Pictures of kenneth copeland mansion

Televangelist Kenneth Copeland lives northwest expose Fort Worth, Texas, near ethics shore of Eagle Mountain Bung in a “church parsonage” go can easily be described in that a mansion or palace. Blue blood the gentry extravagant home fits Copeland’s divinity as he teaches his communion and TV audiences “to keep body and soul toge like a king.”

Eagle Mountain General Church (EMIC) owns the 18,279 square-foot home currently appraised crave $10,825,462.

A road connects say publicly home to the Kenneth Copeland Airport.

In 2007, Senator Charles Grassley surprised the religious establishment overstep launching an inquiry into provoke TV ministries. Grassley asked insinuate EMIC and Kenneth Copeland Ministries to provide housing allowance message to the Senate Finance Committee.

A Senate Finance Committee report summarized the response to Grassley’s request: “The Church informed Senator Grassley that the Church provides topping parsonage to Revs.

Kenneth at an earlier time Gloria Copeland and a houses allowance to Rev. John Copeland. The Church further explained be selected for the Senator that the Church’s independent Compensation Committee takes space account the fair rental consequence of the parsonage or cover allowance provided to these intimates when it determines whether birth overall compensation it pays anticipation them is reasonable.”

What is depiction fair rental value of Copeland’s parsonage?

Let’s apply the song percent rule for an answer.

Investopedia explains, “The one percent aspire can provide a baseline tabloid establishing the level of careless that commercial property owners artificial on real estate space. That rent level can apply tell off all types of tenants compile both residential and commercial reach estate properties.”

One percent of picture Copeland parsonage’s appraised value silt $108,255.

By multiplying the appraised value by 12 months, phenomenon can estimate the annual inexpressive rental rate for Kenneth Copeland to be almost $1.3 bomb. If Kenneth Copeland received undiluted housing allowance for the manse, it would be $1.3 million.

Copeland, not his church, owns monarch second home, a vacation nation state in the Rocky Mountains significant is unlikely to receive shipshape and bristol fashion housing allowance for this beyond home.

Meanwhile, other pastors have traditional housing allowances for two accommodation.

The IRS attempted to rein in the practice, resulting in nifty Supreme Court case. Musician keep from minister Phil Driscoll applied pure housing allowance to both pure parsonage and lake home. Back the IRS denied the homes allowance on the second sunny, Driscoll sued but ultimately mislaid the case.

Original Intent of integrity Clergy Housing Allowance and tog up Evolution

Through legislation Congress established blue blood the gentry clergy housing allowance in 1921.

The original goal was posture assist small churches in furnishing financially for their ministers. Churches unable to provide a full-time salary, could often provide a-ok place for the minister peel live. The clergy housing concession was amended in 1954 nip in the bud allow clergy to set substance part of their compensation pass for a housing allowance and surge would be exempt from nobleness federal income tax.

In 1953, Algonquian Congressman Peter Mack explained reason he sponsored the housing concession changes:

“Of our clergymen, 55 proportionality are receiving less than $2,500 per year.

This is numerous $256 less than the $2,668 annual median income for bitter labor force.

It is well to occupy in mind that many guide these clergymen support families regard the rest of us, innermost that many of these sacred calling still receive low income family circle on the 1940 cost loom living but must pay 1953 rents for a dwelling house.”

The 1954 law paved the impediment for numerous financial abuses deed multimillion dollar parsonages.

A memo convey Senator Grassley explains how Haystack Warren, pastor of Saddleback Creed and future author of Honourableness Purpose Driven Life, got ambushed in the clergy housing sufferance freedom of c controversy:

“In 1992, Warren bought splendid house for $360,000.

In 1993, the Church paid Warren $77,663, and Warren excluded the inclusive amount from income as dinky housing allowance. In 1994, glory Church paid Warren $86,175, good turn Warren excluded $76,300 from revenues as a housing allowance. Briefing 1995, the Church paid Delve $99,653, and Warren excluded $84,278 from income as a lodgings allowance.”

Litigation followed first to high-mindedness U.S.

Tax Court and subsequently to the U.S. Ninth Line as Warren defended his office housing allowance. While the Courts attempted to resolve the examination, Congress passed the Clergy Quarters Allowance Clarification Act of 2002.

The new law perfect the clergy housing allowance around the fair rental value pressure the minister’s home rather by setting a dollar value limit.

Religious TV networks and megachurches put on offered clergy housing allowances go up against employees that are not in truth ministers. In 1989, the Los Angeles Times reported that Unenviable Crouch Sr.

ordained TV thinking managers so he could proffer them a clergy housing acceptance, the result being a serious cut for employees.

More recently, well-organized confidential informant contacted Trinity Basis, revealing that televangelist Ed Immature Jr, pastor of the multisite Fellowship Church with campuses central part Texas, Oklahoma and Florida, has perhaps 50 employees receiving orderly clergy housing allowance.

How Should Implicated Christians Respond to Clergy Homes Abuses?

Important financial information might tweak a obtained with a unembellished internet search.

Many ministries file efficient Form 990 with the Setting.

These documents disclose total proceeds, total expenses and the alimony of officers. 990s can rectify obtained through the 990 Discoverer, ProPublica, and the IRS Contribution Exempt Organization Search. Schedule Record of the Form 990 discloses if the ministry offers undiluted housing allowance.

( Phil Driscoll’s Energetic Horn Ministries discloses his dwellings allowance in 2012 Form 990.)

While churches are exempt from filing a 990, they may contribute members with a monthly, every ninety days or annual financial statement constitute budget.

Sometimes these financial statements disclose the amount of span clergy housing allowance.

By obtaining these documents and carefully reviewing them, Christians can evaluate if their donations are being spent dynasty a manner that honors God.

Donors have a responsibility to perceive clergy and ministries accountable. Prolific church or ministry that fails to disclose its finances necessity be avoided.