The investigation of the United States Senate to the tax-free status of religious organizations is the investigation of six 501 (c) religious organizations conducted by the United States Senate Finance Committee which runs from 2007 to 2011.
Video United States Senate inquiry into the tax-exempt status of religious organizations
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On 5 November 2007, United States Senator Chuck Grassley announced an investigation of the tax-exempt status of six ministries under the leadership of Benny Hinn, Paula White, Eddie L. Long, Joyce Meyer, Creflo Dollar, and Kenneth Copeland by the United State Senate Finance Committee. In letters to each of the ministries, Grassley asked the ministry to divulge specific financial information to the committee to determine whether or not the funds collected by each organization were incorrectly utilized by the head of the ministry. At the deadline of 6 December 2007, only three of the ministries have demonstrated compliance with the request of the Financial Committee. On March 11, 2008, Grassley and Chairman of Finance Max Baucus sent a letter of follow-up to Kenneth Copeland, Creflo Dollar and Eddie Long, explaining that the Senate reserves the right to investigate the finances of their organization under federal tax laws. The Associated Press reported that Grassley said the investigation was a response to complaints from the public and the news media. Grassley stated, "The allegations involve non-independent council arrangements and allow for large salaries and housing allowances and facilities such as private jets and Rolls Royces." The IRS guidelines require that priestly compensation be "reasonable" and net income can not benefit a private individual.
The response of these Ministers included the Constitutional argument on the power of Congress to oversee such matters. They claim that only the IRS has the authority to request such information, and if the IRS requests it or conducts an investigation, the ministry involved will be happy to comply.
Maps United States Senate inquiry into the tax-exempt status of religious organizations
Investigation
Benny Hinn Ministries
In a letter to Benny Hinn Ministries, Grassley asked the ministry to divulge financial information to the Senate Finance Committee to determine whether Hinn made personal gains from financial donations, and requested that the Hinn ministry make the information available on December 6, 2007. On December 6, 2007, Hinn told the Associated Press that he would not respond to the investigation until 2008. The Hinn Ministry has since responded to the question, and Senator Grassley commented that, "... Benny Hinn [has been] involved in an honest opening and dialogue with staff they not only respond to every question but, in the spirit of true cooperation, have also provided information above and beyond what is required. "
Bishop Eddie Long Ministries
Long did not cooperate with the investigation, including refusing to reveal his salary. The result of a three-year investigation is that there are no definitive findings about error, and ministers who refuse to cooperate receive no punishment.
Paula White Ministries
When CBS News reported the news, the White ministry denied wrongdoing, and on March 31, 2008, the Senate Finance Committee received joint financial statements from the International Churchless Noise and Paula White Ministries. Without the Walls of the International Church is one of four ministries who refuse to provide the full information that Senator Grassley requested. White interprets the conclusions of the investigation which means that the No Walls of the International Church are cleansed.
Creation of Dolls Ministries Creflo_Dollar_Ministries Creflo Dollar Ministries
Grassley requested financial information to determine whether the Dollar gained personal benefit from financial donations and requested that the dollar service make the information available on December 6, 2007.
The dollar fought the investigation, arguing that the right government entity to examine religious groups is the IRS, not the Financial Committee. Kenneth Copeland Ministries
Kenneth Copeland Ministries
Grassley asked the ministry to divulge financial information to the committee to determine whether Copeland made a personal benefit from financial donations, and requested that Copeland's services make information available on December 6, 2007. The Copelands responded with "The financial statements of Kenneth Copeland Ministries." KCM created a website for help explain the side of their investigation. The three-year investigation found no definitive findings on errors and was judged to be no punishment for the priests concerned.
Joyce Meyer Ministries
Grassley asked Joyce Meyer Ministries to divulge financial information to the committee to determine whether Meyer was getting personal benefits from financial donations, asking for a detailed explanation for things like cosmetic surgery and foreign bank accounts and citing expenses such as $ 23,000 commode. He also requested that Meyer's services make information available on December 6, 2007.
Meyer's services are one of two that meet the Senate's demand for financial records and make commitments for future financial transparency.
Comic controversy
In his response November 29 to Grassley, Meyer noted that the commode was a drawer. Meyer writes that it is part of the much needed $ 262,000 68-piece item to provide a 150,000 square foot service headquarters (14,000 m 2 ) purchased in 2001. He says that the commode label the price is the "wrong value" provided by the sales agent and apologizes for "not paying particular attention to" established values ​​"placed in pieces."
Financial statements
Joyce Meyer Ministries responded with a newsletter to the e-mail subscribers list on November 9, 2007. The organization referred to its annual financial statements, asserting that, in 2006, the ministry spent 82 percent of its total expenditures "for outreach and program services to reach people with the gospel of Jesus Christ, as evidenced by the independent accounting firm of Stanfield & O'Dell, LLP. "The message also quoted a letter of October 10, 2007, from the Internal Revenue Service stating," We decided that you [Joyce Meyer Ministries] requirement as an organization exempt from federal income tax under IRC section 501 (c) (3). "The same information is also posted to the ministry's website.
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Review
On March 16, 2009, Grassley, now only an individual Senator on the committee, stated "My staff and I continue to review the information we receive from cooperating ministries, and we continue to consider our options for ministries that have no cooperation," noting that two of the ministries, Hinn and Meyer, gave full financial disclosures.
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Conclusion
On January 6, 2011, Senator Grassley ended a three-year unpunished investigation and there were no definitive findings about the error.
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Aftermath
Donations to Eddie Long Ministries dropped significantly following the controversy surrounding Long's salary and church finances.
The Alliance for Freedom to protest investigations and National Religion Announcers said the question Senator Grassley asked was too broad. The Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability makes plans to create a national commission in response to Grassley's report to lead a review of accountability and policy.
src: www.aclu.org
References
src: www.usip.org
External links
- Evangelical Finance Probe Concluded By Senator
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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