Jul 08 2008
Would Jesus have answered Grassley’s questions?
[From the Honorable Sen. Chuck Grassley]
| GRASSLEY UPDATE ON MINISTRY RESPONSES, BACKGROUND QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS DOCUMENT |
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M E M O R A N D U M
To: Reporters and Editors
Re: Ministry responses
Da: Monday, July 7, 2008
On Nov. 5, 2007, Sen. Chuck Grassley, ranking member of the Committee on Finance, wrote to six media-based ministries, seeking information about various issues related to tax-exempt policy. The Committee on Finance has exclusive Senate jurisdiction over tax policy. On March 11, Grassley and Sen. Max Baucus, committee chairman, wrote follow-up letters to four ministries that had not provided information in response to Grassley’s Nov. 5 letter. Grassley’s staff has conducted numerous meetings and conference calls with representatives of the ministries and with various religious groups and leaders to answer questions and concerns about issues such as confidentiality of sensitive information and to discuss the purpose of Grassley’s policy review. Here is an accounting of the responses so far:
Joyce Meyer Ministries provided extensive answers to all questions. Staff continues to review the materials submitted but generally is finding the responses to be in good faith and substantively informative.
Benny Hinn of World Healing Center Church provided extensive answers to all questions in a series of submissions. Staff continues to review the materials submitted but is finding the responses to be in good faith and substantively informative.
Randy and Paula White of Without Walls International Church provided only responses to the “general” and “real and personal assets” questions. Staff deems their submissions to be incomplete as a result and is engaged in dialogue with attorneys for the ministry to secure responses to the remaining questions.
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Eddie Long of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church/Eddie L. Long Ministries submitted a response that contained only general information about the organization’s operations as well as copies of articles of incorporation and bylaws (which the committee did not request) for the organization’s affiliates and subsidiaries. Staff deems this submission to be not responsive as a result and is engaged in dialogue with attorneys for the ministry to secure responses to the remaining questions.
Kenneth and Gloria Copeland of Kenneth Copeland Ministries submitted partial responses to the majority of questions but did not provide a response to any of the compensation questions. Staff deems this submission to be not responsive and is hoping to engage the attorneys for the ministry in a dialogue to secure responses to all of the questions. However, since Kenneth Copeland has declared publicly that he will not submit responses even if a subpoena is issued, staff also is consulting with Senate attorneys about next steps.
Creflo and Taffi Dollar of World Changers Church International/Creflo Dollar Ministries have declined to provide any of the requested information. Staff has engaged the church’s attorneys in a number of conversations but the attorneys have indicated that the church’s decision not to respond remains the same. Staff has reached out to church officials directly to confirm the church’s decision.
Here’s a Sen. Grassley comment on the status:
“Joyce Meyer and Benny Hinn have engaged in open and honest dialogue with committee staff. They have not only provided responses to every question but, in the spirit of true cooperation, also have provided information over and above what was requested.“Both Joyce Meyer and Benny Hinn have indicated that they are also instituting reforms without waiting for the committee to complete its review. Self-reform can be faster and more effective than government regulation and is the hallmark of my oversight of The Nature Conservancy, the Smithsonian Institution, American University and the American Red Cross. These organizations are all going strong and are arguably better off than they were before. I support voluntary, independent accreditation programs like those sponsored by the Land Trust Alliance and the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability and encourage these ministries to pursue similar accreditation. The most successful non-profit organizations recognize the need for transparency about their operations and accountability to their donors and the taxpaying public. They appreciate that Congress has a responsibility to review the effectiveness and fairness of tax laws for taxpayers and tax-exempt groups alike.“The ministries that continue not to cooperate appear to be heeding the advice of attorneys who are not familiar with congressional oversight in general and specifically the Finance Committee’s oversight and legislative work in the area of tax-exempt organizations over the last seven years. These attorneys who aren’t part of the ministries themselves have a natural incentive to prolong the process as long as possible.“
Here is a background questions-and-answers document regarding the ministries inquiry.
[From me]
Good for Joyce Meyer and Benny Hinn. What could the others possibly have to hide? Would Jesus have answered the Senator’s questions? Well he paid His taxes and He was humble and not arrogant. I’m afraid that some of these ministries are going to turn the American public and the IRS laws against those of us who follow the law and are up front about our practices.
What do you think?
9 responses so far
Isn’t there an old saying about a few rotten apples…?
I think I smell a few in that article.
M. Steve Heartsill’s last blog post..This Ain’t No Bull!
In total agreement with Steve K. Even though I do not hold to the teachings of Meyer and Hinn I applaud their openness and honesty and willingness to make changes. I remember growing up how the failure to disclose the whole truth told my folks that I was hiding something. Yep, I smell them too. I also believe that Jesus’ actions with paying taxes shows that we render to Caesar…
Bill(cycleguy)’s last blog post..No Sense-Nonsense-Give Sense
One more thing about Jesus: He had no place to lay his head. He was poor, not wealthy, so He wouldn’t have had to worry about attracting the attention of the Government on the issue of tax collection. When they crucified Him, this was never a part of anyone’s argument.
Also, you said, “I’m afraid that some of these ministries are going to turn the American public and the IRS laws against those of us who follow the law and are up front about our practices.”
I would edit that sentence to read:
I’m afraid that some of these ministries are going to turn the American public and the IRS laws even more against those of us who follow the law and are up front about our practices.
Because the American Culture is already turning against the Church and this stuff just fuels that fire in a powerful way.
I also found it interesting that those who provided full disclosure also announced that they would be reforming some of their own practices. Not that any of us couldn’t find something to reform, but it is almost like, by coming clean with everything, they had to admit that everything was not as it should be.
Art Rogers’s last blog post..Voting One’s Convictions
Bill,
I don’t care for their teaching either. But Art has a good point. At least Hinn and Meyer are making changes. That speaks highly of their character. I pray I do that daily.
Kevin Bussey’s last blog post..Would Jesus have answered Grassley’s questions?
I love these WWJD questions because the answer is always the same. (grin)
jimmy paravane’s last blog post..?I just dislike Craig now, OK??
The Senate has no business cherry-picking organizations to investigate. If there is a problem then there is a government organization that should look into it — the IRS, not the Senate.
If the Senate would stop investigating major league baseball and these major league nincompoops then they could devote themselves more fully to torturing the rest of us with unnecessary laws like they are supposed to be doing.
Kevin S’s last blog post..The Mantra of Jabez, by Douglas Jones
K, I did say that I applaud Meyer and Hinn for “openness and honesty and willingness to make changes.” It is the arrogance and pride that tells me all is not right in “health/wealth” land.
Bill(cycleguy)’s last blog post..Talk About Whacked!!
Kevin - I have to agree with you. If Grassley had started this whole thing by going to the IRS in the beginning, he would have saved himself a lot of trouble. I still also have trouble believing his claim that he had no idea what groups he was dealing with - ironically, they all come from one particular denomination. Hmmm…