Senator Chuck Grassley Speaks, Press Conference

Just returned from the press conference with Republican Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa.

Senator Grassley spoke at this morning's plenary session of The New Baptist Covenant on the challenges of public policy and feeding the hungry world. Grassley discussed the need for the dissemination of scientific ideas towards increasing food production and the positive effects of trade liberalization on ending world hunger. You can watch that Video here. And please, watch these videos before you (non-NBC supporters) make sweeping accusations and unfounded claims.

Here's a quote from Grassley's speech:

"Each of us here today is unity by an even greater bond, our faith - here today we Celebrate Unity in Jesus Christ....Our faith can help bridge differences...As Baptists, we're committed to promoting equality, peace and justice in the world...The New Baptist Covenant offers a chance for us to bear witness for Jesus Christ's Love For All"

As most know (blogged about here and here), Senator Grassley has launched an investigation into the ministries of six prominent televangelists for possible financial misconduct. These six Prosperity Gospel peddlers include Paula White, Joyce Meyer, Creflo Dollar, Eddie Long, Kenneth Copeland and Benny Hinn. Grassley is trying to determine whether or not these ministers and their ministries are improperly using their tax-exempt status as churches to shield lavish lifestyles.

Thoughts and Notes from the Press Conference, Video here.

Frank Lockwood of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (and Bible Belt Blogger) asked Grassley how he - as a Christian - felt about political fundraisers being held in a church sanctuary. A good question and I hoped for Grassley to give a personal answer. As a graduate student in Church-State Studies and as a Baptist, I hoped Grassley would retort that such fundraisers are unethical and an inappropriate mix of religion and politics.

Grassley did not do that. Sounding more like a lawyer (which he isn’t), Grassley noted that whether said fundraiser violated non-profit status is a legal matter. True. Though, that’s not the type of response that the question was intended to produce. Although just a bit later in the press conference, Grassley declared that his rule of thumb on these type of important church-state issues is: “Any minister ought to {be able} to do anything that Jesse Jackson can do!”

On the subjection of the investigation, Grassley pointed out that except for Jack Abramoff (who is in prison), every single time that he has asked for info from non-profits, his request was granted. Currently, two of the six ministries have not complied with Grassley’s request for their financial records. The Rev. Creflo Dollar of Atlanta has stated that he will not comply with the request unless a subpoena is issued.

Grassley also claimed to have no personal grudge. He claimed to not even know the names of the televangelists targeted by his investigation. While that’s actually rather hard to believe, I believe the man. He called Creflo Dollar by the wrong name and didn’t seem to realize that Creflo’s World Changers ministry is located here in the ATL. Grassley also referred to Joyce Meyer as Patricia. He even claimed to have no understanding of the Prosperity Gospel. Either the Senator is accomplished at playing dumb or he really is no theologian and not the most informed person. However, Grassley is dead wrong on at least one point. His investigation is not simply an issue of tax law. If Grassley overreaches in his inquiry, there could be far-reaching consequences for church-state issues. All religious liberty advocates should continue to keep a close eye on Grassley’s investigation.

*Grassley grew up in a Baptist congregation aligned with the General Association of Regular Baptists. He is now a member of Prairie Lakes Church which until 1998 was affiliated with ABC-USA and is now affiliated with the Baptist General Conference. Grassley cracked that while some in his church saw fit to remove Baptist from the church sign out front, he was not embarrassed of being a Baptist.

Sen. Chuck Grassley v. Prosperity Preachers, Part 2

For those following news and analysis surrounding Senator Grassley's investigation, don't miss this post from church-state expert Melissa Rogers. A snippet below:

The government has the right and obligation to ensure that 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations, including churches, abide by the restrictions that apply to those organizations by virtue of their interest in qualifying for and maintaining that tax-exempt status. At the same time, the government must ensure that it respects the First Amendment rights of churches in the process.

Viewed from that perspective, Grassley is on target when he says he is launching this investigation because of concerns that these organizations have crossed legal lines that apply to them because of the tax-exempt status that they wish to have and keep. And I'm glad to hear Senator Grassley appreciates the need to avoid government meddling in theological issues and to respect the separation of church and state. With those assurances in mind, I hope Senator Grassley will drop a couple of troubling talking points he has used. In a radio interview (see here ), Grassley refers to the fact that he is a Christian. He says, "[a]s a Christian myself. . . . I think we expect the money to be used for the purpose of the mission . . . . " And the Tampa Tribune reports that Senator Grassley said:

"I think for a person like me, it's this simple," Grassley told News Channel 8 on Tuesday. "Jesus came into the city on a simple donkey. To what extent do you need a Rolls-Royce to expand the ministry of Jesus Christ?"

These talking points are ill-advised because they could be read to suggest that a government leader is using his official powers to target certain churches because he takes issue with their theology. I take a back seat to no one in terms of my criticism of the so-called "prosperity gospel." But I don't want any branch or official of the government to try to evaluate the "prosperity gospel" as a theological matter -- that is not the government's job. The government's job is to make, interpret, and enforce the law, even when it applies to religious organizations, and to do so in ways that respect religious freedom and the separation of church and state. It will be important to watch this investigation as it moves forward to ensure that it adheres to those principles.

Over at Christianity Today, Richard Hammar who is an expert on church law and tax has a helpful piece that offers more details. Section 501(c)(3) of the tax code exempts religious organizations from federal taxation so long as they comply with certain requirements. One requirement is that the organization does not pay unreasonable compensation which is the main focus of Grassley's investigation.

I guess the million dollar question is, under the law, what's REASONABLE? A 23,000 dollar marble commode? Lipo? I suspect a Prosperity Preacher who wears tailor-made Armani suits and drives a Bentley could make an argument that the amount of compensation received is in fact reasonable....

Let's hope Grassley's investigation is guided by respect for the principle of church-state separation and not his own personal motives and/or religious bias against "Electronic Serpents."

Baptist Senator's War On Prosperity Preachers

Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa, the ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee and scheduled speaker at the upcoming Celebration of a New Baptist Covenant is investigating six prominent televangelists for possible financial misconduct. The six electronic preachers include Paula White, Joyce Meyer, Creflo Dollar, Eddie Long, Kenneth Copeland and Benny Hinn. Grassley is trying to determine whether or not these ministers and their ministries are improperly using their tax-exempt status as churches to shield lavish lifestyles.

In an article on Christianity Today Online, Joel Hunter the Florida megachurch pastor had this to say about Grassley's investigation:

"If your house is in order, you have nothing to fear and much to gain from this process,"

Others fear that Grassley's investigation could set a bad precedent.

Mr. Naked Public Square, Richard John Neuhaus commented:

"James Madison would be telling us, 'Take Alarm! Take Alarm!''' Richard John Neuhaus, editor of the journal First Things, told CT. "This is cause for alarm that a Senate committee would presume to directly exercise financial oversight of religious ministries."

And from Charles Haynes of the First Amendment Center:

"There has kind of been an end-run here," contends Charles Haynes, director of the First Amendment Center. The Senate prying into church money matters could be a slippery slope, he said.

"It's legitimate for government to monitor whether or not the laws are being followed by ministries," said Haynes. "Having said that, this is an unusual approach. The danger here is that it can become a fishing expedition … into areas where the First Amendment protects ministries—for example, their beliefs and view of the gospel. They may be controversial or unorthodox or unpopular, but that is none of the business of government."'

This portion of the CT article was quite interesting:

While Grassley is not proposing any changes to the law or tax code, he's suggesting that he may do so after the investigation. "Based on initial review, the way ministries operate has changed significantly over the last 20 years to 25 years, while the tax laws governing them for the most part have not," his office said.

I'm hesitant to say that Grassley's investigation is a GOOD thing. The principle of separation requires that the government stay out of the business of the church. But a $23,000 commode? Private jets. Expensive toilets. Costly conference tables. Riding in style in Rolls Royces and Bentleys. The lavish lifestyles of these ministers is disturbing.

Nonetheless, perhaps Grassley should have allowed the IRS to investigate these mega-ministers. After all, the IRS is the body that determines if houses of worship are following the law as to their tax exempt status. I tend to agree with Roland Martin of CNN who observed that Grassley's investigation could potentially have a chilling effect on churches "because ANY politician who is ticked off with a church - maybe one where a pastor endorsed his or her rival - could use their influence to demand the records of a church." If you'll take a stroll down memory lane, you might recall that some accused the Bush Administration of using the IRS to go after congregations (All Saints Episcopal) that were quite outspoken in their opposition to the Iraq War

I'm quite sympathetic to this blogger who wrote:

Granted, any fiscal abuse within any church should be stopped. But isn't it the responsibility of those parishioners who give their money to the church to do so? And don't they usually do so? It seems a bit of a reach for the U.S. Senate to be involved in the private faith lives of individual Americans and their places of worship.

What say you?