- Without Walls International Church (Revs. Paula and Randy White)
- World Healing Center Church (Pastor Benny Hinn)
- Joyce Meyer Ministry (Revs. Joyce and David Meyer)
- New Birth Missionary Baptist Church (Bishop Eddie Long)
- World Changers Church International (Dr. Creflo Dollar)
- Eagle Mountain International Church (Revs. Kenneth and Gloria Copeland)
The Letter from Sen. Grassley inquired about various aspects of church business, requesting specific information about each church's compensation, accounting, and financial practices. Furthermore, some of the letters went as far to ask for the identity of the various church's board members, amounts paid to visiting ministers, speakers, and musicians, and donations made from other churches and ministries.
For the most part, many of these requests from Sen. Grassley exceeded what churches are required to publicly disclose. Subsequently, much of the information is material that if obtained by the IRS would not be publicly disclosed and treated as confidential by the state.
According to the Churches website (BelieverStandUnited.com) the churches do not represent a broad spectrum of churches. In fact, they all are very similar in their ministries and beliefs. all six ministries under investigation preach the "Word of Faith" message, which is based on the religious belief that God wants His children to be spiritually, physically, and financially blessed, and that prosperity in all areas of one's life is an outward sign of the fulfillment of God's promises contained in the Bible.
In a press release Sen. Grassley conveyed that it was his "obligation" to review the manner in which these churches have spent the tithes of their members. Suggesting that the individuals that make up a church body are no different then the relationship of a donor to a charitable organization.
Some of the churches questioned denied answering some of the 42 questions asked by Sen. Grassley citing constitutional and/or statutorily based privacy and confidentiality concerns under the protections provided for Churches under the United States Constitution and the Internal Revenue Code. Furthermore, Kenneth Copeland Ministries, in its December 6, 2007, response stated that the most efficient manner for the Senator to obtain the information he desires would to simply request the information from the IRS. That would both supply the Senator with his desired info while still allowing the Church its rights under the Constitution and the IRS tax code.
The senators response, was that the churches with the exception of Without Walls International Church, "had not cooperated." KCM responded to Senators Grassley and Baucus in a March 31, 2008, letter in which it declined to provide additional information in response to Senator Grassley's request. KCM reiterated the Church's position that the most timely and efficient manner for the Senators to obtain the requested information - without compromising the Church's, its members', partners', and friends' constitutional and statutorily based rights - is to request the information from the IRS.
At the conclusion of a properly conducted IRS church tax inquiry, Senator Grassley could ask the IRS for the information obtained through that process. A request from Senator Grassley to the IRS would be covered by section 6103 of the Internal Revenue Code, which protects the privacy of information that the IRS obtains from all taxpayers. Senator Grassley would not be able to use information obtained by the IRS to subject the Church or its members to scrutiny by the public, but he would be able to fully use the information to accomplish his stated goal of determining whether the Church is complying with federal tax laws.
If KCM were to provide the requested information directly to Senator Grassley or the Committee, however, the protections from public disclosure afforded to the Church under section 6103 of the Internal Revenue Code would not apply.
It's simply outrageous that a U.S. Senator seeks to ignore the religious rights and freedoms afforded to churches under the Constitution. Sen. Grassley is demanding to see private documents, and refusing to cooperate according to proper tax procedure under the IRS. What Church is next? The Senator has absolutely no right afforded to him under the guiding principles of legislature to make these kinds of demands. To stand up for religious liberty and rights please sign this petition.
