Kenneth Copeland investigated

[freeatlast]

Just saw an advertisment for CBS nightly news.

Not sure the details or times but it sounded like they were investigating the lavish lifestyle of Copelands and their tax free ministry.

[Mrs. LPW]

I don't know about Kenneth Copeland, or Paula White or Joel Osteen or anyone else who's got money and tax exemptions for that matter.. but if I were in a position some of these folks were in, the last thing I'd be doing is living lavishly. (and that includes business owners)
It just invites scrutiny and is one of the most foolish, unwise thing I've seen men do.

Another thing I wouldn't be doing as a pastor or leader in a church is getting into business with other saints.. but that's a whole other topic.

[OP_Carl]

The person we're most successful at fooling is ourselves.

They've all convinced themselves that they weren't in it for the money, power or prestige. The fact that it appears that way to everybody else is just an unfortunate misunderstanding of circumstance . . .

[ReformedDave]

How they use their wealth may be unethical but not necessarily illegal. Time will tell.

[Sister Alvear]

so true...

[Sister Alvear]

We must be very careful when we use God's money for it is just that...God's money...

[Neck]

Just saw an advertisment for CBS nightly news.

Not sure the details or times but it sounded like they were investigating the lavish lifestyle of Copelands and their tax free ministry.

I knew it was a matter of time.

[Neck]

How they use their wealth may be unethical but not necessarily illegal. Time will tell.

The problem is the laws will change and hurt the small church...

These mega ministries need to understand their actions..

[brotherjason]

Sometimes a topic comes up that makes it so hard to follow "mama always said" rule. I guess they named and claimed too much if you know what I mean.

[freeatlast]

Sometimes a topic comes up that makes it so hard to follow "mama always said" rule. I guess they named and claimed too much if you know what I mean.

I don't have cable Tv so I don't see these Tel-Evangelists.

I know very little about any of them.

I recall an Iowa senator (Grassley) recently did some looking into their tax free status and how funds were handled or mis handled in their organizations.

I agree. The more these Mega Star professional religoues hucksters mess up it will filter down to us and cause every small church in America to suffer because of the dis honesty of these few.

[TRFrance]

I'm not a big fan of these people, but in their defense, I'll say that many times they earn their money legitimately, so people shouldn't begrudge them that, or assume they earned it unethically.

Many of them are authors, whose books sell very well. I know, for example, that TD Jakes makes a ton off book sales. Others get large speaking fees and love offerings when they go to other churches to preach. . I know of one of these people who got paid a $50,000 fee to appear at a fairly large church in NY.

Sure, many of these people would do well to live a simpler lifestyle, but I think too many times people automatically assume that they're just looting the church treasury to make the big bucks, when in fact many of them have outside business interests and various sources of income.

[Rico]

I'm not a big fan of these people, but in their defense, I'll say that many times they earn their money legitimately, so people shouldn't begrudge them that, or assume they earned it unethically.

Many of them are authors, whose books sell very well. I know, for example, that TD Jakes makes a ton off book sales. Others get large speaking fees and love offerings when they go to other churches to preach. . I know of one of these people who got paid a $50,000 fee to appear at a fairly large church in NY.

Sure, many of these people would do well to live a simpler lifestyle, but I think too many times people automatically assume that they're just looting the church treasury to make the big bucks, when in fact many of them have outside business interests and various sources of income.


Any way you look at it they are profiting off their ministry. The jury is still out on whether that is ok or not. I agree with you that it's very easy to assume their lavishness is being funded off the backs of the people who give to their ministries.

[Cindy]

Do their book deals, CD's, DVD's fall under the tax free catergory also? Is it under the umbrella of the tax exemption?