Kenneth and Gloria Copeland, televangelists have been issued an ultimatum by the Tarrant County chief appraiser stating tell us how much money you are making or start paying taxes on your new private jet.
The Copeland’s are vastly known as successful televangelists in the world and their ministry spans the globe and their new Cessna Citation X jet is used often to get them to their ministry places. In 2007 a question was raised by the local News 8 TV station as to the use of the private jet to places such as Steamboat Springs during ski season and a wild game ranch in southern Texas. Tarrant County atthe time chose to award a tax-exempt status for this jet. Back in May of this year Copeland got another jet and the Tarrant County chief appraiser decided to take a harder stand with the new jet. The Copeland’s jet will only be tax-exempt if they supply the county with a list of ministry salaries. Chief Appraiser Diane Collins said, “We are going to require a list of salaries; and we do require that of every religious organization.” Copeland’s attorneys decided to fight the ruling and refused to divulge the Copeland’s earnings. According to David Middlebrook, Copeland’s attorney said they have provided the county with a CPA’s certification that none of the ministry resources are being used for their personal uses. Middlebrook said, “So, we are not dragging our feet, we are doing our job to make sure that people like you and me can go to a church and exercise our religious freedoms consistent with the Constitution that our founding fathers put in place. Are those plans being used for personal reasons?” Trinity Foundation, a religious watchdog group said it has obtained government records and they show the new jet has made what, appears to be personal trips. The records show the Copeland’s did use a jet to travel to Steamboat Springs, Colorado and back down to South Texas. Prior to this last investigation flight information was accessible to anyone over the Internet but now after News 8’s investigation the Copeland’s have blocked the trip information. This apparently is not on the chief appraiser’s radar so according to Collins the Copeland’s or any church with a jet that wants tax-exempt status must comply with the state law and supply salary information. Nothing will be released according to Copeland’s attorneys and an appeal is being considered with the district court. CWnewz.com is looking into the laws since there has not been a problem for years with the Copeland's ministry, but yet again there is another possible witchhunt that is being brought up against Christian Evangelist and Ministers to bring them down from reaching others and to dishearten those who stand by those ministries.
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