The FundamentaList (No. 63)

This week in the religious right: Reconsidering Ted Haggard, a deeper look at Rick Warren's finances, and Bristol Palin on birth control.

Sarah Posner | January 14, 2009 | web only

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2. Is Warren Transparent About His Charity Finances?
Warren and his wife boast on their Web site that "as philanthropists, Rick and Kay Warren give away 90 percent of their income through three foundations: Acts of Mercy, which serves those infected and affected by AIDS; Equipping the Church, which trains church leaders in developing countries; and the Global PEACE Fund, which fights poverty, disease, and illiteracy."

Acts of Mercy, which claims its mission is to advance "the purposes of The Global Peace Fund (GPF)" and "to advance the Christian faith," has had federal tax-exempt status since 2004. But the organization hasn't filed a tax return since 2006, after revealing several years of paying comfortable salaries to the Warrens (they each made $63,750 in 2004, $121,250 in 2005, and Rick made $75,000 in 2006) and spending millions of dollars on activities such as "a trip to the Philippines to meet with government officials in order to help establish relationships and evangelize and assist in the set up of 40 Days of Purpose throughout the government" and "partner with OAFLA Uganda (Organization of African First Ladies Against HIV/AIDS) in Abstinence Training Program for Young People in Schools."

But the Global PEACE Fund, which has had federal tax-exempt status since 2004, has yet to file any tax returns that would reveal its finances. And Equipping the Church, the foundation the Warrens say trains leaders in developing countries, has been dissolved under California law and has no federal tax-exempt status. Warren's spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.

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http://www.prospect.org/cs/articles?article=the_fundamentalist_011409