Texas Megachurch Under Scrutiny

The teachings of Kenneth Copeland's church are under a spotlight after a measles outbreak among its children. Copeland has bragged about not giving his great-grandchildren vaccines, calling it "criminal." But his daughter, Terri Pearsons, who now pastors Eagle Mountain church has encouraged the congregation to get shots after the measles outbreak in the congregation. Read more in an Associated Press article here.

Getting to Know.. Kenneth Copeland

Kenneth Copeland is a 74-year-old Texas televangelist who had a Top 40 hit in the late 50’s called Pledge of Love and sang on American Bandstand. Copeland later attended Oral Roberts University in Tulsa. His ministry sits on a 1500-acre campus near Forth Worth and includes:

• 500-employees and a budget in the tens of millions of dollars
• a private airstrip
• an airplane hangar
• a $17.5 million jet and other aircraft
• a $6 million church-owned lakefront mansion
• an oil and natural gas company with reserves valued at $23 million last year
• Copeland maintains veto power over anything his board of directors decides.
• More than a dozen of his relatives were on the church's payroll 14 years ago.

Copeland Wins Tax Battle

A northern Texas tax appraisal district is backing down on its demands on Kenneth Copeland Ministries. Tax officials have agreed to exempt Copeland's $3 million jet from property taxes and drop its demand that the ministry reveal the salaries of its directors.

Copeland Accusations

Televangelist Kenneth Copeland is denying accusations his ministry failed to follow through on promises to help earthquake victims in Haiti. The claim comes from Rich Vermillion, who worked with Copeland and wrote the book Angel Flight 44: The True Story of Two Dedicated Pilots, a 60-Year-Old Airplane, and the Amazing Hurricane Katrina Mission That Birthed a New Aviation Ministry. The book is about the 2005 relief efforts for victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. According to Vermillion, Copeland's promised at the time to form a new ongoing aviation humanitarian-relief ministry also called Angel Flight 44 but never did.

On his blog, KennethCopelandBlog.com, Vermillion writes:

"...one has to wonder where Copeland and his Angel Flight 44 ministry were during those early days of the disaster when their services were so badly needed. If Copeland had prepared beforehand as he had pledged, there would have been supplies flowing into Haiti within 24 hours after that earthquake. Instead, the people had to suffer and wait until other groups arrived, and that seems almost criminal in my opinion."

Copeland's lawyer responds:

“Kenneth Copeland Ministries is one of the premier Christian Ministries in the world today and is run with the utmost integrity. The Church has an annual independent audit and there are no funds that have been misused or unaccounted for.”

Copeland Loses Tax Status of Jet

Kenneth Copeland plans to protest a decision that could cut into the finances of his Texas mega-ministry. Auditors have denied him the tax-exempt status he had on a $3.6 million jet. The reason: The refusal of Copeland's ministry to reveal director’s salaries. In all, Kenneth Copeland Ministries owns five aircraft, including a $17.5 million Citation X.

Copeland has resisted efforts in the last year by Senator Charles Grassley to find out information about the ministry as part of an investigation into televangelists.

Questions over Copeland's Financies

Many of Kenneth Copeland’s friends and relatives have gotten rich, according to the Associated Press. In response, ministry officials say no one has improperly benefited from ties to Copeland. But AP says tax experts who have looked over some of the documentation on the ministry’s finances call the ministry's integrity into question because of the many “red flags” raised by the various relationships between it's investments and Copeland associates.

Copeland Challenges Inquiry

In a new statement released today, Kenneth Copeland is disputing a claim by Senator Charles Grassley that Copeland’s ministry is not cooperating with a congressional investigation. Copeland says it’s not true. Among other things, the top Republican on the Senate Finance Committee wants the numbers on housing allowances, loans to members of Copeland’s family and ministry credit card statements. The televangelist says Grassley should go to the IRS for information about his financial operations and that his inquiry “raises serious constitutional issues”.

A "Control Freak"

The former head of New York State’s Charities Bureau says televangelist Kenneth Copeland is a “control freak”. That’s because, according to CBS News, ministry bylaws allow Copeland to veto any resolution of his church board. It’s unlikely there would ever be a conflict though. Copeland's wife is vice president while his son-in-law is Senior Pastor, Secretary and Treasurer. His son, John, is the Operations Vice President and CEO. In most churches, authority comes from the congregation and they get to decide who becomes pastor. But in Copeland's set up, he has all the power. He recently gained national attention for refusing to give Senate investigators details of his ministry's finances. The church spent $28 million on salaries of the $100 million it took in during 2006.

Copeland Appeals to IRS

Kenneth Copeland wants an IRS audit. The televangelist is asking for the examination because he claims an invetigation by Iowa Senator Charles Grassley is improper. Grassley is looking into several Christian organizations for alleged lavish spending and Copeland has resisted provided information to Grassley's Senate committee. Copeland's attorneys say lawmakers can get their info from the IRS after the agency audits his ministry.

HINN COOPORATES, COPELAND DIGS IN

Televangelist Benny Hinn has turned over material to the Senate Finance Committee in response to a request from Iowa Senator Charles Grassley. At the same time, Kenneth Copeland is rejected the same request, telling supporters in a letter this month Grassley is targeting prosperity teachers. Grassley's office has begun getting calls from Copeland supporters complaining about the probe. Atlanta-ministers Creflo Dollar and Eddie Long are also refusing to send any information to Grassley. His request to Paula and Randy White have gone unanswered.

COPELAND VOWS TO FIGHT INVESTIGATION

Televangelist Kenneth Copeland says he’s going to fight an investigation spearheaded by Senater Charles Grassley. Copeland told a group of ministers that any attempts by Grassley to gain information would be made "over my dead body." Grassley first sent letters in November to six ministries teaching prosperity gospel asking about contributions, salaries and spending. They include Randy and Paula White, Benny Hinn, David and Joyce Meyer, Eddie Long and Creflo and Taffi Dollar. The only one that has cooperated is Joyce Meyer. The senator plans to send a second request for information, along with further justification for his probe. Copeland's response has been posted on YouTube. COPELAND VIDEO

PROBE OF TV MINISTRIES

Another set of letters are expected to go out from Senator Charles Grassley in his probe of Christian television ministries. The top Republican on the Senate Finance Committee already put the spotlight on Creflo Dollar, Bishop Eddie Long, Joyce Meyer Kenneth Copeland Benny Hinn and Randy and Paula White. Grassley wanted to know how they are spending their money and how they are governed. Some have not cooperated and Grassley’s new letters will be asking why. Christianity Today magazine has suggested in an editorial that the probe is overstepping the Senator’s authority while the head of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability and the editor of Charisma magazine say they support Grassley’s effort.