
Local Church Leaders React To 'Mega Church' Investigation
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Millions of Americans follow popular church leaders Paula White, Benny Hinn, and Creflo Dollar. Those followers also pour millions of dollars into these tax exempt organizations.
Now Republican senator Chuck Grassley wants to know if there's been any misconduct by six ministries.
Senator Chuck Grassley, (R) Iowa, "Bentley's, Rolls Royce's, corporate jets."
Dr. Dwight Kilbourne leads First Centenary United Methodist Church. He says it's unfortunate if these allegations turn out to be true, because most churches are honest about their finances.
Kilbourne, "There have always been charlatans in our world who misuse the message of the gospel."
He says his church finances are an open book. Kilbourne, "What we do is public any member of the church can have access to the full financial accounting of what's done here at the church, every month we have a report on how the money was spent."
Family Life Pastor Barry Wilks of Brainerd Baptist says there has to be more accountability for the so called mega churches.
Wilks, "Organizations that do not have that may feel a little more tension after today's events so that they may be a little more accountable as they receive funds and disperse funds."
Creflo Dollar of World Changers Church and Pastor Benny Hinn both say they have nothing to hide.
Pastor Creflo Dollar, "We do an audit every year, we are IRS compliant as long as we've been a church."
Sen. Grassley, "We have tax exempt status for charitable giving, we want to make sure that tax exempt status isn't abused."
Both Chattanooga pastors say if churches can no long claim tax exempt status, local services and those in need would suffer.
Dr. Kibourne, "It helps to multiply the gifts that come in, enables us to do more ministry."
Senator Grassley says he might consider proposing changes to the tax code after the investigation is complete. The ministries have until December 6th to hand over their financial statement information.
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