Preacher Group Calls Senate Probe Unfair; Police Destroyed Records From Klan, Nazis, Protestors Clash

May 15th, 2008

Preacher group says a Senate probe is unfair
A congressional committee has no business jamming up six TV preachers over their Charles Grassleyspending practices, says a group of church leaders. In a letter to the head of the Senate Finance Committee, the coalition of ministers contends that the inquiry sets a frightening precedence. Investigations into financial practices that purport to violate U.S. tax codes, as committee Chairman Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) has alleged, should be handled by the IRS, the group argues. “Just the fact that you are named in an investigation casts a cloud over your integrity,” says Rob Schenck, president of the National Clergy Council and one of the almost two dozen signatories. “There are, of course, always violators out there – but there are appropriate remedies for them, and that is through the IRS as the proper investigatory agency.” Saying that the probe is intimidating, Schenck believes the ministries were targeted for their evangelical theology and conservative social positions. Several months ago, Grassley announced that his committee was looking into allegations that six televangelists were raking in tens of millions of tax-free dollars in their offering plates and using the money to fund their personal, lavish lifestyles. He cited luxury cars, sprawling cribs and personal jets as examples of items bought with church money. The six televangelists being investigated are Kenneth Copeland, Creflo Dollar, Benny Hinn, Eddie Long, Joyce Meyer, and Paula and Randy White.

Greensboro Police find the department did nothing wrong
Greensboro Police have concluded that evidence surrounding a shootout nearly three decades ago between Klansmen, Nazis and anti-Klan protestors was not destroyed by destroyed by police. But that’s not sufficient for three local pastors, the Revs. Cardes Brown, Gregory Headen and Nelson Johnson, who believe that the police investigation was a ruse, since it is police who are accused of doing the destroying. They say that they have reliable information that some 50 boxes of files related to the shootings were thrown away in 2004 or 2005 after the Greensboro Truth and Reconciliation Commission requested them. The commission was seated in 2004 to analyze the shootings and to help the city move past the tragedy. “Our police department needs some investigation from outside,” Headen told The Associated Press. Greensboro Police Chief Tim Bellamy said Monday that officers threw away five to 10 boxes of newspaper clippings surrounding the ordeal, but that the act did not violate department policy or laws regarding retention of documents. In 1979, five people were killed and 10 wounded in a clash between Klansmen, Nazis and anti-KKK demonstrators.

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Comments

madre1000 Said on

white people rule things in their own mind and dont get me started on the so called police



James Said on

Ahhhhhh, what’s wrong with the probe? since when did you have to pay to pray?



A.H. Johnson Said on

They did nothing wrong? ok are they going to throw away files from the black panther members? That should be a two way street.



Dreamin77 Said on

Copeland is standing up for the bigger picture here. The future implications are scary if Grassley is given this kind of power. Copeland even set up a website to keep the public up to date as to all the happenings.
http://www.believersstandunited.com



Tramaine L. Foye Said on

God is soon to come back….Remember the Word says…(paraphrasing) TOUCH NOT MINE ANOINTED AND DO MY PROPHETS NO HARM!!!!
To all of the churches affected by this Probe. Don’t be discouraged. Vengence is the Lord’s…and He will Repay…



alandra123 Said on

I agree with the probe. Not all ministers are misleading members, but we do have some that are just plain greedy and not trust-worthy. The preachers are getting rich and the members are becoming poor. Jesus preached for free. I understand we must give in order for the up-keep of the church, and other financial obligations. I do not mind giving but there is a limit. I will not give and live in a shack and drive a hoopty and my pastor lives in a mansion and have ten cars and yet he tells me I’m getting my break through. My Jesus preached for free and did not expect anything in return. Salvation is free. I believe in giving but I am not a fool. I just feel that if a “true” man of God received his calling from God, he would never have to beat members out of their hard earned working money. God would provide for him/her like he did for Jesus. Jesus know your motive so if you are a minister and you are stealing and using people for your own personal gain then God forbid!



shortback Said on

Why don’t they leave us alone. Just know that the preachers have a higher authority to look up to and they will be judged by him not them.



Emmanuel Fidel Said on

This is so annoying and frustrating, why can’t they go probe themselves and leave the Preachers alone. They are called by God and if the USA government did not intervene to stop this mess, it might result into something that will give the Devil a chance to create doubts in the minds of Believers and those that are coming to Christ. This is an insult and a slap in the face of Christian’s worldwide. Finally no one has the right to probe, judge whoever is called to preach Christ they are only answerable to their caller “JESUS CHRIST”. And who ever things that they have the judicial power to cast any probe or judgment on any of the mentioned preachers are just heaping coal of fire on their head.
Emmanuel Fidel From the Kingdom of Bahrain



dee1one Said on

This is crazy, to tithe is in the bible, no preacher is forcing anyone, anywhere to give. If you are a believer, you do not have to be, NOR will you be coerced into giving. Of course there are crooked people at every turn, but no matter what we do or say, they will be judged with or without any probe by someone who decided that he would be judge and jury. Its ridiculous!



Lawrence Said on

Innocent preachers should not mind a probe. I they are not guilty, they will come out ok. The ones that are ducking taxes on personal incomes, this should serve as a warning that it will no longer be tolerated.



Lynnette Said on

Thank God for men and women who continue to keep the word before us to keep our hearts pricked with the words of God. Just imagine a world with the word, think on the christians who can’t gather, praise, give thanks in a central gathering because their lives do depend on it. However, somewhere “we” all have missed the boat. When has it become ok to see the church spend millions on lavish things and “we” not hold them accountable. Tithes and offerings are to be brought into the storehouse which means a place to store and distribute for the needs of the people. Everytime we saw Jesus do something he was giving out, multiplying, adding to; not to himself but for others. If “we” had the right concept of what it means to truly take care of our people “we” could lift folks out of poverty instead of looking at the government to do it for “us”. Yes, the word says we will always have the poor among us, but think of it another way. If “we” would have taken care of the first cycle of the poor, and it is cyclical, “we” would have a much easier time lifting the next cycle out of the relm of ignorance into the relm of the learned. As “we” teach the word and the way God intends for “us” to live there would not be as many poor among “us”. Twenty three thousand dollars on a tolite seat, give me a break–it should wipe, clean, dry and give you a push up from the seat! Wake up church, “we” need to be the ones accountable to keep leaders accountable.



Barbara Said on

Granted, not all who preach are called by God to do so but God will deal with them, not man. It is not our place to judge them. TV evangelists and ministers do a tremendous service for the ones who are seeking to have a relationship with God but are not physically able to go to Church. However, I DO believe that some are not what they say they are and are trying to use God to make living for themselves, not really caring about the many lives they are affecting. Even with that said, no man has no right to judge another man. God can and will handle His business just fine without our man-made probes. Remember, God don’t need us, we need God. If they are doing wrong, God will deal with them and when He does, the wrongdoers will know that they have been dealt with.



Nina Johnson Said on

I think the probe is warranted and criminal charges should be in order. Preaches particularly black ministers shower themselves with material things, from the backs of the congregations they serve. They certainly contradicted the principle that entrepreneurship and churches should not mix.

Ministers today should be pulling resources from American corporations to fund programs to empower their community, calling it “The Readiness Blessing Program”. Monday through Saturday churches should be opened and offer computer training, job readiness, bus tokens, business attire and shoes to the homeless, all funded by corporations. The money they make for book sales, cd sales, webcasting, pledges, donations, offerings and subscriptions, can go to pay for purchasing an apartment buildings. to house those who attend the program.

What are most lavished ministers like T.D. Jakes, Creflo Dollar and others doing, Monday through Saturday other then meeting with investment bankers, car salesmen, and mortgage brokers and like? Look at Bishop Thomas, who was found guilty of beating his wife, we see where is time is being spend.

It is an insult that Rob Schenck, president of the National Clergy Council would support their effort and not send them a letter requesting what they are doing for the community they server.

Ask yourselves in the 21st century would Jesus, ware custom suits, thousand dollar shoes, drive a Bentley purchased a private plane and lived in a million dollar house?



Rev. Michael C Robinson Said on

Unfortunately there ar some false prophets out there”prophets for profit”. This should not be surprising for the Christian, the Bible warns us of these decievers. Please just continue to grow in your alk with God and as that relationship strengthens he will expose to your those who are not truly annointed by God.

Please just pray that God’s Will be done through this ordeal.



t.lewis Said on

for one, i do believe that creflo dollar should be the main one being investigated. he is the fakest, most money hungry, blaspheming “supposed “preacher there is. if te investigation doesn’t bring him down, “OUR HEAVENLY FATHER” will and he is one person he can’t lie to.



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