The ranking member of the Senate Committee on Finance has launched an investigative review of possible misuse of donations made to Without Walls International Church and Paula White Ministries, along with five other Christian organizations.
Letters were faxed Monday by Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, requesting ministry leaders respond by Dec. 6 to a wide range of questions regarding their personal and organizational finances. The senator expects full cooperation, he said in a statement released by his staff.
“It’s about time some sanity is brought to these religious nonprofits,” said Ole Anthony, founder of Trinity Foundation, a Dallas-based televangelist watchdog organization. “Some are committing outright fraud, and it’s getting worse, not better, as time goes on.”
Grassley, former chairman of the finance committee, said his requests for information came in response to complaints from the public and news coverage about practices at the six ministries. The allegations involve governing boards that aren’t independent and allow generous salaries and housing allowances for church leaders, and amenities such as private jets and Rolls-Royces.
“I don’t want to conclude that there’s a problem, but I have an obligation to donors and taxpayers to find out more,” he wrote. “People who donated should have their money spent as intended and in adherence with the tax code.”
Besides the Whites, letters went to Benny Hinn of World Healing Center Church 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 of Lithonia, Ga., and Creflo and Taffi Dollar of World Changers Church International of College Park, Ga.
That 501(c)(3) business is a sticky wicket and is used and abused frequently. Grassley, though, shouldn’t assume that those who donate to these ministries aren’t perfectly aware of where the money is going. There’s a mentality among many that it’s perfectly appropriate and fitting for a pastor to live in luxury, and they’re glad to funnel the money to God’s Anointed for his Rolls…
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