Last week Senator Charles Grassley, ranking member of the Committee on Finance, decided to take a deeper look into the finances of six media-based ministries. Since non-profit organizations, including the various ministries of Benny Hinn and Joyce Meyers, receive very significant tax breaks, Grassley is simply making sure that these benefits, as he states in his letter to each ministry, "are being used for the tax-exempt purposes of the organizations." The Committee on Finance has a recent interest in uncovering the truth because of many complaints from the public and recent news coverage which portrays a less-than-ideal image of these organizations.Letters were faxed to the ministries of Benny Hinn, Kenneth Copeland, Creflo Dollar, Joyce Meyer, Eddie Long, and Randy and Paula White with intentions of explaining how the leaders of these "non-profit" groups are living the high life with outstanding salaries, choice automobiles, lavish mansions, private jets, and anything else to catch their eyes. Initial responses to the letters all portray a sense of openness, integrity, and extreme adherence to all laws. However, with specific price tags including gifts as hefty as $2 million, "layover trips" made during business travel, a $30,000 conference table, jewelry donations, a $1.4 million real estate transaction, "love offerings" given to visiting ministers (sometimes in the form of convertible Bentleys), a $23,000 "commode with marble top," and credit card charges made for cosmetic surgery and clothing, (Michael F. Haverluck of CBNNews.com) it can be hard to view these individuals with the same integrity and piety that they see in themselves.
The common denominator among these six ministries is that they preach the "prosperity gospel," the promise that God will reward those who give to the church with material wealth. Never mind the fact that this is completely anti-Christian and has no Biblical grounds, people who seek material wealth are buying a winning lottery ticket. "There's little fear of donor backlash when your donors see opulence as a sign of God's blessing," said Ted Olsen, managing editor for news and online journalism at Christianity Today.
Combine God, capitalism, and a charismatic leader and you can rake in the dollars. It’s actually a great business model, and there’s plenty more than six organizations who have put it into practice. MinistryWatch is an online database that profiles over 400 of the United State’s largest church and parachurch ministries in order to help donors be informed and responsible with their giving. According to MinistryWatch.com, there are twenty-seven current organizations that are not being transparent with their finances, a major red flag to donors. Additionally, MinistryWatch is devoting special attention to the Trinity Broadcasting Network, who didn’t get a letter from Senator Grassley yet continually urges their audience to give more and more despite the abundant savings it has stockpiled away in short term and long term investments. Paul and Jan Crouch, founders of TBN, each have salaries well into the six-figure range, and the organization’s program expenses are at 46%. That means less than half of the money they bring in goes into use for actual ministry; compare that to MinistryWatch’s database of organizations whose average program expense is 80%.
"It is looking more apparent that [Randy and Paula White] are the 21st century version of Jim and Tammy Bakker," commented one reader in response to an online article by the Tampa Bay Tribune.
In an online survey by the Saint Louis Post Dispatch, 60% felt that the Joyce Meyer Ministries did not handle their finances properly, with the other 40% being slightly more inclined to answer "I don’t know" than give the organization their approval. If you take time to read long lists of comments and reactions to this situation, you’ll find an astounding majority of people who have been looking forward to the day that someone would/could do something about these "blatant frauds." Even more surprising than the viewpoint of these reactions is the point of view they come from… Christians. Nobody wants to be thrown out with the bath water. The small majority who wish Grassley would mind his own business hide behind Separation of Church and State issues, but according to Senator Grassley, "I'm not interested in doctrine, just the tax laws."
