious nonprofits."
The structure of many televangelist organizations - in which the leadership is often concentrated in one person or one family - has itself been the target of criticism. "Churches like these are ruled as a dictatorship," says Rod Pitzer, who directs research at Ministry Watch in North Carolina, which provides advice for donors to Christian organizations.
Pitzer welcomes the Senate committee investigation. Ministries lacking accountability, he says, "give a black eye to churches and Christians who are trying to do things in the right manner."
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Post by And Such Were Some Of You on Nov 6, 2007 12:54:57 GMT -5
Is there a link to this story?
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Post by Nikkol on Nov 6, 2007 12:59:57 GMT -5
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Post by kitty on Nov 6, 2007 13:17:29 GMT -5
I can say I have questioned Benny Hinn for years... I also think it is odd the Paula and Randy white seem to have botched a lot of money as well...
I believe that churches should have some tax breaks... But that should be because the church is providing social service in the since of caring for the poor and memebrs of their congregation...
But when it is run as a business with the purpose of making money as a business... then Uncle Sam may as well take a cut because it's not supporting what Christ would want anyway...
after all... why does a church need a bowling alley and a movie theatre if they can't afford it?
Kitty
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Post by Beulah5 on Nov 6, 2007 14:17:44 GMT -5
I believe that churches shd be tax exempt however when the personal donations and profits that founder alone makes exceeds a certain threshhold they shd pay taxes. I know of ministers that have gold chairs in their houses-i dont have a problem but when u personally make so much that u can afford 10 homes etc etc then u shd pay taxes since i believe that tax exempt is due to the charitable status that ministries and projects tha work with the needy in society.
So the idea not to tax them is because they are working with the disadvantaged but if u are doing so and also getting a whole whole lotta money personally then u shd pay ur taxes like any law abiding citizen.
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Post by Jasmine on Nov 6, 2007 14:23:52 GMT -5
My only disagreement kitty is, the church should be operated like a business, because if it was they would be accountable for this foolishness that goes on. So let me explain what I mean. A church is a non-profit organization. Non-profit organizations are businesses in their own right. Non-profit organizations hire professional people.
A church needs a full time secretary, finance secretary, as well as a church auditor. Its understandable that most churches don’t have the income to support these 3 job duties, however they should attempt to find professional people who are willing to do what it takes, even if its part time.
Most church hire individuals based on criteria’s that the individual is faithful, can type, can answer the phones, knows God, and the church is in desperate need of help. And normally the person who fills this position is a cousin, daughter, sister, or someone who really does not have the skills at all.
I was an administrative Secretary for 6 years, so I know the ins and outs of a church "admin" office.Unlike some, I majored in Computer business administration, I also worked for a paralegal, before I entered the "Church admin" scene.
Enough about me..let me go back to why it should be ran like a business.
Now, I wrote sometime ago about a new job, that was offered. I accepted. and I love it. Its a non-profit organization. All the monies given to this organization are by way of grants. The sponsors who provide the grant money, want accurate reports on how much was given, how much was spent, how much is still available, but most importantly they want to know EVERY item that was purchased with their money.
A church should conduct business the exact same way as non-profit organizations. Everything that comes in, should be accounted for. Everything that goes out, should be documented with where it went.
A board of trustees, should be individuals who have a heart for God's people, and at the same time understand that...these lavish necessities are not NEEDED.
I aslo agre with beu..if the church makes millions of dollars then they should pay taxes on certain things.
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Post by giantsdodie on Nov 6, 2007 14:49:22 GMT -5
What people need to realize is that a church often has different ministries.
For examiple it is my understanding that Creflo Dollars church is set up as Worldchangers. This is the non profit part of the organization. Then there is Creflo Dollar Ministries which sells books, tapes and videos.
Many ministries are set up this way.
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Post by Jasmine on Nov 6, 2007 14:58:55 GMT -5
What people need to realize is that a church often has different ministries. For examiple it is my understanding that Creflo Dollars church is set up as Worldchangers. This is the non profit part of the organization. Then there is Creflo Dollar Ministries which sells books, tapes and videos. Many ministries are set up this way. That is so true. |
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Post by anointedteacher on Nov 6, 2007 15:16:23 GMT -5
Pastors do pay taxes on their personal income. They must full out a W-9 form, everywhere they ministered. They will be given a 1099 tax form at the beginning of the year. My leader make quarterly tax deposit of her personal income from our church and for the money she receive from honorariums.
People like Benny Hinn, who travel to different countries and do crusades have to be very careful.... Many time they have to carry a lot of cash, especially in Africa. They don't alway have record on exactly how the cash are spend, they are not given receipts, so they have to keep records, on every meals, and misc. Items. So much money have to be put out in advance and so much is spend on the travelling team. It is really hard to track down everything. Separate from his church, crusades, and TV, he have money flowing in from his books, DVDs, CDs and honorariums, etc. along with healthy salaries from each of his ministries. He must pay tax on his personal income. But the money he withdrawal from travelling is tax exempted, but it is hard to prove because it is cash.
What they do with their own taxable money is their own business, but how they handle their nontaxable income, is the government business.
AT
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Post by kitty on Nov 7, 2007 8:25:09 GMT -5
with American express available around the world... and the simple fact that i am called out of line for extra scrutiny everytime I pay for a plane ticket with cash or a check and I mean EVEYTIME...
I'm not buying the BS on benny Hinn... "we had to pay cash...and there is no receipt..." Yeah right! a receipt is just basic business around the globe. Not to mention I have seen the places that Benny Hiin has stayed... I'm sure those places offer receipts...
Kitty
Kitty
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Post by giantsdodie on Nov 7, 2007 8:58:23 GMT -5
Personally I have no concerns with this issue at all. There are many many men and woman of God who have been blessed to have a certain type of lifestyle. Prayerfully they have their accounting information together. I remember years ago when the attacked Promise Keepers and dug into their tax records for the last six years looking for a discrepency..
You know what they found..
NOTHING...
And dont think just because they are going after the " televangelists " they wont go after your little church too...
Its only the beginning of things to come.
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Post by giantsdodie on Nov 7, 2007 9:01:18 GMT -5
with American express available around the world... and the simple fact that i am called out of line for extra scrutiny everytime I pay for a plane ticket with cash or a check and I mean EVEYTIME... I'm not buying the BS on benny Hinn... "we had to pay cash...and there is no receipt..." Yeah right! a receipt is just basic business around the globe. Not to mention I have seen the places that Benny Hiin has stayed... I'm sure those places offer receipts... Kitty Kitty Lets be clear.. Benny Hinn has made no claim about not having receipts.. This is AT opinion about a matter... Also realize that there is MUCH hatred among Christians toward what are considered charasmatic churches in general, particularly by many fundamentalist groups. I have seem this mess online for years. Everything these folks do to these people aint God and needs to be exposed. I see some of that in this situation. I just pray these folks have their financial butts covered. Notice Joyce Meyer had her stuff together. |
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Post by anointedteacher on Nov 7, 2007 23:06:46 GMT -5
with American express available around the world... and the simple fact that i am called out of line for extra scrutiny everytime I pay for a plane ticket with cash or a check and I mean EVEYTIME... I'm not buying the BS on benny Hinn... "we had to pay cash...and there is no receipt..." Yeah right! a receipt is just basic business around the globe. Not to mention I have seen the places that Benny Hiin has stayed... I'm sure those places offer receipts... Kitty Kitty Lets be clear.. Benny Hinn has made no claim about not having receipts.. This is AT opinion about a matter... Also realize that there is MUCH hatred among Christians toward what are considered charasmatic churches in general, particularly by many fundamentalist groups. I have seem this mess online for years. Everything these folks do to these people aint God and needs to be exposed. I see some of that in this situation. I just pray these folks have their financial butts covered. Notice Joyce Meyer had her stuff together. Giants... you are right.... but I know there were an issue about him taking so much cash over there.... My Apostle travel to Africa almost every year... she uses her personal funds and receive funds from those who sponses her. She learned her lesson, to never travel alone and to get into a five star hotel, especially as a female. She always take a certaim amount of cash with her. She had some bad experience at the stop point, where she had to give up some money to get to the next stop point. They don't except AmExp, they expect you to put cash into their hand. My former employer went last year to Africa... and he said the same thing... you must carry cash on you. So far they haven't found anything on Benny Hinn as far as I know. |
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Post by MsKayLander on Nov 8, 2007 12:18:19 GMT -5
I'm sure most of these ministries and others will be on the up and up and have their stuff together...
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Post by Rachel2 on Nov 9, 2007 15:30:48 GMT -5
...after all... why does a church need a bowling alley and a movie theatre if they can't afford it? Kitty They need the bowling alley so they as well as their children will not drop dead from breathing the poison cigarette smoke in other bowling alleys. Not to mention coming out smelling like a cigarette butt. They need the movie theatre so they don't have to watch movies with naked men and women, naked men and men or naked women and women in bed, on the floor, kitchen table, etc.. having sex. Or using every foul word under the sun, or somebody getting shot, stabbed or blown to bits in very graphic detail. |
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