Kenneth Copeland

Televangelist and founder of the Kenneth Copeland Ministries, Kenneth Copeland, is a target of a Senate Finance Committee investigation led by Republican Senator Charles Grassley of Iowa. Copeland's ministry is accused of questionable spending and lax financial accountability.WashingtonPost.com: Ap Impact: Relatives of Televangelist Prosper (July 27, 2008)

Churches are tax exempt and are non-profit organizations. Churches are not required to disclose details of their finances. Copeland's 500-employee ministry is listed as a church for tax purposes.WashingtonPost.com: Ap Impact: Relatives of Televangelist Prosper (July 27, 2008) While his salary has not been made public, the church disclosed that his wife earned $292,593 in 1995.WashingtonPost.com: Ap Impact: Relatives of Televangelist Prosper (July 27, 2008) In the same year, Copeland earned $364, 557. An additional 13 relatives were on the churches payroll that year.WashingtonPost.com: Ap Impact: Relatives of Televangelist Prosper (July 27, 2008)

Copeland has allegedly prospered from the donations of his parishioners. In sermons, he and his wife have promised that by giving (sowing) a $100 dollar donation to the ministry, the money will be returned a hundredfold to the giver.

Here are some of the assets of the Copeland Ministry, as reported by a CBS News investigation: An 18,000 square foot lake-front home in Texas worth $6 million, a fleet of planes and a $20 million jet with a private runway strip.CBS News: Hard Questions For "Prosperity Gospel", A Televangelist Lives... (January 29, 2008)WashingtonPost.com: Ap Impact: Relatives of Televangelist Prosper (July 27, 2008)

1. Paula and Randy WhiteChristianPost.com: Kenneth Copeland Takes Senate Probe Battle to Public (May 14, 2008)
2. Benny HinnChristianPost.com: Kenneth Copeland Takes Senate Probe Battle to Public (May 14, 2008)
3. Eddie Long
4. Creflo Dollar
5. Joyce and David MeyerChristianPost.com: Kenneth Copeland Takes Senate Probe Battle to Public (May 14, 2008)