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Senate Probe Of Big Ministries Troubles Some Religious Groups

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By RACHEL ZOLL, The Associated Press

Published: December 5, 2007

Among the many conservative Christians who feel misunderstood by the general public, the six ministries under investigation by a Senate committee are an embarrassment.

The ministers' faith healings and fundraising, backed by self-serving misinterpretations of Scripture, reinforce offensive stereotypes of greedy preachers and put their followers at spiritual risk, critics say.
Traditional Christians aren't universally celebrating the inquiry. Some wonder whether the investigation led by Republican Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa is the right way to end any wrongdoing, especially if the result is more government oversight of all ministries.

"We're not representing any of the parties involved, but when I see a senator charging into organizations, wielding this kind of budget ax and laying bare religious figures and expenditures, huge constitutional questions are being raised," said Gary McCaleb, senior counsel at the Alliance Defense Fund, a religious liberty legal group founded by James Dobson of Focus on the Family and other influential evangelicals.

Craig Parshall, senior vice president and general counsel for the National Religious Broadcasters, a trade association, said the questions that Grassley sent the six ministries about their finances were too broad. None of the televangelists is a member of the NRB.

"We don't have any inside information of the financial workings of the six ministries involved," Parshall said. "What we're concerned about is the future of Christian broadcasting and Christian ministries - nonprofit ones - if this inquiry is either broadened or ratcheted up, and hearings are held and new legislation is considered."

Grassley, a member of the Senate Finance Committee, has asked the ministries to submit records by Thursday on compensation, board oversight and perks - from oceanside homes and expensive furniture to ownership and usage of private jets. IRS rules for nonprofits prevent pastors and other insiders from excessive personal gain through their tax-exempt work. Even so, the groups are not legally required to disclose financial information to the Senate.

The ministries under review include Randy and Paula White of Without Walls International Church and Paula White Ministries of Tampa, which bring in about $40 million a year.

The Whites, who recently divorced, have drawn criticism for their extravagant lifestyle, including several posh homes across the country, the ownership of a private jet and several fine cars. Grassley specifically asked Paula White to explain her gift of a Bentley luxury car to longtime friend and megachurch pastor T.D. Jakes.

The Whites have not welcomed Grassley's inquiry. During a recent appearance on Larry King's television show, Paula White said she didn't understand why the senator would attack her faith.

The Whites issued a statement through their public relations firm saying they think they comply with all tax laws and that they post audited budgets on the church Web site.

Other ministries included in the inquiry are Benny Hinn of World Healing Center Church Inc. and Benny Hinn Ministries of Grapevine, Texas; David and Joyce Meyer of Joyce Meyer Ministries of Fenton, Mo.; Kenneth and Gloria Copeland of Kenneth Copeland Ministries of Newark, Texas; Bishop Eddie Long of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church and Bishop Eddie Long Ministries of Lithonia, Ga.; and Creflo and Taffi Dollar of World Changers Church International and Creflo Dollar Ministries of College Park, Ga.

All the ministries preach a form of Word of Faith theology, known as prosperity gospel, which effectively teaches that God wants believers to be rich. The ministries have said separately that they are committed to following the tax laws, but it is not known whether they will all comply with Grassley's request by the deadline.

"This has nothing to do with church doctrine," said Grassley, who has been investigating nonprofit compliance with the tax code for years. "This has everything to do the with tax exemption of an organization."

Grassley irked some religious leaders when he quipped about the lifestyles of the preachers under investigation, saying Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, not a Rolls Royce.

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