Atlanta Bishops Long and Dollar Challenge Senate Probe

World Changers lawyer sends letter questioning Senator’s authority to demand financial information

Creflo Dollar, head of World Changers Church International, has refused to comply with a senate probe into his ministry’s finances. The refusal issued by lawyers for the prosperity preacher requests that Grassley either refer the matter over to the IRS or get a subpoena. And in a surprising move, Bishop Eddie Long of Lithonia’s New Birth Cathedral also refused to comply with Senator Grassley’s request for detailed financial information.

Thursday, December 6, was the appointed deadline given to six megachurch ministries to answer a lengthy questionnaire regarding their financial standards and practices. To date, only two of the ministries, Joyce Meyers Ministries of Fenton, Mo., and Kenneth Copeland have complied with the senator’s order.

Dollar has publicly questioned the constitutionality of Grassley’s probe, and has raised concerns about invasion of privacy and possible violation of religious freedom. The other five, including Long and Meyer, have all stated they’d comply with the powerful senator’s order although Bishop Long in an unexpected last hour move decided to refuse compliance.

J. David Epstein, a tax attorney for Eddie L. Long of Atlanta, Ga., noted that the Church Audit Procedures Act provides protections to churches during Internal Revenue Services audits. The act was sponsored by Grassley after a church complained of harassment during an IRS audit.

In an Atlanta Journal Constitution article, Dollar is quoted as saying, “Are we saying the First Amendment [which protects churches from government intrusion] is null and void by allowing this to happen?”

Washington Post columnist, Michelle Singletary stated in one of her columns, “Here’s the thing. I don’t care what the Dollars drive. I'm not outraged over the couple's opulent lifestyle. The ministers in question haven't taken a vow of poverty…However, it certainly is our business if they are abusing their positions of power and misusing tax-exempt donor money. If the ministries involved in this investigation have been operating above board and all donations have been properly handled, the leaders ought to welcome the scrutiny.”