The widow of megachurch pastor Zachery Tims Jr. sued the church she co-founded with her late ex-husband, in a nasty spat to try to keep control of the New Destiny Christian Center Church, Inc.
A three-year investigation into financial improprieties at six Christian ministries whose television preaching bankrolled leaders’ lavish lifestyles has concluded with the formation of an independent commission to look into the lack of accountability by tax-exempt religious groups.
The investigation report issued this week details the ministries’ luxury homes and cars, trips on private jets and expensive gifts, including two Rolls Royces that a third party reported was given to the Dollars as a gift from the church.
Without Walls International Church senior pastor Paula White and worldwide televangelist and faith healer Benny Hinn posted statements on their websites recently denying a National Enquirer report that they are romantically involved.
The tabloid’s article includes photos identified as Hinn and White holding hands on a supposed “romantic trip to Rome.”
Reports this week suggest a still-married Benny Hinn is now romantically involved with Paula White, another television preacher with a colourful past.
In February, Hinn’s wife Suzanne filed for divorce, citing “irreconcilable differences.” The two were at that point living apart.
In a service notable for its unusual content, the Rev. Randy White, pastor of Without Walls International Church, laid bare the church’s financial situation Sunday and its bid to stave off foreclosure of its two campuses.
In his 90-minute sermon, White devoted 30 minutes to talk of the foreclosure proceedings. He spent an hour rebutting a series of articles written by the Tampa Tribune about the church over an 18-month period. White said the coverage had cost the church and its affiliates, which include Paula White Ministries, millions of dollars.
The future of Without Walls International Church is in question now that a credit union wants to foreclose on the megaministry.
The church defaulted on a $1 million loan due in August, prompting the California-based Evangelical Christian Credit Union to file foreclosure proceedings Tuesday.
For months there have been signs of financial struggles at Without Walls.
In August, the church’s financial controller resigned resigned after Randy White ordered him to pay White’s $24,000 American Express bill, even though it would mean the ministry couldn’t make payroll for the week.
Media-based televangelists benefiting from tax code exemptions are warned — Sen. Chuck Grassley is a terrier-like congressional inquisitor with time and a big stick on his side.
“I am not threatening them, at this point,” the Iowa Republican said.
Only two of six Christian ministries under scrutiny for allegations of opulent spending turned over documents to a Senate panel by a Thursday deadline, with others either fighting the request or asking for more time.
Four televangelists, under investigation for the way they raise and spend money, did not turn over financial information by Thursday, the deadline set by the Senate Finance Committee, including one preacher who challenged the committee to subpoena him.
The alleged attack of Thomas Weeks on estranged wife Juanita Bynum, and the divorce announced by Randy and Paula White, has rocked the evangelical world and left many tongues wagging about the state of clerical marriage and the ability of divorced clerics to minister.
