Meyer Responds to Senate Investigation
By Sarah Miracle
CBNNews.com
November 28, 2007
CBNNews.com - Joyce Meyer Ministries issued their response Wednesday to Senator Chuck Grassley and the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance regarding the allegation that they misused tax-exempt donations.
In a statement posted on their Web site, the ministry said while they are "not under obligation by law to submit this information" to the committee, they wish to maintain fiscal responsibility, respect the democratic process, and honor their ministry supporters. Therefore they "are preparing the requested documents for presentation to the Senator's office-on time and in full detail" by Dec. 6.
One of the allegations brought against JMM was the purchase of a $23,000 "commode with a marble top," among other expenditures at their ministry headquarters. Their statement addressed the issue of the "commode" directly.
"While many have mistakenly associated this piece of furniture with a common household toilet," the Web site reads, "this particular term actually refers to the classic definition of commode identified by Webster's Dictionary as, 'a tall elegant chest of drawers.'"
Furthermore, this "commode" was one out of 68 pieces of furniture purchased from a single supplier to furnish the interior of the their headquarters, which they had just moved into at the time. The $23,000 purchase price of this chest of drawers was "actually an errant value assigned by the selling agent after the transaction was complete for the entire 68 piece lot."
The ministry "humbly regrets" not having paid closer attention to those assigned values, which led to "gross misrepresentations."
The statement also addresses the compensation of Dave and Joyce Meyer, which is not received through JMM, but through the royalties of her book sales.
Meyer is one of six popular Christian televangelists being investigated by the federal government for questionable management of donations.
Those under investigation also include Benny Hinn, Kenneth Copeland, Creflo Dollar, Eddie Long, and Randy and Paula White.
The ministries have until Dec. 6 to submit audited financial statements, compensation reports, records for ministry jet travel, and other documents.
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