WASHINGTON -- Sen. Chuck Grassley, ranking member of the Committee on Finance, today released a staff review of the activities and practices of six media-based ministries and reports concerning other churches and religious organizations referred to the committee. He pursued this review as part of an ongoing effort to strengthen the tax-exempt sector. The review contains a summary of findings and identifies key issues for discussion by stakeholders.
“The tax-exempt sector is so big that from time to time, certain practices draw public concern,” Grassley said. “My goal is to help improve accountability and good governance so tax-exempt groups maintain public confidence in their operations.”
Grassley said tax-exempt policy involving churches and religious organizations is an area Congress hasn’t looked at in decades. Then-Senator Mark Hatfield’s 1977 request to evangelical groups to be more transparent caused the formation of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA). Joining this organization has become like a Good Housekeeping seal of approval for those in the evangelical community.
Click here to read the full press release.
Source: Senate Committee on Finance, January 6, 2011