Televangelists escape penalty in Senate inquiry

AP - Yahoo ^ | January 6, 2011 | Rachel Zoll

[EveningStar]

A senator's high-profile investigation of spending by televangelists wrapped up after more than three years Thursday with no penalties for the pastors who refused to cooperate and no definitive findings of wrongdoing.

[GeronL]

Not a surprise.

Got milked for all its worth eh?

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

A churches leadership should be required to collect and publish certified financial statements especially showing salaries, expense accounts and positions held and payment received from being on the Board of Directors for various church related businesses. Such laws would not be too intrusive.

[TSgt]

A churches leadership should be required to collect and publish certified financial statements especially showing salaries, expense accounts and positions held and payment received from being on the Board of Directors for various church related businesses. Such laws would not be too intrusive.

Agreed if they are non-profit tax exempt. I've seen far too many preachers run off with the kitty.

[GreenHornet]

Rod Parsley should have been among those who were investigated. His broadcasts aren’t sermons - they’re infomercials.

[Red Badger]

we had a preacher run off with a deacons wife.....

[TSgt]

The four ministries that refused to cooperate are:

• 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.

• Creflo and Taffi Dollar of World Changers Church International and Creflo Dollar Ministries of College Park, Ga.

• Randy and Paula White of Without Walls International Church and Paula White Ministries of Tampa, Fla.

[org.whodat]

Amen and pass the collection plate. Brother loves traveling salvation show

[TSgt]

Two of the targeted televangelists — Joyce Meyer, based in Missouri and Benny Hinn, based in California — told Grassley that they have made changes in how they govern their ministries or set compensation.

Joyce Meyer Ministries bought these 5 homes for Meyer and her family. The Ministry pays all expenses, including landscaping and lawn care, property taxes and rehab work. Meyer, her husband and each of their four married children live in the homes, free of charge. Ministry Headquarters The ministry's headquarters is a three-story jewel of red brick and emerald-color glass that, from the outside, has the look and feel of a luxury resort hotel. Built two years ago for $20 million, the building and grounds are postcard perfect, from manicured flower beds and walkways to a five-story lighted cross. The driveway to the office complex is lined on both sides with the flags of dozens of nations reached by the ministry. A large bronze sculpture of the Earth sits atop an open Bible near the parking lot. Just outside the main entrance, a sculpture of an American eagle landing on a tree branch stands near a man-made waterfall. A message in gold letters greets employees and visitors over the front entryway: "Look what the Lord Has Done." The building is decorated with religious paintings and sculptures, and quality furniture. Much of it, Meyer says, she selected herself. A Jefferson County assessor's list offers a glimpse into the value of many of the items: a $19,000 pair of Dresden vases, six French crystal vases bought for $18,500, an $8,000 Dresden porcelain depicting the Nativity, two $5,800 curio cabinets, a $5,700 porcelain of the Crucifixion, a pair of German porcelain vases bought for $5,200. The decor includes a $30,000 malachite round table, a $23,000 marble-topped antique commode, a $14,000 custom office bookcase, a $7,000 Stations of the Cross in Dresden porcelain, a $6,300 eagle sculpture on a pedestal, another eagle made of silver bought for $5,000, and numerous paintings purchased for $1,000 to $4,000 each.


Hinn is a virtual recluse, surrounded by armies of bodyguards, ensconced in an $12 million oceanfront hacienda in southern California, traveling by private jet for "snorkeling vacations" in the Cayman Islands, staying in $10,800 per night presidential suites in Italy, a $15,000 per night suite in Greece, and claiming a level of financial secrecy and paranoid internal security that's more often associated with drug dealers than men of the cloth.

[barb-tex]

I wonder just how much ‘transparency” is shown by the Main stream Religions, About as much as the current administration, I guess. But TELEVANGLIST, go with it man.

[ReverendJames]

And God looked upon them at the Final Judgment and said “So, about how you used my money” - will be interesting to see their faces.

[shield]

From what one has said...the senator only did this to cost these ministries a whole lot of money...it cost one of them 2 Million Dollars....that senator is a disgrace...

[BenLurkin]

Grassley didn’t have anything better to do?

[Sawdring]

They should also have to disclose how much money went to the prostitute the pastor was banging. Full disclosure and all.

[Sawdring]

That ministerial enclave puts Jim Baker’s plans to shame.

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

From what I have been reading usually it is a twelve year old boy that is the bangee.

[EveningStar]

Benny Hinn

[PoloSec]

Romans 16:18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

[EveningStar]

Maybe he didn’t want any “Grass” growing under his feet. :)

[Jane Austen]

I just never understood why people keep donating to Hinn. I have heard him speak, and I find nothing special. Also, there have been several documentaries about him that have left a bad impression. I do not know much about Joyce Meyer.