Today was the deadline for a selected group of TV ministries to turn over financial information as demanded by Senator Charles Grassley. As we could have predicted, so far:

Kenneth Copeland and Joyce Meyer turned in everything before it was due. Paula White responded, but then went silent, no one has a clue what she is up to. Benny Hinn stalled. And Eddie Long and Creflo Dollar have stonewalled. ... read more

One of the things that's most disconcerting to me during the Senator Charles Grassley affair is just how little unity there is in the church today. It's no wonder we're not making more of a cultural impact. Reading over various blogs last night, it's amazing how many Christians out there are applauding Grassley. I'm sure he's a good man and has done many great things in office. The truth is, if you read this blog very much, you'll know I'm not a big fan of many TV ministries. There are people on that list that I have plenty of problems with, and I'm pretty vocal about it. I probably spend as much time ... read more

A number of people have been asking me for my personal take on Senator Charles Grassley's "investigation" into the finances of six major Christian ministry organizations. The ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee says donors deserve to have their "money spent as intended and in adherence with the tax code." Certainly, as an American consumer and donor myself, I want more and more transparency among all non-profits and religious organizations. It's not just a matter of IRS regulations, it's also a matter of ethics and common sense. If you want trust among your supporters, then let them know where their money is going.

On the other hand, ... read more