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List of scandals involving evangelical Christians
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Oliver Crangle
Sep 29, 2011, 7:10:38 PM9/29/11
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List of scandals involving evangelical Christians
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This is a list of scandals related mostly to American evangelical
Christians. (Roman Catholic clergy and high-profile leaders from New
Religious Movements are not within the scope of this list.)
Contents
1 List of evangelical Christians involved in scandals
1.1 Aimee Semple McPherson, 1920s–40s
1.2 Lonnie Frisbee, 1970s–1980s
1.3 Marjoe Gortner, early 1970s
1.4 Billy James Hargis, early 1970s
1.5 Jimmy Swaggart, Marvin Gorman, and Jim & Tammy Bakker, 1986 and
1991
1.6 Peter Popoff, 1987
1.7 Morris Cerullo, 1990s
1.8 Mike Warnke, 1991
1.9 Robert Tilton, 1991
1.10 W. V. Grant, 1996 and 2003
1.11 Bob Moorehead, 1998
1.12 Roy Clements, 1999
1.13 John Paulk, 2000
1.14 Paul Crouch, 2004
1.15 Douglas Goodman, 2004
1.16 Kent Hovind, 2006
1.17 Ted Haggard, 2006
1.18 Paul Barnes, 2006
1.19 Lonnie Latham, 2006
1.20 Gilbert Deya, 2006
1.21 Richard Roberts, 2007
1.22 Earl Paulk, 2007
1.23 Coy Privette, 2007
1.24 Thomas Wesley Weeks, III, 2007
1.25 Michael Reid, 2008
1.26 Joe Barron, 2008
1.27 Todd Bentley, 2008
1.28 Ergun Caner, 2010
1.29 George Alan Rekers, 2010
1.30 Eddie L. Long, 2010
1.31 Marcus Lamb, 2010
1.32 Vaughn Reeves, 2010
1.33 Stephen Green, 2011
1.34 Albert Odulele, 2011
2 Senate probe
3 See also
4 References
List of evangelical Christians involved in scandals
Aimee Semple McPherson, 1920s–40s
Main article: Aimee Semple McPherson
One of the most famous evangelist scandals involved Canadian-born
Aimee Semple McPherson in the 1920s, who allegedly faked her own
death. She later claimed that she had been kidnapped, but a grand jury
adjourned with no indictment, saying it had not enough evidence to
proceed. Roberta Semple Salter, her daughter from her first marriage,
became estranged from Semple McPherson and successfully sued her
mother's attorney for slander during the 1930s. As a result of this
she was cut out of her mother's will. Aimee Semple McPherson died in
1944 from an accidental overdose of barbiturates.
Lonnie Frisbee, 1970s–1980s
Main article: Lonnie Frisbee
Lonnie Frisbee was an American closeted gay Pentecostal evangelist and
self-described "seeing prophet" in the late 1960s and 1970s who
despite his "hippie" appearance had notable success as a minister and
evangelist. Frisbee was a key figure in the Jesus Movement and was
involved in the rise of two worldwide denominations (Calvary Chapel
and the Vineyard Movement). Both churches later disowned him because
of his active homosexuality, removing him first from leadership
positions, then ultimately firing him. He died of AIDS-related
complications in 1993.
Marjoe Gortner, early 1970s
Main article: Marjoe Gortner
Gortner rose to fame in the late 1940s as a child preacher, but he had
simply been trained to do this by his parents and he had no personal
faith. He was able to perform "miracles" and received large amounts of
money in donations. After suffering a crisis of conscience, he invited
a film crew to accompany him on a final preaching tour. The resulting
film, Marjoe, mixes footage of revival meetings with Gortner's
explanations of how evangelists manipulate their audiences. It won the
1972 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature, but was not shown
widely in the Southern United States due to fears that it would cause
outrage in the Bible Belt.[1]
Billy James Hargis, early 1970s
Main article: Billy James Hargis
Hargis was a prolific author and radio evangelist. Hargis formed
American Christian College in 1971 to teach fundamentalist Christian
principles. However, a sex scandal erupted at the College, involving
claims that Hargis had sex with male and female students. Hargis was
forced out of American Christian College's presidency as a result.
Further scandals erupted when members of Hargis' youth choir, the "All
American Kids", accused Hargis of sexual misconduct as well. The
college eventually closed down in the mid-1970s. Hargis denied the
allegations publicly.
Jimmy Swaggart, Marvin Gorman, and Jim & Tammy Bakker, 1986 and 1991
Main articles: Jimmy Swaggart and Jim Bakker
In 1986, evangelist Jimmy Swaggart began on-screen attacks against
fellow televangelists Marvin Gorman and Jim Bakker. He uncovered
Gorman's affair with a member of Gorman's congregation, and also
helped expose Bakker's infidelity (which was arranged by a colleague
while on an out-of-state trip).[2] These exposures received widespread
media coverage. Gorman retaliated in kind by hiring a private
investigator to uncover Swaggart's own adulterous indiscretions with a
prostitute.[3] Swaggart was subsequently forced to step down from his
pulpit for a year and made a tearful televised apology in February
1988 to his congregation, saying "I have sinned against you, my Lord,
and I would ask that your precious blood would wash and cleanse every
stain until it is in the seas of God's forgiveness."[4][5]
Swaggart was caught again by California police three years later in
1991 with another prostitute, Rosemary Garcia, who was riding with him
in his car when he was stopped for driving on the wrong side of the
road. When asked why she was with Swaggart, she replied, "He asked me
for sex. I mean, that's why he stopped me. That's what I do. I'm a
prostitute."[6]
Peter Popoff, 1987
Main article: Peter Popoff
A self-proclaimed prophet and faith healer in the 1980s, Popoff's
ministry went bankrupt in 1987 after magician and skeptic James Randi
and Steve Shaw debunked his methods by showing that instead of
receiving information about audience members from supernatural
sources, he received it through an in-ear receiver.[7]
Morris Cerullo, 1990s
Main article: Morris Cerullo
A number of incidents involving California-based televangelist Morris
Cerullo caused outrage in the United Kingdom during the 1990s.
Cerullo's claims of faith healing were the focus of particular
concern. At a London crusade in 1992, he pronounced a child cancer
sufferer to be healed, yet the girl died two months later. Multiple
complaints were upheld against satellite television channels
transmitting Cerullo's claims of faith-healing, and a panel of doctors
concluded that Cerullo's claims of miraculous healing powers could not
be substantiated. Cerullo also produced fund-raising material which
was condemned as unethical by a number of religious leaders, as it
implied that giving money to his organisation would result in family
members becoming Christians.[8]
Mike Warnke, 1991
Main article: Mike Warnke
Warnke was a popular Christian evangelist and comedian during the
1970s and 1980s. He claimed in his autobiography, The Satan Seller
(1973), that he had once been deeply involved in a Satanic cult and
was a Satanic priest before converting to Christianity. In 1991,
Cornerstone magazine launched an investigation into Warnke's life and
testimony. It investigated Warnke's life, from interviews with over
one hundred personal friends and acquaintances, to his ministry's tax
receipts. Its investigation turned up damaging evidence of fraud and
deceit. The investigation also revealed the unflattering circumstances
surrounding Warnke's multiple marriages, affairs, and divorces. Most
critically, however, the investigation showed how Warnke could not
possibly have done the many things he claimed to have done throughout
his nine-month tenure as a Satanist, much less become a drug-addicted
dealer or become a Satanic high priest.
Robert Tilton, 1991
Main article: Robert Tilton
Tilton is an American televangelist who achieved notoriety in the
1980s and early 1990s through his paid television program Success-N-
Life. At its peak, it aired in all 235 American TV markets. In 1991,
Diane Sawyer and ABC News conducted an investigation of Tilton. The
investigation, broadcast on ABC's Primetime Live on November 21, 1991,
found that Tilton's ministry threw away prayer requests without
reading them, keeping only the money or valuables sent to them by
viewers, garnering his ministry an estimated $80 million USD a year.
In the original investigation, one of Tilton's former prayer hotline
operators claimed that the ministry cared little for desperate
followers who called for prayer, saying that Tilton had a computer
installed in July 1989 to make sure that the phone operators were off
the line in seven minutes. Tilton sued ABC for libel in 1992, but the
case was dismissed in 1993, and Tilton's show was off the air by
October 30, 1993.
W. V. Grant, 1996 and 2003
Main article: W. V. Grant
Grant was investigated by James Randi regarding his faith healing
claims. He was then imprisoned for tax evasion in 1996. After
restarting his ministry upon release, TV news investigations in
Atlanta, Georgia, and Richmond, Virginia, investigated his revival
meetings and concluded his healing claims were false. A 2010 program
on the British Channel 4 station also concluded that Grant's claimed
supernatural abilities were fake.[9]
Bob Moorehead, 1998
Moorehead, pastor of the Overlake Christian Church from the 1970s to
June, 1998 was arrested in July, 1996 on a charge of indecent exposure
in a public restroom in Daytona Beach, Florida. He stepped down amid
allegations of molestation of adult members during baptism and wedding
ceremonies that went as far back as 20 years earlier. [10]
Roy Clements, 1999
Main article: Roy Clements
Clements was a prominent figure within British evangelical
Christianity. In 1999, he revealed he was in a homosexual
relationship, resigned his pastorship, and separated from his wife. He
had written a number of well-received books which were withdrawn from
sale when the news broke.[11]
John Paulk, 2000
Main article: John Paulk
John Paulk (no relation to Earl Paulk) is a former leader of Focus on
the Family's Love Won Out conference and former chairman of the board
for Exodus International North America. His claimed shedding of
homosexuality is also the subject of his autobiography Not Afraid to
Change. In September 2000, Paulk was found and photographed in a
Washington, D.C. gay bar, and accused by opponents of flirting with
male patrons at the bar. Later questioned by gay rights activist Wayne
Besen, Paulk denied being in the bar despite photographic proof to the
contrary. Initially, FoF's Dr. James Dobson sided with Paulk and
supported his claims. Subsequently, Paulk, who himself had written
about his habit of lying while he openly lived as a homosexual,
confessed to being in the bar, but claimed he entered the
establishment for reasons other than sexual pursuits. Paulk retained
his Board seat for Exodus, however he did so while on probation. Paulk
did not run again for chairman of the board of Exodus when his term
expired.
Paul Crouch, 2004
Main article: Paul Crouch
Paul Crouch is the founder and president of the Trinity Broadcasting
Network, or TBN, the world's largest evangelical Christian television
network, as well as the former host of TBN's flagship variety show,
Praise the Lord. In September 2004, the Los Angeles Times published a
series of articles raising questions about the fundraising practices
and financial transparency of TBN, as well as the allegations of a
former ministry employee, Enoch Lonnie Ford, that he had a homosexual
affair with Crouch during the 1990s. TBN denied the allegations,
claiming that Ford's claims were part of an extortion scheme and that
the Times was a "left-wing and anti-Christian newspaper." In 2005,
Ford appeared at the taping of the ION Television show Lie Detector.
The show's producers decided not to air the show, and the outcome of
the lie detector test was never released. Consequently, none of the
allegations were substantiated.
Douglas Goodman, 2004
Douglas Goodman, an evangelical preacher, and his wife Erica were
pastors of Victory Christian Centre in London, England. The church was
one of the largest in the United Kingdom. He came into notoriety when
he was jailed for three and a half years for the sexual assault of
four members of his congregation in 2004. VCC was closed by the
Charity Commission, but his wife Erica started a new church, Victory
to Victory, in Wembley. Douglas has upon his release resumed full
pastoral ministry alongside his wife.[12][13][14][15][16]
Kent Hovind, 2006
Main article: Kent Hovind
Kent Hovind is an American Baptist minister and Young Earth
creationist. He is most famous for "creation science" seminars, in
which he argues for Young Earth creationism, using his self-formulated
"Hovind Theory." He has been criticized by both the mainstream
scientific community and other creationists. In 2006, Hovind who also
has a reputation as a tax protestor had been charged with falsely
declaring bankruptcy, making threats against federal officials, filing
false complaints, failing to get necessary building permits, and
various tax-related charges. He was convicted of 58 federal tax
offenses and related charges, for which he is currently serving a ten-
year sentence.[17]
Ted Haggard, 2006
Main article: Ted Haggard
Ted Haggard was the pastor of the New Life Church in Colorado Springs,
Colorado and was the president of the National Association of
Evangelicals (NAE) from 2003 until November 2006. Haggard's position
allowed him occasional access to President George W. Bush. In 2006 it
was alleged that Haggard had been regularly visiting a male prostitute
who also provided him with methamphetamine. Haggard admitted his
wrongdoing and resigned as pastor of New Life church and as president
of the NAE. The high-profile case was significant also because it
immediately preceded the 2006 mid-term elections and may have even
affected national voting patterns[citation needed]. In January 2009,
Haggard admitted to a second homosexual relationship with a male
church member on CNN-TV and other national media, and when asked,
would not directly answer a question about his other possible
homosexual relationships.[18] Ted Haggard has recently started a new
church.[19]
Paul Barnes, 2006
Main article: Paul Barnes
Paul Barnes is the founder and former senior minister of the
evangelical church Grace Chapel in Douglas County, Colorado. He
confessed his homosexual activity to the church board, and his
resignation was accepted on December 7, 2006.[20] He started the
church in his basement and watched it reach a membership of 2,100 in
his 28 years of leadership. This scandal was notable because it was
similar to Ted Haggard's (above), it occurred in the same state
(Colorado) and around the same time (late 2006).
Lonnie Latham, 2006
Main article: Lonnie Latham
In 2006, Latham, the senior pastor of South Tulsa Baptist Church and a
member of the powerful Southern Baptist Convention Executive
Committee, was arrested for "offering to engage in an act of lewdness"
with a male undercover police officer.[21]
Gilbert Deya, 2006
Main article: Gilbert Deya
Kenyan-born Deya moved to the United Kingdom in the 1990s and started
a number of churches. He claims to have supernatural powers that allow
him to make infertile women become pregnant and give birth. However,
police investigations in the UK and Kenya concluded that Deya and his
wife were stealing Kenyan babies. Deya was arrested in London during
December 2006, and following a long legal process it was reported in
September 2011 that he would be extradited to Kenya to face child
abduction charges.[22]
Richard Roberts, 2007
Main article: Richard Roberts
In October 2007, televangelist Richard Roberts (son of the late
televangelist Oral Roberts), was president of Oral Roberts University
until his forced resignation on November 23, 2007. Roberts was named
as a defendant in a lawsuit alleging improper use of university funds
for political and personal purposes and improper use of university
resources.[23]
Earl Paulk, 2007
Main article: Earl Paulk
Earl Paulk (no relation to John Paulk) was the founder and head pastor
of Chapel Hill Harvester Church in Decatur, Georgia from 1960 until
the 1990s. A number of women from the congregation came forward during
the 1990s and 2000s, claiming that Paulk had sexual relations with
them; charges of child molestation were also made. Some of these
claims have subsequently been proven correct. Moreover, Donnie Earl
Paulk, the current senior pastor of the church and nephew of Earl
Paulk, had a court-ordered DNA test in 2007 which showed that he was
Earl's son, not his nephew, which means that Earl and his sister-in-
law had had a sexual relationship which led to Donnie's birth.[24]
Coy Privette, 2007
Main article: Coy Privette
Privette is a Baptist pastor, conservative activist, and politician in
the U.S. state of North Carolina. Privette was president of the
Christian Action League and a prominent figure in North Carolina moral
battles. In 2007, Privette resigned as president of North Carolina's
Christian Action League and from the Board of Directors of the Baptist
State Convention of North Carolina, following revelations on July 19
that he had been charged with six counts of aiding and abetting
prostitution.[25]
Thomas Wesley Weeks, III, 2007
Main article: Thomas Wesley Weeks, III
Weeks married fellow evangelist Juanita Bynum in 2002, but they
separated in May 2007. In August 2007, Weeks physically assaulted
Bynum in a hotel parking lot and was convicted of the crime in March
2008. The couple divorced in June 2008 and Weeks remarried in October
2009.[26]
Michael Reid, 2008
Main article: Michael Reid
Bishop Michael Reid (born 1944) is a Christian evangelist in Essex,
England and founder of Michael Reid Ministries who resigned from the
role of pastor at Peniel Church in April 2008, after admitting to an
eight-year extra-marital sexual relationship. The scandal was widely
reported online[27][28][29] and in UK newspapers.[30][31] He has since
re-developed an itinerant evangelistic ministry and has been speaking
at a number of churches in the UK and overseas.
Joe Barron, 2008
Joe Barron, one of the 40 ministers at Prestonwood Baptist Church, one
of the largest churches in the United States with 26,000 members, was
arrested on May 15, 2008 for solicitation of a minor after driving
from the Dallas area to Bryan, Texas, in order to allegedly engage in
sexual relations with what he thought to be a 13 year-old girl he had
met online. Barron's online communications had in fact been with
undercover law enforcement official.[32][33][34]
Todd Bentley, 2008
Main article: Todd Bentley
Canadian Todd Bentley rose to prominence as the evangelist at the
Lakeland Revival in Florida, which began in April 2008. Bentley
claimed that tens of thousands of people were healed at the revival.
However, in August 2008, he stepped down permanently when it was
revealed he was separating from his wife, Shonnah, and was in a
relationship with Jessa Hasbrook, a member of his staff.[35]
Ergun Caner, 2010
Main article: Ergun Caner
Ergun Caner grew up in suburban Ohio, but after 9/11, presented
himself to churches and other organizations as having been raised and
trained in Turkey and Egypt as a militant jihadi to wage war in the US.
[36][37] He and his brother Emir authored books explaining Islam to
evangelicals containing many basic mistakes, displaying a rudimentary
rather than expert understanding of the religion.[38] Ergun's
prominence and popularity propelled him to the position of dean at the
Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary and Graduate School of Liberty
University.[39] In early 2010, Reformed apologist James White
questioned Caner's claims to have debated Muslim scholars and
representatives of virtually all religions on college campuses across
the country.[40] Legal documents located by Christian and Muslim
bloggers demonstrated the fraudulence of Caner's constructed life
narrative.[41] Sound clips from his preaching contained supposed
quotes in Arabic that turned out to be gibberish.[42] Liberty's
subsequent investigation resulted in Caner's not having his contract
renewed for the position of dean in the summer of 2010, demoting him
to professor.[43][44] He took up a new post at Arlington Baptist
College in 2011.[45]
George Alan Rekers, 2010
Main article: George Alan Rekers
Penn Bullock and Brandon K. Thorp of the Miami New Times reported on
May 4, 2010, that on April 13, 2010, Christian leader George Alan
Rekers was photographed at Miami International Airport returning from
an extended overseas trip with a twenty-year-old "rent boy", or gay
male prostitute, known as "Lucien" (later identified as Jo-Vanni
Roman). Given his opinion on homosexuals and homosexual behavior, the
scandal surrounds Rekers' decision to employ a homosexual escort as a
traveling companion, and how that runs contrary to Rekers' public
stances on such issues.
Rekers claimed that Lucien was there to help carry Rekers' luggage as
Rekers had allegedly had recent surgery, yet Rekers was seen carrying
his own luggage when he and Lucien were spotted at the airport.[46] On
his blog, Rekers denied having sex with the man.[47] In subsequent
interviews, Roman said Rekers had paid him to provide nude massages
daily, which included genital touching.
Eddie L. Long, 2010
Main article: Eddie L. Long
In September 2010 several civil complaints were filed against Bishop
Eddie L. Long by men that stated Mr. Long used his position as the
church leader to entice or coerce the men into consensual sexual
relationships in exchange for money, travel and goods. At a press
event on September 26, 2010 Bishop Long stated he would fight the
civil complaints in court and would not comment on the allegations. On
May 27, 2011, Bishop Long settled the matter out of court.[48] The
Canadian documentary series, Sex Scandals In Religion covered the Long
case [49]
Marcus Lamb, 2010
In December 2010, televangelist Marcus Lamb, the founder of the
Daystar Television Network, admitted on television that he had been
involved in an extramarital affair several years prior. He further
alleged an extortion scheme against him. In late 2010 and early 2011,
three former Daystar employees filed a series of lawsuits against Lamb
and his wife, Joni, making allegations ranging from financial
mismanagement in relation to the affair, to sexual harassment, and to
wrongful termination.
Vaughn Reeves, 2010
Special Judge Dena Martin ordered former pastor Vaughn Reeves to serve
consecutive six-year terms for each of nine fraud counts, in a scheme
that cost about 2,900 investors $13.1 million.[50] Among aggravating
factors, Martin found Reeves targeted people over age 65 and used
religion to influence them. Reeves’ attorney plans to appeal.
Investigators said Reeves and his three sons used their now-defunct
company, Alanar, to trick about 11,000 investors into buying bonds
worth $120 million secured by mortgages on church construction
projects.[51]
Instead, Reeves and his sons diverted money from new investments to
pay off previous investors, pocketing $6 million and buying luxuries.
[51]
Stephen Green, 2011
Stephen Green, a former Chairman of the Conservative Family Campaign
who attends an Assemblies of God Church, is head of Christian Voice, a
Conservative Christian pressure group in the UK.
In January 2011, Green's former wife, Caroline Green, accused him of
repeatedly physically assaulting her and their children, including one
incident where he allegedly beat her with a weapon until she bled, and
another in which their son allegedly required hospital treatment after
having been beaten with a piece of wood.[52]
Albert Odulele, 2011
In February 2011, televangelist, founder and senior pastor of Glory
House London, Dr Albert Odulele was charged with two counts of sexual
assault, one involving a 14-year-old boy and another on a 21-year-old
man. Although he initially denied the charges, he later pleaded guilty
and confessed that he had been battling with his sexuality for many
years. He was subsequently sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court, London,
to 8 and 6 months in prison to run concurrently. He will be on the sex
offenders register for 5 years. He is currently serving his sentence.
[53]
Senate probe
In 2007, Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) opened a probe into the
finances of six televangelists who preach a "prosperity gospel".[54]
The probe investigated reports of lavish lifestyles by televangelists
including: fleets of Rolls Royces, palatial mansions, private jets and
other expensive items purportedly paid for by television viewers who
donate due to the ministries' encouragement of offerings. The six that
were investigated are:
Kenneth Copeland and Gloria Copeland of Kenneth Copeland Ministries of
Newark, Texas;
Creflo Dollar and Taffi Dollar of World Changers Church International
and Creflo Dollar Ministries of College Park, Ga;
Benny Hinn of World Healing Center Church Inc. and Benny Hinn
Ministries of Grapevine, Texas;
Eddie L. Long of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church and Bishop Eddie
Long Ministries of Lithonia, Ga; DocuSeries - SEX SCANDALS and
RELIGION did a 2011 investigative episode on his alleged sexual
misconduct [55]
Joyce Meyer and David Meyer of Joyce Meyer Ministries of Fenton, Mo;
and
Randy White and ex-wife Paula White of the multiracial Without Walls
International Church and Paula White Ministries of Tampa.[56]
On January 6, 2011 Senator Grassley released his review of the six
ministries response to his inquiry. He called for a further
congressional review of tax-exemption laws for religious groups.[57]
See also
Garner Ted Armstrong
Elmer Gantry
Televangelism
List of convicted religious leaders
References
^ References for this section can be found in the main article on
Marjoe Gortner and the film Marjoe.
^ "Transcript: Interview with Jessica Hahn". Larry King Live (CNN).
2005-07-14. Retrieved 2008-04-17.
^ Swaggart Is Barred From Pulpit for One Year. New York Times.
1998-03-30. Retrieved 2008-04-17
^ King, Wayne (1998-02-22). Swaggart Says He Has Sinned; Will Step
Down. New York Times. Retrieved 2008-04-17
^ Swaggart, Jimmy. "Reverend Jimmy Swaggart: Apology Sermon".
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^ "Swaggart Plans to Step Down". The New York Times. 1991-10-15.
Retrieved 2008-04-17.
^ Randi, James (1989). The Faith Healers. Prometheus Books.
ISBN 0-87975-535-0 page 141.
^ References for this section can be found in the main article on
Morris Cerullo
^ References for this section can be found in the main article on W.
V. Grant
^ "Sex Allegations: Megachurch Pastor Quits, Denies Wrongdoing".
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^ References for this section can be found in the main article on Roy
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^ "Scandal in the second biggest Pentecostal church in Britain".
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^ "Disgraced Dougles Goodman out of prison and back into the pulpit.
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^ "[2]"
^ "Pastor of 2nd Colorado evangelical church resigns over gay sex
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^ Lonnie Latham scandal
^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14992891
^ References for this section can be found in the main article on
Richard Roberts
^ J. Lee Grady, It’s Time to Blow the Whistle on Corruption, Charisma
Magazine, October 19, 2007
^ Moral activist Privette arrested
^ References for this section can be found in the main articles on
Thomas Wesley Weeks, III and Juanita Bynum
^ BBC blog, accessed 11 April 2008
^ Talk To Action blog, accessed 11 April 2008
^ HYPOCRISY IS THE GREATEST LUXURY, BEFOREiFORGET blog 9th April 2008
^ "Bash Bishop is a Jerry Sinner", The Sun, 9th April 2008
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^ Eiserer, Tanya, and Sam Hodges, Minister at Prestonwood Baptist
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^ CNN. http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/05/16/minister.sex.sting.ap/index.html?eref=rss_latest.
^ References for this section can be found in the main article on Todd
Bentley
^ http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2010/06/29/just-one-question-for-the-trustees-of-liberty-university/
^ http://babyloniansquirrel.blogspot.com/2010/05/caner-file.html
^ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/walid-zafar/ex-muslim-evangelical-exp_b_582225.html
^ http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2010/mayweb-only/28-11.0.html
^ http://www.aomin.org/aoblog/index.php?itemid=3781
^ http://turretinfan.blogspot.com/2010/05/who-is-dr-ergun-caner.html
^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYSLJ2oeebY
^ http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/29/AR2010062905331.html
^ http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2010/julyweb-only/36-51.0.html
^ http://www.abpnews.com/content/view/6405/53/
^ [3]Miami New Times, "Christian right leader George Rekers takes
vacation with "rent boy"", May 4, 2010 issue
^ "MISLEADING INTERNET REPORTS ABOUT PROFESSOR GEORGE REKERS".
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^ http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/27/us/27pastor.html Pastor Takes
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^ http://www.earthbook.tv/religion/channelhome/channelhome/150/
^ Trigg, Lisa (8 December 2010). "Vaughn Reeves sentenced for role in
fraud". Tribune-Star. Retrieved 25 December 2010.
^ a b "Ex-pastor going to prison for duping investors". The Atlanta
Journal-Constitution. Associated Press. 7 December 2010. Retrieved 25
December 2010.
^ Hardy, Frances (2011-01-28). "'In public he rails against immorality
as the voice of Christian Britain but in private he is a wife beater,
says his former partner'". The Daily Mail. Retrieved 2011-01-29.
^ http://www.channel4.com/news/evangelical-pastor-odulele-sentenced-for-sex-offences
^ "Grassley seeks information from six media-based ministries".
2007-11-06. Retrieved 2010-08-19. (Archived by WebCite at
http://www.webcitation.org/5s5pjHGFo)
^ http://www.earthbook.tv/religion/channelhome/channelvideos/150/630/
^ Sen. Grassley probes televangelists' finances
^ http://finance.senate.gov/newsroom/ranking/release/?id=5fa343ed-87eb-49b0-82b9-28a9502910f7
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_scandals_involving_evangelical_Christians&mobileaction=view_normal_site&printable=yes
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This is a list of scandals related mostly to American evangelical
Christians. (Roman Catholic clergy and high-profile leaders from New
Religious Movements are not within the scope of this list.)
Contents
1 List of evangelical Christians involved in scandals
1.1 Aimee Semple McPherson, 1920s–40s
1.2 Lonnie Frisbee, 1970s–1980s
1.3 Marjoe Gortner, early 1970s
1.4 Billy James Hargis, early 1970s
1.5 Jimmy Swaggart, Marvin Gorman, and Jim & Tammy Bakker, 1986 and
1991
1.6 Peter Popoff, 1987
1.7 Morris Cerullo, 1990s
1.8 Mike Warnke, 1991
1.9 Robert Tilton, 1991
1.10 W. V. Grant, 1996 and 2003
1.11 Bob Moorehead, 1998
1.12 Roy Clements, 1999
1.13 John Paulk, 2000
1.14 Paul Crouch, 2004
1.15 Douglas Goodman, 2004
1.16 Kent Hovind, 2006
1.17 Ted Haggard, 2006
1.18 Paul Barnes, 2006
1.19 Lonnie Latham, 2006
1.20 Gilbert Deya, 2006
1.21 Richard Roberts, 2007
1.22 Earl Paulk, 2007
1.23 Coy Privette, 2007
1.24 Thomas Wesley Weeks, III, 2007
1.25 Michael Reid, 2008
1.26 Joe Barron, 2008
1.27 Todd Bentley, 2008
1.28 Ergun Caner, 2010
1.29 George Alan Rekers, 2010
1.30 Eddie L. Long, 2010
1.31 Marcus Lamb, 2010
1.32 Vaughn Reeves, 2010
1.33 Stephen Green, 2011
1.34 Albert Odulele, 2011
2 Senate probe
3 See also
4 References
List of evangelical Christians involved in scandals
Aimee Semple McPherson, 1920s–40s
Main article: Aimee Semple McPherson
One of the most famous evangelist scandals involved Canadian-born
Aimee Semple McPherson in the 1920s, who allegedly faked her own
death. She later claimed that she had been kidnapped, but a grand jury
adjourned with no indictment, saying it had not enough evidence to
proceed. Roberta Semple Salter, her daughter from her first marriage,
became estranged from Semple McPherson and successfully sued her
mother's attorney for slander during the 1930s. As a result of this
she was cut out of her mother's will. Aimee Semple McPherson died in
1944 from an accidental overdose of barbiturates.
Lonnie Frisbee, 1970s–1980s
Main article: Lonnie Frisbee
Lonnie Frisbee was an American closeted gay Pentecostal evangelist and
self-described "seeing prophet" in the late 1960s and 1970s who
despite his "hippie" appearance had notable success as a minister and
evangelist. Frisbee was a key figure in the Jesus Movement and was
involved in the rise of two worldwide denominations (Calvary Chapel
and the Vineyard Movement). Both churches later disowned him because
of his active homosexuality, removing him first from leadership
positions, then ultimately firing him. He died of AIDS-related
complications in 1993.
Marjoe Gortner, early 1970s
Main article: Marjoe Gortner
Gortner rose to fame in the late 1940s as a child preacher, but he had
simply been trained to do this by his parents and he had no personal
faith. He was able to perform "miracles" and received large amounts of
money in donations. After suffering a crisis of conscience, he invited
a film crew to accompany him on a final preaching tour. The resulting
film, Marjoe, mixes footage of revival meetings with Gortner's
explanations of how evangelists manipulate their audiences. It won the
1972 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature, but was not shown
widely in the Southern United States due to fears that it would cause
outrage in the Bible Belt.[1]
Billy James Hargis, early 1970s
Main article: Billy James Hargis
Hargis was a prolific author and radio evangelist. Hargis formed
American Christian College in 1971 to teach fundamentalist Christian
principles. However, a sex scandal erupted at the College, involving
claims that Hargis had sex with male and female students. Hargis was
forced out of American Christian College's presidency as a result.
Further scandals erupted when members of Hargis' youth choir, the "All
American Kids", accused Hargis of sexual misconduct as well. The
college eventually closed down in the mid-1970s. Hargis denied the
allegations publicly.
Jimmy Swaggart, Marvin Gorman, and Jim & Tammy Bakker, 1986 and 1991
Main articles: Jimmy Swaggart and Jim Bakker
In 1986, evangelist Jimmy Swaggart began on-screen attacks against
fellow televangelists Marvin Gorman and Jim Bakker. He uncovered
Gorman's affair with a member of Gorman's congregation, and also
helped expose Bakker's infidelity (which was arranged by a colleague
while on an out-of-state trip).[2] These exposures received widespread
media coverage. Gorman retaliated in kind by hiring a private
investigator to uncover Swaggart's own adulterous indiscretions with a
prostitute.[3] Swaggart was subsequently forced to step down from his
pulpit for a year and made a tearful televised apology in February
1988 to his congregation, saying "I have sinned against you, my Lord,
and I would ask that your precious blood would wash and cleanse every
stain until it is in the seas of God's forgiveness."[4][5]
Swaggart was caught again by California police three years later in
1991 with another prostitute, Rosemary Garcia, who was riding with him
in his car when he was stopped for driving on the wrong side of the
road. When asked why she was with Swaggart, she replied, "He asked me
for sex. I mean, that's why he stopped me. That's what I do. I'm a
prostitute."[6]
Peter Popoff, 1987
Main article: Peter Popoff
A self-proclaimed prophet and faith healer in the 1980s, Popoff's
ministry went bankrupt in 1987 after magician and skeptic James Randi
and Steve Shaw debunked his methods by showing that instead of
receiving information about audience members from supernatural
sources, he received it through an in-ear receiver.[7]
Morris Cerullo, 1990s
Main article: Morris Cerullo
A number of incidents involving California-based televangelist Morris
Cerullo caused outrage in the United Kingdom during the 1990s.
Cerullo's claims of faith healing were the focus of particular
concern. At a London crusade in 1992, he pronounced a child cancer
sufferer to be healed, yet the girl died two months later. Multiple
complaints were upheld against satellite television channels
transmitting Cerullo's claims of faith-healing, and a panel of doctors
concluded that Cerullo's claims of miraculous healing powers could not
be substantiated. Cerullo also produced fund-raising material which
was condemned as unethical by a number of religious leaders, as it
implied that giving money to his organisation would result in family
members becoming Christians.[8]
Mike Warnke, 1991
Main article: Mike Warnke
Warnke was a popular Christian evangelist and comedian during the
1970s and 1980s. He claimed in his autobiography, The Satan Seller
(1973), that he had once been deeply involved in a Satanic cult and
was a Satanic priest before converting to Christianity. In 1991,
Cornerstone magazine launched an investigation into Warnke's life and
testimony. It investigated Warnke's life, from interviews with over
one hundred personal friends and acquaintances, to his ministry's tax
receipts. Its investigation turned up damaging evidence of fraud and
deceit. The investigation also revealed the unflattering circumstances
surrounding Warnke's multiple marriages, affairs, and divorces. Most
critically, however, the investigation showed how Warnke could not
possibly have done the many things he claimed to have done throughout
his nine-month tenure as a Satanist, much less become a drug-addicted
dealer or become a Satanic high priest.
Robert Tilton, 1991
Main article: Robert Tilton
Tilton is an American televangelist who achieved notoriety in the
1980s and early 1990s through his paid television program Success-N-
Life. At its peak, it aired in all 235 American TV markets. In 1991,
Diane Sawyer and ABC News conducted an investigation of Tilton. The
investigation, broadcast on ABC's Primetime Live on November 21, 1991,
found that Tilton's ministry threw away prayer requests without
reading them, keeping only the money or valuables sent to them by
viewers, garnering his ministry an estimated $80 million USD a year.
In the original investigation, one of Tilton's former prayer hotline
operators claimed that the ministry cared little for desperate
followers who called for prayer, saying that Tilton had a computer
installed in July 1989 to make sure that the phone operators were off
the line in seven minutes. Tilton sued ABC for libel in 1992, but the
case was dismissed in 1993, and Tilton's show was off the air by
October 30, 1993.
W. V. Grant, 1996 and 2003
Main article: W. V. Grant
Grant was investigated by James Randi regarding his faith healing
claims. He was then imprisoned for tax evasion in 1996. After
restarting his ministry upon release, TV news investigations in
Atlanta, Georgia, and Richmond, Virginia, investigated his revival
meetings and concluded his healing claims were false. A 2010 program
on the British Channel 4 station also concluded that Grant's claimed
supernatural abilities were fake.[9]
Bob Moorehead, 1998
Moorehead, pastor of the Overlake Christian Church from the 1970s to
June, 1998 was arrested in July, 1996 on a charge of indecent exposure
in a public restroom in Daytona Beach, Florida. He stepped down amid
allegations of molestation of adult members during baptism and wedding
ceremonies that went as far back as 20 years earlier. [10]
Roy Clements, 1999
Main article: Roy Clements
Clements was a prominent figure within British evangelical
Christianity. In 1999, he revealed he was in a homosexual
relationship, resigned his pastorship, and separated from his wife. He
had written a number of well-received books which were withdrawn from
sale when the news broke.[11]
John Paulk, 2000
Main article: John Paulk
John Paulk (no relation to Earl Paulk) is a former leader of Focus on
the Family's Love Won Out conference and former chairman of the board
for Exodus International North America. His claimed shedding of
homosexuality is also the subject of his autobiography Not Afraid to
Change. In September 2000, Paulk was found and photographed in a
Washington, D.C. gay bar, and accused by opponents of flirting with
male patrons at the bar. Later questioned by gay rights activist Wayne
Besen, Paulk denied being in the bar despite photographic proof to the
contrary. Initially, FoF's Dr. James Dobson sided with Paulk and
supported his claims. Subsequently, Paulk, who himself had written
about his habit of lying while he openly lived as a homosexual,
confessed to being in the bar, but claimed he entered the
establishment for reasons other than sexual pursuits. Paulk retained
his Board seat for Exodus, however he did so while on probation. Paulk
did not run again for chairman of the board of Exodus when his term
expired.
Paul Crouch, 2004
Main article: Paul Crouch
Paul Crouch is the founder and president of the Trinity Broadcasting
Network, or TBN, the world's largest evangelical Christian television
network, as well as the former host of TBN's flagship variety show,
Praise the Lord. In September 2004, the Los Angeles Times published a
series of articles raising questions about the fundraising practices
and financial transparency of TBN, as well as the allegations of a
former ministry employee, Enoch Lonnie Ford, that he had a homosexual
affair with Crouch during the 1990s. TBN denied the allegations,
claiming that Ford's claims were part of an extortion scheme and that
the Times was a "left-wing and anti-Christian newspaper." In 2005,
Ford appeared at the taping of the ION Television show Lie Detector.
The show's producers decided not to air the show, and the outcome of
the lie detector test was never released. Consequently, none of the
allegations were substantiated.
Douglas Goodman, 2004
Douglas Goodman, an evangelical preacher, and his wife Erica were
pastors of Victory Christian Centre in London, England. The church was
one of the largest in the United Kingdom. He came into notoriety when
he was jailed for three and a half years for the sexual assault of
four members of his congregation in 2004. VCC was closed by the
Charity Commission, but his wife Erica started a new church, Victory
to Victory, in Wembley. Douglas has upon his release resumed full
pastoral ministry alongside his wife.[12][13][14][15][16]
Kent Hovind, 2006
Main article: Kent Hovind
Kent Hovind is an American Baptist minister and Young Earth
creationist. He is most famous for "creation science" seminars, in
which he argues for Young Earth creationism, using his self-formulated
"Hovind Theory." He has been criticized by both the mainstream
scientific community and other creationists. In 2006, Hovind who also
has a reputation as a tax protestor had been charged with falsely
declaring bankruptcy, making threats against federal officials, filing
false complaints, failing to get necessary building permits, and
various tax-related charges. He was convicted of 58 federal tax
offenses and related charges, for which he is currently serving a ten-
year sentence.[17]
Ted Haggard, 2006
Main article: Ted Haggard
Ted Haggard was the pastor of the New Life Church in Colorado Springs,
Colorado and was the president of the National Association of
Evangelicals (NAE) from 2003 until November 2006. Haggard's position
allowed him occasional access to President George W. Bush. In 2006 it
was alleged that Haggard had been regularly visiting a male prostitute
who also provided him with methamphetamine. Haggard admitted his
wrongdoing and resigned as pastor of New Life church and as president
of the NAE. The high-profile case was significant also because it
immediately preceded the 2006 mid-term elections and may have even
affected national voting patterns[citation needed]. In January 2009,
Haggard admitted to a second homosexual relationship with a male
church member on CNN-TV and other national media, and when asked,
would not directly answer a question about his other possible
homosexual relationships.[18] Ted Haggard has recently started a new
church.[19]
Paul Barnes, 2006
Main article: Paul Barnes
Paul Barnes is the founder and former senior minister of the
evangelical church Grace Chapel in Douglas County, Colorado. He
confessed his homosexual activity to the church board, and his
resignation was accepted on December 7, 2006.[20] He started the
church in his basement and watched it reach a membership of 2,100 in
his 28 years of leadership. This scandal was notable because it was
similar to Ted Haggard's (above), it occurred in the same state
(Colorado) and around the same time (late 2006).
Lonnie Latham, 2006
Main article: Lonnie Latham
In 2006, Latham, the senior pastor of South Tulsa Baptist Church and a
member of the powerful Southern Baptist Convention Executive
Committee, was arrested for "offering to engage in an act of lewdness"
with a male undercover police officer.[21]
Gilbert Deya, 2006
Main article: Gilbert Deya
Kenyan-born Deya moved to the United Kingdom in the 1990s and started
a number of churches. He claims to have supernatural powers that allow
him to make infertile women become pregnant and give birth. However,
police investigations in the UK and Kenya concluded that Deya and his
wife were stealing Kenyan babies. Deya was arrested in London during
December 2006, and following a long legal process it was reported in
September 2011 that he would be extradited to Kenya to face child
abduction charges.[22]
Richard Roberts, 2007
Main article: Richard Roberts
In October 2007, televangelist Richard Roberts (son of the late
televangelist Oral Roberts), was president of Oral Roberts University
until his forced resignation on November 23, 2007. Roberts was named
as a defendant in a lawsuit alleging improper use of university funds
for political and personal purposes and improper use of university
resources.[23]
Earl Paulk, 2007
Main article: Earl Paulk
Earl Paulk (no relation to John Paulk) was the founder and head pastor
of Chapel Hill Harvester Church in Decatur, Georgia from 1960 until
the 1990s. A number of women from the congregation came forward during
the 1990s and 2000s, claiming that Paulk had sexual relations with
them; charges of child molestation were also made. Some of these
claims have subsequently been proven correct. Moreover, Donnie Earl
Paulk, the current senior pastor of the church and nephew of Earl
Paulk, had a court-ordered DNA test in 2007 which showed that he was
Earl's son, not his nephew, which means that Earl and his sister-in-
law had had a sexual relationship which led to Donnie's birth.[24]
Coy Privette, 2007
Main article: Coy Privette
Privette is a Baptist pastor, conservative activist, and politician in
the U.S. state of North Carolina. Privette was president of the
Christian Action League and a prominent figure in North Carolina moral
battles. In 2007, Privette resigned as president of North Carolina's
Christian Action League and from the Board of Directors of the Baptist
State Convention of North Carolina, following revelations on July 19
that he had been charged with six counts of aiding and abetting
prostitution.[25]
Thomas Wesley Weeks, III, 2007
Main article: Thomas Wesley Weeks, III
Weeks married fellow evangelist Juanita Bynum in 2002, but they
separated in May 2007. In August 2007, Weeks physically assaulted
Bynum in a hotel parking lot and was convicted of the crime in March
2008. The couple divorced in June 2008 and Weeks remarried in October
2009.[26]
Michael Reid, 2008
Main article: Michael Reid
Bishop Michael Reid (born 1944) is a Christian evangelist in Essex,
England and founder of Michael Reid Ministries who resigned from the
role of pastor at Peniel Church in April 2008, after admitting to an
eight-year extra-marital sexual relationship. The scandal was widely
reported online[27][28][29] and in UK newspapers.[30][31] He has since
re-developed an itinerant evangelistic ministry and has been speaking
at a number of churches in the UK and overseas.
Joe Barron, 2008
Joe Barron, one of the 40 ministers at Prestonwood Baptist Church, one
of the largest churches in the United States with 26,000 members, was
arrested on May 15, 2008 for solicitation of a minor after driving
from the Dallas area to Bryan, Texas, in order to allegedly engage in
sexual relations with what he thought to be a 13 year-old girl he had
met online. Barron's online communications had in fact been with
undercover law enforcement official.[32][33][34]
Todd Bentley, 2008
Main article: Todd Bentley
Canadian Todd Bentley rose to prominence as the evangelist at the
Lakeland Revival in Florida, which began in April 2008. Bentley
claimed that tens of thousands of people were healed at the revival.
However, in August 2008, he stepped down permanently when it was
revealed he was separating from his wife, Shonnah, and was in a
relationship with Jessa Hasbrook, a member of his staff.[35]
Ergun Caner, 2010
Main article: Ergun Caner
Ergun Caner grew up in suburban Ohio, but after 9/11, presented
himself to churches and other organizations as having been raised and
trained in Turkey and Egypt as a militant jihadi to wage war in the US.
[36][37] He and his brother Emir authored books explaining Islam to
evangelicals containing many basic mistakes, displaying a rudimentary
rather than expert understanding of the religion.[38] Ergun's
prominence and popularity propelled him to the position of dean at the
Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary and Graduate School of Liberty
University.[39] In early 2010, Reformed apologist James White
questioned Caner's claims to have debated Muslim scholars and
representatives of virtually all religions on college campuses across
the country.[40] Legal documents located by Christian and Muslim
bloggers demonstrated the fraudulence of Caner's constructed life
narrative.[41] Sound clips from his preaching contained supposed
quotes in Arabic that turned out to be gibberish.[42] Liberty's
subsequent investigation resulted in Caner's not having his contract
renewed for the position of dean in the summer of 2010, demoting him
to professor.[43][44] He took up a new post at Arlington Baptist
College in 2011.[45]
George Alan Rekers, 2010
Main article: George Alan Rekers
Penn Bullock and Brandon K. Thorp of the Miami New Times reported on
May 4, 2010, that on April 13, 2010, Christian leader George Alan
Rekers was photographed at Miami International Airport returning from
an extended overseas trip with a twenty-year-old "rent boy", or gay
male prostitute, known as "Lucien" (later identified as Jo-Vanni
Roman). Given his opinion on homosexuals and homosexual behavior, the
scandal surrounds Rekers' decision to employ a homosexual escort as a
traveling companion, and how that runs contrary to Rekers' public
stances on such issues.
Rekers claimed that Lucien was there to help carry Rekers' luggage as
Rekers had allegedly had recent surgery, yet Rekers was seen carrying
his own luggage when he and Lucien were spotted at the airport.[46] On
his blog, Rekers denied having sex with the man.[47] In subsequent
interviews, Roman said Rekers had paid him to provide nude massages
daily, which included genital touching.
Eddie L. Long, 2010
Main article: Eddie L. Long
In September 2010 several civil complaints were filed against Bishop
Eddie L. Long by men that stated Mr. Long used his position as the
church leader to entice or coerce the men into consensual sexual
relationships in exchange for money, travel and goods. At a press
event on September 26, 2010 Bishop Long stated he would fight the
civil complaints in court and would not comment on the allegations. On
May 27, 2011, Bishop Long settled the matter out of court.[48] The
Canadian documentary series, Sex Scandals In Religion covered the Long
case [49]
Marcus Lamb, 2010
In December 2010, televangelist Marcus Lamb, the founder of the
Daystar Television Network, admitted on television that he had been
involved in an extramarital affair several years prior. He further
alleged an extortion scheme against him. In late 2010 and early 2011,
three former Daystar employees filed a series of lawsuits against Lamb
and his wife, Joni, making allegations ranging from financial
mismanagement in relation to the affair, to sexual harassment, and to
wrongful termination.
Vaughn Reeves, 2010
Special Judge Dena Martin ordered former pastor Vaughn Reeves to serve
consecutive six-year terms for each of nine fraud counts, in a scheme
that cost about 2,900 investors $13.1 million.[50] Among aggravating
factors, Martin found Reeves targeted people over age 65 and used
religion to influence them. Reeves’ attorney plans to appeal.
Investigators said Reeves and his three sons used their now-defunct
company, Alanar, to trick about 11,000 investors into buying bonds
worth $120 million secured by mortgages on church construction
projects.[51]
Instead, Reeves and his sons diverted money from new investments to
pay off previous investors, pocketing $6 million and buying luxuries.
[51]
Stephen Green, 2011
Stephen Green, a former Chairman of the Conservative Family Campaign
who attends an Assemblies of God Church, is head of Christian Voice, a
Conservative Christian pressure group in the UK.
In January 2011, Green's former wife, Caroline Green, accused him of
repeatedly physically assaulting her and their children, including one
incident where he allegedly beat her with a weapon until she bled, and
another in which their son allegedly required hospital treatment after
having been beaten with a piece of wood.[52]
Albert Odulele, 2011
In February 2011, televangelist, founder and senior pastor of Glory
House London, Dr Albert Odulele was charged with two counts of sexual
assault, one involving a 14-year-old boy and another on a 21-year-old
man. Although he initially denied the charges, he later pleaded guilty
and confessed that he had been battling with his sexuality for many
years. He was subsequently sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court, London,
to 8 and 6 months in prison to run concurrently. He will be on the sex
offenders register for 5 years. He is currently serving his sentence.
[53]
Senate probe
In 2007, Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) opened a probe into the
finances of six televangelists who preach a "prosperity gospel".[54]
The probe investigated reports of lavish lifestyles by televangelists
including: fleets of Rolls Royces, palatial mansions, private jets and
other expensive items purportedly paid for by television viewers who
donate due to the ministries' encouragement of offerings. The six that
were investigated are:
Kenneth Copeland and Gloria Copeland of Kenneth Copeland Ministries of
Newark, Texas;
Creflo Dollar and Taffi Dollar of World Changers Church International
and Creflo Dollar Ministries of College Park, Ga;
Benny Hinn of World Healing Center Church Inc. and Benny Hinn
Ministries of Grapevine, Texas;
Eddie L. Long of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church and Bishop Eddie
Long Ministries of Lithonia, Ga; DocuSeries - SEX SCANDALS and
RELIGION did a 2011 investigative episode on his alleged sexual
misconduct [55]
Joyce Meyer and David Meyer of Joyce Meyer Ministries of Fenton, Mo;
and
Randy White and ex-wife Paula White of the multiracial Without Walls
International Church and Paula White Ministries of Tampa.[56]
On January 6, 2011 Senator Grassley released his review of the six
ministries response to his inquiry. He called for a further
congressional review of tax-exemption laws for religious groups.[57]
See also
Garner Ted Armstrong
Elmer Gantry
Televangelism
List of convicted religious leaders
References
^ References for this section can be found in the main article on
Marjoe Gortner and the film Marjoe.
^ "Transcript: Interview with Jessica Hahn". Larry King Live (CNN).
2005-07-14. Retrieved 2008-04-17.
^ Swaggart Is Barred From Pulpit for One Year. New York Times.
1998-03-30. Retrieved 2008-04-17
^ King, Wayne (1998-02-22). Swaggart Says He Has Sinned; Will Step
Down. New York Times. Retrieved 2008-04-17
^ Swaggart, Jimmy. "Reverend Jimmy Swaggart: Apology Sermon".
americanrhetoric.com. Retrieved 2007-01-25.
^ "Swaggart Plans to Step Down". The New York Times. 1991-10-15.
Retrieved 2008-04-17.
^ Randi, James (1989). The Faith Healers. Prometheus Books.
ISBN 0-87975-535-0 page 141.
^ References for this section can be found in the main article on
Morris Cerullo
^ References for this section can be found in the main article on W.
V. Grant
^ "Sex Allegations: Megachurch Pastor Quits, Denies Wrongdoing".
Retrieved 2010-09-26.
^ References for this section can be found in the main article on Roy
Clements
^ "Scandal in the second biggest Pentecostal church in Britain".
Retrieved 2009-12-21.
^ "Disgraced Dougles Goodman out of prison and back into the pulpit.
Is this right?". Retrieved 2009-12-21.
^ "Downfall of a preacher man". BBC News. 2004-05-06. Retrieved
2009-12-21.
^ "Scandal in the church". Retrieved 2009-12-21.
^ "Fall from grace". Retrieved 2009-12-21.
^ Hovind v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo 2006-143, CCH Dec. 56,562(M)
(2006).[1]
^ "Disgraced pastor Haggard admits second relationship with man", CNN-
TV Larry King, January 29, 2009.
^ "[2]"
^ "Pastor of 2nd Colorado evangelical church resigns over gay sex
allegations". Seattle Times. 2006-12-12. Retrieved 2006-12-16.
^ Lonnie Latham scandal
^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14992891
^ References for this section can be found in the main article on
Richard Roberts
^ J. Lee Grady, It’s Time to Blow the Whistle on Corruption, Charisma
Magazine, October 19, 2007
^ Moral activist Privette arrested
^ References for this section can be found in the main articles on
Thomas Wesley Weeks, III and Juanita Bynum
^ BBC blog, accessed 11 April 2008
^ Talk To Action blog, accessed 11 April 2008
^ HYPOCRISY IS THE GREATEST LUXURY, BEFOREiFORGET blog 9th April 2008
^ "Bash Bishop is a Jerry Sinner", The Sun, 9th April 2008
^ "Bishop who preached family values finally admits: I am an
adulterer", The Daily Mail, 10th April 2008
^ Eiserer, Tanya, and Sam Hodges, Minister at Prestonwood Baptist
charged in Internet sex sting, Dallas Morning News, retrieved
2008-05-17
^ Police say Texas minister caught in Internet sex sting, Fort Worth
Star-Telegram, May 16, 2008, retrieved 2008-05-17
^ CNN. http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/05/16/minister.sex.sting.ap/index.html?eref=rss_latest.
^ References for this section can be found in the main article on Todd
Bentley
^ http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2010/06/29/just-one-question-for-the-trustees-of-liberty-university/
^ http://babyloniansquirrel.blogspot.com/2010/05/caner-file.html
^ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/walid-zafar/ex-muslim-evangelical-exp_b_582225.html
^ http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2010/mayweb-only/28-11.0.html
^ http://www.aomin.org/aoblog/index.php?itemid=3781
^ http://turretinfan.blogspot.com/2010/05/who-is-dr-ergun-caner.html
^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYSLJ2oeebY
^ http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/29/AR2010062905331.html
^ http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2010/julyweb-only/36-51.0.html
^ http://www.abpnews.com/content/view/6405/53/
^ [3]Miami New Times, "Christian right leader George Rekers takes
vacation with "rent boy"", May 4, 2010 issue
^ "MISLEADING INTERNET REPORTS ABOUT PROFESSOR GEORGE REKERS".
WordPress.com. May 5, 2010. Retrieved May 6, 2010.
^ http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/27/us/27pastor.html Pastor Takes
Pulpit and Rejects Sex Claims
^ http://www.earthbook.tv/religion/channelhome/channelhome/150/
^ Trigg, Lisa (8 December 2010). "Vaughn Reeves sentenced for role in
fraud". Tribune-Star. Retrieved 25 December 2010.
^ a b "Ex-pastor going to prison for duping investors". The Atlanta
Journal-Constitution. Associated Press. 7 December 2010. Retrieved 25
December 2010.
^ Hardy, Frances (2011-01-28). "'In public he rails against immorality
as the voice of Christian Britain but in private he is a wife beater,
says his former partner'". The Daily Mail. Retrieved 2011-01-29.
^ http://www.channel4.com/news/evangelical-pastor-odulele-sentenced-for-sex-offences
^ "Grassley seeks information from six media-based ministries".
2007-11-06. Retrieved 2010-08-19. (Archived by WebCite at
http://www.webcitation.org/5s5pjHGFo)
^ http://www.earthbook.tv/religion/channelhome/channelvideos/150/630/
^ Sen. Grassley probes televangelists' finances
^ http://finance.senate.gov/newsroom/ranking/release/?id=5fa343ed-87eb-49b0-82b9-28a9502910f7
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_scandals_involving_evangelical_Christians&mobileaction=view_normal_site&printable=yes
RoseBud
Sep 29, 2011, 8:13:07 PM9/29/11
to
In article
<2ea8c536-5207-4649...@5g2000yqo.googlegroups.com>,
Not perfect are they?. should they be "forgiven"? I don't think so.
--
Karma, What a concept!
<2ea8c536-5207-4649...@5g2000yqo.googlegroups.com>,
--
Karma, What a concept!
rpautrey2
Sep 30, 2011, 10:10:56 AM9/30/11
to
On Sep 29, 6:13 pm, RoseBud <george...@toast.net> wrote:
> In article
> <2ea8c536-5207-4649-bc8c-dbc2dbb8d...@5g2000yqo.googlegroups.com>,
> ...
>
> read more »
I totally agree.
> In article
> <2ea8c536-5207-4649-bc8c-dbc2dbb8d...@5g2000yqo.googlegroups.com>,
>
> read more »
I totally agree.
gracealone...@gmail.com
Feb 10, 2014, 5:23:10 PM2/10/14
to
On Friday, September 30, 2011 9:10:38 AM UTC+10, Oliver Crangle wrote:
> List of scandals involving evangelical Christians
>
> From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
>
> This is a list of scandals related mostly to American evangelical (mainly Pentecostal and Charismatic Background)
> List of scandals involving evangelical Christians
>
> From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
>
>
> Christians. (Roman Catholic clergy and high-profile leaders from New
>
> Religious Movements are not within the scope of this list.)
>
>
>
> Contents
>
>
>
> 1 List of evangelical Christians involved in scandals
>
> 1.1 Aimee Semple McPherson, 1920s-40s
> Christians. (Roman Catholic clergy and high-profile leaders from New
>
> Religious Movements are not within the scope of this list.)
>
>
>
> Contents
>
>
>
> 1 List of evangelical Christians involved in scandals
>
>
> 1.2 Lonnie Frisbee, 1970s-1980s
>
>
>
> Main article: Aimee Semple McPherson
>
> One of the most famous evangelist scandals involved Canadian-born
>
> Aimee Semple McPherson in the 1920s, who allegedly faked her own
>
> death. She later claimed that she had been kidnapped, but a grand jury
>
> adjourned with no indictment, saying it had not enough evidence to
>
> proceed. Roberta Semple Salter, her daughter from her first marriage,
>
> became estranged from Semple McPherson and successfully sued her
>
> mother's attorney for slander during the 1930s. As a result of this
>
> she was cut out of her mother's will. Aimee Semple McPherson died in
>
> 1944 from an accidental overdose of barbiturates.
>
>
>
> Lonnie Frisbee, 1970s-1980s
>
>
> Main article: Aimee Semple McPherson
>
> One of the most famous evangelist scandals involved Canadian-born
>
> Aimee Semple McPherson in the 1920s, who allegedly faked her own
>
> death. She later claimed that she had been kidnapped, but a grand jury
>
> adjourned with no indictment, saying it had not enough evidence to
>
> proceed. Roberta Semple Salter, her daughter from her first marriage,
>
> became estranged from Semple McPherson and successfully sued her
>
> mother's attorney for slander during the 1930s. As a result of this
>
> she was cut out of her mother's will. Aimee Semple McPherson died in
>
> 1944 from an accidental overdose of barbiturates.
>
>
>
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