In a televised interview on CNN, Friday, January 4, 2008, Larry King interviewed media minister Creflo Dollar of Atlanta. Dollar and several other ministers have been recently targeted by a Senate probe initiated by Sen. Charles Grassley (R- Iowa). In light of the allegations of opulent lifestyles, extravagant spending, and possible financial scandals, Grassley is seeking to investigate the ministries of Paula and Randy White, Eddie Long, Benny Hinn, Joyce Meyer, Ken and Gloria Copeland, and, Creflo Dollar.
When asked by Larry King why Dollar was unwilling to provide Sen. Grassley with a full accounting of his ministry's financial matters, Dollar conceded he would not on the basis of "principle" only.
It may be one thing for a donor to insist his or her charity be kept a secret, but it's another thing when a ministry, as the beneficiary of a donor's charity, refuses to disclose just how the ministry is managing the resources entrusted to it.
Therefore, for the sake of moral integrity and the credibility of media ministry, Creflo Dollar and the other ministries under Grassley's investigation, and all ministries in general need to remove the veil of secrecy surrounding their income and expenditures and willingly disclose this information. Suspicion sows doubt and doubt gives way to mistrust.
In virtually every church and denomination in the US, donors are asking, even expecting, a full disclosure of the church's income and expenditures. There isn't a church in America that would survive very long if a leader withheld such information from those persons from whom the leader requested financial support. Media ministers should be just as accountable and provide every donor a complete disclosure of the ministry's financial matters. Any ministry that would refuse to cooperate in disclosing all financial matters is a suspect ministry at best and may be hiding something greater. There are too many worthy ministries doing tremendous work that will gladly show anyone how far they can strech a donantion.
History should have tought us all by now. In light of the suspicions and, ultimately, the disappointments that resulted from the exorbitant salaries, lavish lifestyles, and moral failures associated with Jim Bakker and Jimmy Swaggart, and others, you would think every media ministry in America would take the initiative in cultivating confidence in the way they receive and disperse a donor's gift and the way they report on both. The Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) would gladly assist any of these ministries. They have provided accreditation and oversight to Christian nonprofits for nearly three decades.
Donors beware.
No comments:
Post a Comment