M E M O R A N D U M

To:       Reporters and Editors

Re:       Ministry gets accreditation

Sen. Chuck Grassley, ranking member of the Committee on Finance, today made the following comment on Joyce Meyer Ministries joining the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA).

“This is a positive development.  It’s good to see increased financial accountability, transparency, board governance, and ethical fund-raising taken seriously.  These are good goals for every tax-exempt group.  Since ministries have independence from the IRS and don’t have to file material with the IRS, like most other tax-exempt groups, ECFA membership is like a Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval.  It’s an independent organization that audits members to maintain accreditation.  I hope other ministries, including the ones I’m looking at, will pursue accreditation.  I met with ECFA representatives today, while they were in town for their annual meeting, and they told me about Joyce Meyer Ministries and Oral Roberts University joining the ECFA.  In addition, we discussed the status of my ministries inquiry.  My staff and I continue to review the information we’ve received from the ministries that cooperated, and we continue to weigh our options for the ministries that have not cooperated.” 

Grassley wrote to six ministries; Sen. Max Baucus, committee chairman, joined him in a follow-up request. Joyce Meyer Ministries and Benny Hinn of World Healing Center Church provided extensive answers to all questions in a series of submissions. Randy and Paula White of Without Walls International Church, Eddie Long of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church/Eddie L. Long Ministries, and Kenneth and Gloria Copeland of Kenneth Copeland Ministries have submitted incomplete responses.  Creflo and Taffi Dollar of World Changers Church International/Creflo Dollar Ministries declined to provide any of the requested information.

The ECFA release follows.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                           

March 12, 2009                                                                                   

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Palmer Holt @ 704-663-3303

PHolt@InChristCommunications.com

Joyce Meyer Ministries Accredited By

National Financial Accountability Organization

WINCHESTER, Va. – The Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) today announced the accreditation of Joyce Meyer Ministries of Fenton, Mo.

ECFA accreditation is based on standards of responsible stewardship, including financial accountability, transparency, sound board governance and ethical fund-raising.

Joyce Meyer Ministries (www.joycemeyer.org), in its 24^th year, is a nonprofit organization “focused on spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ, helping people through humanitarian efforts worldwide and teaching others the practical principles from God’s Word to help them enjoy their everyday lives.”

The ministry’s “Enjoying Everyday Life”TV and radio programs reach a potential audience of 3 billion people daily. In addition, hundreds of thousands annually attend the ministry’s conferences and crusades held in the United States and abroad.  

“We are pleased to include in our membership a ministry which seeks to strengthen Christian individuals and the environments in which they live, work and worship,” said Dan Busby ECFA president.

ECFA, founded in 1979, provides accreditation to evangelical Christian nonprofit organizations that faithfully demonstrate compliance with established standards for financial accountability, fund-raising and board governance. For more information about ECFA, including information about accreditation and a listing of ECFA-accredited members, visit www.ECFA.org or call 1-800-323-9473.

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