Republican Senator Chuck Grassley, ranking member of the Senate Committee on Finance, is investigating the ministries of Kenneth and Gloria Copeland, Creflo Dollar, Benny Hinn, Eddie Long, Joyce Meyer and Paula White. Grassley believes that he owes it to donors and taxpayers to determine whether the organizations have abused their tax-exempt status as churches to finance lavish personal lifestyles. Each of the ministries received formal letters from the Senator. Jamie Dean of World Magazine notes that “the letters asked organization leaders to provide detailed financial information, including audited financial statements, executive compensation packages, ministry credit card statements, a list of property and assets, and a detailed explanation of personal use of organization assets, such as jets and homes.”
For example, Grassley asked David and Joyce Meyer of Joyce Meyer Ministries to explain the tax-exempt purpose of a $23,000 “commode with a marble top” and an $11,000 “French clock” purchased for the ministry’s headquarters. Kenneth and Gloria Copeland were asked to explain the tax-exempt purpose of layovers the couple reportedly took in Maui, the Fiji Islands, and Honolulu using a ministry jet. Benny Hinn was asked to provide similar information regarding layovers at his ministry’s expense.
Time magazine has now picked up on the story as well. Last year, Time did a cover story called “Does God Want You to be Rich?”. Also, NBC’s Dateline has previously investigated Benny Hinn.