Frances Hill, Ellen Aprill, and Marilyn Phelan Comment on Copeland Ministries Investigation

Frances Hill, of the University of Miami, Ellen Aprill, of Loyola Los Angeles, and Marilyn Phelan, of Texas Tech, were all interviewed in connection with an AP investigation of the Kenneth Copeland Ministries. 

Kenneth Copeland Ministries is one of the six churches Sen. Grassley has contacted for information.  Copeland Ministries has refused to provide any information to the Senate Finance Committee.  (See information on the Senate Finance Committee website about March 11 follow-up letter to Copeland).   The AP investigation was able to review public documents and church records and conduct interviews.  Hill, Aprill, and Phelan all comment in an article published today in the Chicago Tribune.  All three say that the documents, which they were shown, raise questions.  Hill notes, “There’s too much money sloshing around . . . with people with overlapping affiliations and allegiances by either blood or friendship or just ties over the years.”  Aprill adds that “leasing and selling land to the church’s top executive raises concerns.”  And Phelan says that paying honorariums to members of the board for speaking at the church “could pose problems.”

Kenneth Copeland Ministries is organized as a church and therefore is subject to fewer reporting requirements than other 501(c)(3) organizations.  Copeland preaches that believers are destined to prosper financially, spiritually, and physically and that they should share their wealth with others.  Apparently many believers have shared their wealth with Copeland Ministries, which owns a 1,500 acre campus in Texas, a campus that includes a $6 million mansion.  The AP investigation found records from 1995 that indicate that Kenneth Copeland was paid $364,577 that year, and his wife, Gloria, earned an additional $292,593.  Beyond benefits to the senior Copelands, the investigation has found what appear to be private benefits to family and friends.  The Copeland’s son, John Copeland purchased land from the Ministries, land that increased significantly in value a short time after the purchase.  Board members, although not compensated through salaries, are paid for speaking at church events.  And a company owned by Gloria Copeland’s brother-in-law buys television time for the ministry.

The Kenneth Copeland Ministries has refused to respong to Sen. Grassley’s requests for information.  Perhaps with the help of the AP investigation, Sen. Grassley will be ready to seek a subpoena for the information.

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