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Senator Awaits Answers From Four Ministries
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Published: January 8, 2008
Updated: 01/08/2008 11:38 pm
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TAMPA - Randy and Paula White, the now-divorced founders of Without Walls International Church, still have not answered the questions asked by a U.S. senator looking into the tax-exempt status of their ministry's finances.
Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, ranking Republican on the Senate finance committee, is waiting for four of the six ministries to provide the information he requested in November about lavish spending and questionable expenditures. The deadline to respond was Dec. 6.
"It's a new year and the ministries that have chosen not to cooperate have a chance to see the inquiry in a new light," Grassley said in a prepared statement issued Tuesday. "This has nothing to do with church doctrine. It's only about tax-exempt policy."
Only two of the six - Kenneth Copeland Ministries and Joyce Meyer Ministries - have delivered packages of material to the senator's office.
The Whites, whose Tampa-based church operations and international TV ministry are being scrutinized, declined to comment to the Tribune through their newly hired public relations company in New York.
The other targeted evangelists are Creflo Dollar of World Changers Church International, who sent a letter to Grassley indicating that the ministry does not intend to provide information voluntarily and raised the question of a subpoena; Benny Hinn of World Healing Center Church Inc., whose attorneys at first promised to respond by Dec. 12 but have had no contact with the senator since leaving a message at the office Dec. 13; and Eddie Long of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, who indicated an unwillingness to cooperate through his attorneys in a letter received by Grassley last month.
Attorneys for Long issued a statement that said Grassley's request "disregards the privacy protections of the Church under law and appears to cross the line of Constitutional guarantees for churches."
Speaking for Without Walls, public relations spokesman Juda Engelmayer released a statement that said the church has been in dialogue with Grassley's office through its legal counsel in "preparation for a reply" to the questions.
"Out of respect for the process we will not disclose the nature of those conversations or the substance of our response to the Senator at this time," Engelmayer wrote. "However, we look forward to productive discourse with Senator Grassley's office in anticipation of a speedy resolution of this matter."
In individual letters to the ministries' leaders, Grassley asked specific questions based on information given to his staff and from media reports. He questioned the use of private jets by some churches and luxury items purchased by some ministries, such as Joyce Meyer's $23,000 antique bathroom cabinet.
"Those are reasonable questions for church members to ask, but not a congressman," said Ted Olsen, managing editor at Christianity Today, the nation's leading evangelical magazine.
"We're driving down a road very quickly into a realm of questions that the government has no right to ask," he said.
Last month, Randy White took a defiant stand against the inquiry during a church service, telling his congregation that the investigation was an assault on their faith. He said the church has not broken any laws or misspent money.
In November, Paula White appeared on CNN's "Larry King Live." She acknowledged the ministry owned a jet and defended the "prosperity gospel," a belief that God wants to bless the faithful with earthly riches. But she said her calling has "never been about money."
"Financially, I believe that you should have enough to do the assignment that you feel is part of your life," she said.
Lee Grady, editor of Charisma, another publication geared toward Christian evangelicals, wrote in a recent column that in his 15 years at the magazine, he has never experienced such "intense spiritual turbulence" among the faithful.
"Recent religious scandals have so tarnished our credibility that we have become a curious freak show," he wrote. "Many unbelievers now associate ministers with wife-swapping, wife-beating, no-fault divorce, gay affairs and $10,000-a-night hotel rooms. We need a Holy Ghost housecleaning."
In the Jan. 15 issue of Charisma, Grady said he will commend the ministers who complied with Grassley's request and will urge the others to also comply.
"The Bible says if you're doing nothing wrong, you've got no reason to fear the government," he told the Tribune. He said Grassley is a Christian with no intent to persecute the church.
"I think all Christians want our ministries to operate with integrity," Grady said. "And I can tell you that most of our readers are getting tired of money-focused celebrity Christianity."
An organization that champions religious freedom has come out in support of Grassley's inquiry.
"If there is fraud, then it needs to be brought out," said Edd Doerr, president of Americans for Religious Liberty in Maryland. "Cloaking yourself in religion doesn't prevent you from being investigated."
Reporter Michelle Bearden can be reached be reached at (813) 259-7613 or mbearden@tampatrib
Michelle Bearden can be reached be reached at (813) 259-7613 or at mbearden@tampatrib.com. Baird Helgeson can be reached at (813) 259-7668 or bhelgeson@tampatrib.com.
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Reader Comments
Posted by ( ron ) on January 8, 2008 at 10:10 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Who does this Senator think he is? What does he think he can do? He decides how churches should spend its money. Can you tax churches? If you can not than why are we debating this?
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Posted by ( Ole_Salt ) on January 8, 2008 at 10:14 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Paula White can defend all she wants the so called prosperity gospel. It is not biblical in the full sense. God never said we will have prosperity if we pay our tithes. He did say that He would open the windows of heaven for us and that may be in a form of earthly prosperity but it is more likely in a form of His blessing of good health,a heart filled with peace and always have enough to go around. He will always provide for His faithful. He never said give money to a pastor and you will be rich and prosper. The only one getting rich there is the pastor who encourages you to give your $$$ to him in return for a promise of Gods prosperity. The prosperity gospel is a lot of trash becasue it is taken out of context what God real promises to us is and what we have to do to earn His promises. It is a two way street. If your church is a name it and claim it or preaches prosperity I would suggest you find a different church that teaches the whole gospel not just the parts that tickles your ear and makes you feel good.
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Posted by ( Teena ) on January 8, 2008 at 10:21 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
All are crooks with cloats Except Joyce Meyers and Kenneth Copeland.
The others can even cook a set of books!
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Posted by ( allyally ) on January 8, 2008 at 11:04 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
I wonder where the plastic surgery and the hip clothes wof the White's were expensed! Probably through church funds?? It is so sad, especially since a majority of the congregation lives pay check to pay check. This activity is NOT Gods calling!
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Posted by ( RobKay ) on January 9, 2008 at 12:43 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Ron, the Senator is doing his job - that is protecting his constituants from con artists. What he can do is remove their tax exempt status. They are not churches just because they say they are and only legitimate churches qualify for the exemption. Thats why we're debating this.
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Posted by ( Leena ) on January 9, 2008 at 6:43 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Seems all but the two mentioned have entitlement issues.
They are above the clouds in the same way drug dealers are.
I am convinced that we as individuals do more for our brothers and sisters with our limited funds and time than these so called ministries with everyone's money.
Awwe But they feel that they are now GODS!
"Greed cometh before the fall"! Just sipping my coffee waiting.IF WE are audited we must come up with whatever is asked. Only people with something to hide HIDE!
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Posted by ( BoomBoom ) on January 9, 2008 at 7:49 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
PIMPS in the pulpit literally!
No accountability even to prove to their loyal flock. All corporations show their stock holders where the money how the money is spent to include salaries.
I'm willing to bet that less that 1% is going to where they say such as helping "others", instead of themselves. Otherwise they'd be showing off without being asked.
We all know that IF they believed in God they'd not be doing what they are doing. They are hoping you don't stop believing!
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Posted by ( Yankee ) on January 9, 2008 at 8:29 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
I am a born again Christian and I don't agree with these "Prosperity" teachings. I once visited my sisters church and their was a guest speaker and he brought up a good point. He stated that at one point he had a problem with these prosperity preachers because, they are wealthy, living in expensive homes, driving high end vehicles and yet their congregation is composed of people who are living low-middle lives. Paycheck to paycheck. I do agree with Ole_Salt.
My husband was flipping channels the other day and Paula White was on. She was asking people to send her their first paycheck of the year. To sow that into her ministry so that you can be blessed for the rest of the year. THAT IS SUCH A LIE FROM THE PIT OF HELL. It is anti-biblical because in the Word it does not say to send Paula White your first fruits. People need to start reading the word and if it's not in the word than it's not of God. I'm sorry but I refuse to send these Televangelist Prosperity Money Hungry people any money. I go to a church in Wesley Chapel and my pastor is awesome. We collect an offering on Sundays and on with the service. There's no collecting two-three times throughout the service.
May God have mercy on these people. One day they will stand before God and be held accountable for everything that they've said and done.
You pay your tithe out of obedience to God, not to fatten someonelses wallet.
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Posted by ( reubenshow ) on January 9, 2008 at 9:23 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
NEW BOOK - SNAKES IN THE PULPIT
EXPOSES JOEL OSTEEN, CREFLO DOLLAR. T.D JAKES AND EDDIE LONG
WWW.SNAKESINTHEPULPIT.COM
WWW.REUBENARMSTRONGSHOW.COM
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Posted by ( DarthRandall ) on January 9, 2008 at 9:58 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
When Jebus comes back he's going to smack the Holy crap out of these fake ministers. Stealing from the poor, the un-educated, and the elderly - they have no shame......... Haven't we learned anything from the PTL scandal in the 80's? All of these on-air preachers are only after your money.
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Posted by ( ToTheBeachWeGo ) on January 9, 2008 at 10:06 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Instead of prosperity the Whites (and others) need to be preaching about idolatry. I find it quite obvious that God is at work here. They did false teachings on and worshipped money. Isn't it interesting that it's the very thing that they're about to lose? As important as money is to them, it will probably take losing it to get them back on the right path with God. They need our prayers.
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Posted by ( dark_choc69 ) on January 9, 2008 at 11:50 a.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by ( Yankee ) on January 9, 2008 at 12:42 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
With all due to respect but are we supposed to believe that Randy wrote those books and made millions so that he can purchase the million dollar house on Bayshore? I think not. Wake up people!! Even the word of God says that He will bring that which is hidden to light.
I have nothing further to say.
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Posted by ( livingwitness ) on January 9, 2008 at 1:25 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
dark_choc69, please keep in mind that this isn't just about Without Walls but this is about God's church. We all are a part of His church so when one ministry isn't doing things by the Word of God, it affects His entire body. The church just isn't those four walls that you are surrounded by every time you go to worship God, but the church is comprised of your brothers and sisters in Christ who you see outside of those four walls. We should take this serious. This is what's wrong with us as Christians today....not taking issues serious enough.
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Posted by ( OLLYWEST ) on January 9, 2008 at 8:33 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
I HAVE BEEN IMMERSED IN 7 OF THE WORD OF FAITH MINISTRIES EVERYDAY SINCE 2001 AND KNOW THAT THERE WILL ALWAYS BE CONFLICT BETWEEN THE SPIRITUAL AND CARNAL- THEY ARE TWO DIFFERENT WORLDS. THE BEST WAY TO KNOW THE PHONY FROM THE GENUINE IS TO DAILY READ THE BIBLE AND ENJOY THE JOURNEY. MANY OF THESE PROSPERITY MINISTERS BELIEVE THAT THEY WANT YOU TO HAVE WHAT THEY HAVE AND ARE BLIND TO THE FACT THAT MOST PEOPLE ARE UNABLE TO WALK THEIR WALK. NOT EVERYBODY GETS HEALED WHEN THEY APPLY THE FORMULA. IT STILL BOILS DOWN TO:
"HE WHO IS WITHOUT SIN, LET HIM CAST THE FIRST STONE"
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Posted by ( Ole_Salt ) on January 10, 2008 at 8:11 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
dark_choc69
You may want to find out if Randy ever paid the bill for the publishing of his books. You are mistaken in this case that the publisher pays Randy. It is a small printing company here in Tampa that printed them and then the whites marketed those books and the only cost they had was the printing cost. The last time I spoke with the printer he HAD NOT BEEN PAID. Randy has a few books printed by this printer. The printer told me that randy seldom pays his bills and he has to hound him for months and months before he eventually gets his money. Randy loves taking it in the $$, but hates to part with it to pay an honest man his due wages. And by the way I have attended church there and was not impressed with his and hers theology at all. It was more of a show with excellent showmanship on the whites part than a service to praise and worship God. All of us have been commanded to be good stewarts of Gods money and they have not done a good job in that area. I do believe that Pastors should be able to make a great income and own plenty of stuff and be blessed with wordly fortunes as long as they do it biblically and honestly. I believe this is where the whites fail miserably. I am sorry I am talking specifically about them per say because it truly applies to any Pastor that is duping the congregation and feeding them non biblical food for thier own gain. Joel Olsteen seldom speaks about biblical issues. He is more like an Amway motivational speaker than a pastor.
I do not believe the senator has any legal right to the records but, as a Christian he has the right to bring to light problems within the church body and work within the church to get them fixed.
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Posted by ( reubenshow ) on January 11, 2008 at 10:03 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
NEW BOOK- SNAKES IN THE PULPIT
THIS BOOK EXPOSES JOEL OSTEEN, T.D. JAKES, CREFLO DOLLAR AND EDDIE LONG
WWW.SNAKESINTHEPULPIT.COM
WWW.REUBENARMSTRONGSHOW.COM
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Posted by ( reubenshow ) on January 13, 2008 at 3:33 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
NEW BOOK-- SNAKES IN THE PULPIT
EXPOSES T.D. JAKES, EDDIE LONG, CREFLO DOLLAR AND JOEL OSTEEN
WWW.SNAKESINTHEPULPIT.COM
WWW.REUBENARMSTRONGSHOW.COM
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