Christian leaders question D.C. probe of prosperity televangelists

WASHINGTON – Nearly two-dozen conservative Christian leaders have signed a letter to the Senate Finance Committee questioning an investigation into six large ministries that preach a gospel of prosperity.

The letter argues that the 6-month-old inquiry sets a dangerous precedent. It also suggests that the ministries were targeted for sharing “the same branch of evangelicalism” and promoting “socially conservative public policy positions such as support for the traditional definition of marriage.”

Although the ministries under scrutiny are conservative theologically, they are not at the forefront of the culture wars issues championed by the leaders who are now rallying to their side.

The most prominent figures who signed the letter are Moral Majority co-founder Paul Weyrich, American Family Association chairman Don Wildmon and former Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell.

“The ministries have been asked to produce financial records and internal documents in what appears to be an exercise in disproving their alleged guilt,” the letter states.

The group repeats an argument by some of the targeted ministries – that the investigation falls short of the high bar the Internal Revenue Service has for justifying a church investigation.

Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa, the ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, sent letters to the six ministries in November seeking answers about spending on private planes, oceanside mansions and board oversight. The committee’s Democratic chairman, Sen. Max Baucus, joined Grassley in asking for answers.

The six ministries in question – led respectively by Kenneth Copeland, Creflo Dollar, Benny Hinn, Eddie Long, Joyce Meyer and Paula and Randy White – have denied wrongdoing. Some have pledged full cooperation and others have either refused or provided limited information.

Jill Kozeny, a spokeswoman for Grassley, said the investigation is not concerned with church doctrine but with the adequacy of tax-exempt laws that have not been substantially changed since 1968.

Read Another Article

Reclusive Penza sect members dig out well in underground cave
Raid on Sect in Texas Rattles Other Polygamists

Related News Articles Topic(s): Prosperity Teaching • Televangelists Related Tags / Keywords: prosperity gospel • Prosperity Teaching • Televangelists Subscribe to Religion News Blog updates Subscribe to Religion News Blog [What is this?] Get Religion News Blog's headline by Email [What is this?] Follow Religion News Blog at Twitter Find Related Information Use our custom search engines to find additional research resources on religions and cults: ApologeticsSearch.com: Search for apologetics articles, books, videos, and other research resources across 135 Christian apologetics websites and blogs. CounterCultSearch.com: Search for information about (religious) cults, cult-like organizations, and cults experts -- as well as paranormal-, New Age, and pseudoscientific claims -- across 260+ websites, blogs and forums dedicated to cult research, spiritual abuse, ex-cult counseling & support. Find Related Religion & Spirituality Books at Amazon.com Prosperity Teaching Possibly related... or Most Popular Religion News Articles Tax-Exempt Ministries Avoid New Regulation Inside Rhema — the most powerful church in south Africa Watchdog: Jesse Duplantis’ ministry is big business Prosperity gospel faces challenge: frugal savers Prosperity Gospel: Did Christianity Cause the Crash? Kenneth and Gloria Copeland continue to peddle Prosperity Gospel Foreclosures: Did God Want You to Get That Mortgage? Benny Hinn runs lucrative operation Mac Hammond’s Living Word Christian Center facing IRS investigation Grassley provides update on probe of ministries, including Copeland’s and Hinn’s

Search Religion News Blog