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MinistryWatch.com Calls on Copeland and Dollar to Comply With Senate Demands for Information

by Staff
April 8, 2008

(christiansunite.com) -- The Senate Finance Committee announced today that two of the six televangelists who have been asked for information continue to refuse to comply, almost five months after the original request went out from Sen. Charles Grassley.

Atlanta-based Creflo Dollar has failed to provide any information to Sen. Grassley and Sen. Max Baucus, who joined Grassley in his call for financial transparency. Texas-based Kenneth Copeland has turned over some documents, but is nowhere near full compliance, according to a Grassley spokesperson.

"It is truly unconscionable that these ministries have failed to comply," said Rusty Leonard, founder of MinistryWatch.com, a group that advocates for the rights of donors. "First of all, what Senators Grassley and Baucus are asking for is nothing more than what these ministries should be disclosing as a matter of course," Leonard said. "But for five months to go by without even an attempt at compliance - as is the case with Creflo Dollar - is a true slap in the face both to the Senate Finance Committee and, tragically, to their own donors."

According to Grassley's office, four of the ministries are either in substantial compliance with the requests, or have taken significant steps toward compliance. Joyce Meyer Ministries has complied with all requests, and Benny Hinn has made significant progress in complying. Eddie Long and Paula and Randy White, who had been non-compliant, have taken significant new steps toward compliance, according to Grassley's office.

"The fact that Sen. Baucus and Sen. Grassley worked together to on this new March 31 compliance deadline seems to have made a difference," said Leonard. "Now the non-complying ministries know that Grassley and Baucus together could, without a vote of the additional members of the committee, issue subpoenas."

Leonard added, though, that "it would be unfortunate if these Christian ministries were to have their non- compliance be their testimony to the world, rather than open and transparent dealings with both their donors and the Senate Finance Committee. The cloud of suspicion raised by this non-compliance affects not only the public's perception of these ministries, but also undermines the reputations of the many ministries that do voluntarily inform their donors and others of their financial activities."

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I truly believe this is a scary step on a slippery slope. 

I do believe that any ministry of God should be open and "transparent", no church organization should have anything to hide as far as finances or anything else for that matter. 

However on the flip side I think it is quite the over reach of power that these Senators can call upon any religious leader and demand their finances...I think that can open the door to some abuse...and if there is one thing people in government understand it is how to abuse power.  I think they could go through someone's books like say Billy Graham and then if there is something they do not quite agree with that maybe hits some of the financial gray area, then they could exact retribution upon Graham and cause great harm to the spreading of the Word.

I truly believe they must prove probable cause before getting a warrant to seize the financial statements.  Then and only then can they go on...there is no checks and balances to this..and that is a failing in our gment.

Hello Brother Jerry,

Brother, I have the same concerns. There are numerous Christian Organizations now that Grade ministries and Charities to inform those giving donations and offerings. Some of these same listed organizations already have a grade of "F", and this has been their grade for a matter of years. If the organizations with a grade of "F" violate criminal law, they should be prosecuted to the limit of the law. However, these prosecutions would need to be according to due process like those used in the Jim and Tammy Faye Baker case.

I'm positive that fraud and other criminal violations are going on, but their rights under the law must be respected. That being said, I won't give a penny to any organization with a grade of "C" or below. I don't have very much money anyway, so I insist that my offerings and donations are used properly. Transparency on financial matters is the only way I know of to determine which organizations are being proper stewards for their donations and offerings. Otherwise, it appears that they have something to hide, AND MANY OF THEM DO HAVE SOMETHING TO HIDE! If there are reports of criminal violations, the matter should be investigated and prosecuted, regardless of what kind of organization it is.