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{{Short description|American televangelist (born 1936)}}
'''Kenneth Copeland''' (born [[December 6]], [[1936]] in [[Lubbock, Texas|Lubbock]], [[Texas|TX]]) is a [[Pentecostalism|Pentecostal]] [[Word of Faith]] [[preacher]] and [[televangelism|televangelist]].
{{Use American English|date=March 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Kenneth Copeland
| other_names =
| image = Kenneth Copeland 2011.jpg
| caption = Copeland on the ''Believer's Voice of Victory'' television broadcast in 2011
| birth_name = Kenneth Max Copeland
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1936|12|6}}
| birth_place = [[Lubbock, Texas]], U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| death_cause =
| known =
| occupation = {{hlist|Author|speaker|prosperity gospel preacher|televangelist}}
| term =
| predecessor =
| years active = 1956–present
| successor =
| boards =
| movement = [[Word of Faith]]
| spouse = {{ubl|{{marriage|Ivy Bodiford|1955|1958|end=div}}|{{marriage|Cynthia Davis |1958|1961|end=div}}|{{marriage|Gloria Neece|1963}}}}
| children = 3
| partner =
| parents =
| relations =
| website = {{URL|http://kcm.org}}
| footnotes =
| party =
}}
 
'''Kenneth Max Copeland''' (born December 6, 1936) is an American [[televangelist]] associated with the [[charismatic movement]]. He is the founder of [[Eagle Mountain International Church]] Inc. (EMIC), which is based in [[Tarrant County, Texas]]. Copeland has also written several books and other resources, and is known for his broadcast ''The'' ''Believer's Voice of Victory''.
Kenneth Copeland has never claimed to be a successful pop singer before turning his life over to ministry work following his conversion on [[November 2]], [[1962]]. In the [[1960s]], he was a [[aviator|pilot]] for [[Faith healing|faith healer]] [[Oral Roberts]]. Copeland attended [[Oral Roberts University]] in [[Tulsa, Oklahoma|Tulsa]], [[Oklahoma]], but left to become a full-time minister before graduating. Later he studied under another Pentecostal evangelist, [[Kenneth E. Hagin]]. His ministry grew through the [[1970s]], and in 1979, "[[Believer's Voice of Victory]]" first appeared on television.
 
Copeland preaches [[prosperity theology]] and is part of the [[Word of Faith]] movement, which teaches that divine favor is expressed in material and financial blessing, and that giving to ministries unlocks this favor.
Kenneth Copeland Ministries has its headquarters in [[Fort Worth, Texas|Fort Worth]], [[Texas]]. Since 1978, Copeland and his wife, Gloria, have been holding annual week-long "Believers' Conventions" in both California and Texas. His recent regular preaching partners at these events have been [[Creflo A. Dollar]], [[Jesse Duplantis]], and [[Jerry Savelle]].
 
==Early life and career==
He is considered one of the founding members of the Word of Faith movement.
Kenneth Max Copeland was born on December 6, 1936,<ref name="biomin1" /> and raised in [[West Texas]], near a [[United States Army Air Forces]] [[List of United States Army airfields|airfield.]] This inspired him to become a [[pilot]].<ref name="biomin1" /><ref name="newsok1" />
 
Copeland was a recording artist on the [[Imperial Records]] label during the 1950s, recording a number of singles including "Pledge of Love", which charted in the ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' Top 40 on April 20, 1957, staying on the charts for 15 weeks and peaking at No. 17.<ref name="googlebooks1" />
==Teachings & Controversy==
 
In the fall of 1967, he enrolled in [[Oral Roberts University]], where he soon became pilot and chauffeur to [[Oral Roberts]].<ref name="robertsedu1" />
Copeland's teachings incorporate both "Classical Pentecostalism", with its emphasis on the work of the [[Holy Spirit]], including [[glossolalia|speaking in tongues]], as well as elements of Faith theology.
 
==Kenneth Copeland Ministries==
He teaches that prosperity and riches are promised to every believer, and can be gained by faith. He also teaches that faith is a "force", activated by "confession", i.e. speaking the words of God.
[[File:Kenneth and Gloria Copeland hosting Believer's Voice of Victory - 2011.jpg|thumb|Kenneth and Gloria Copeland]]
In 1967, after attending [[Kenneth E. Hagin]]'s Pastor Seminars, Copeland and his wife Gloria founded Kenneth Copeland Ministries (KCM) in [[Fort Worth]], [[Texas]].<ref>Randall Herbert Balmer, ''Encyclopedia of Evangelicalism: Revised and expanded edition'', Baylor University Press, USA, 2004, p. 189</ref> The ministry's motto is "[[Jesus is Lord]]".<ref name="kcm2" /> Kenneth Copeland Ministries has six international offices in Canada, Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, and Ukraine.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kenneth Copeland Ministries: A Brief History {{!}} Kenneth Copeland Ministries |url=https://www.kcm.org/about-us/kenneth-copeland-ministries-brief-history?language_content_entity=en-US |access-date=2024-07-10 |website=www.kcm.org}}</ref> He preaches [[prosperity theology]] and is part of the [[Word of Faith]] movement, which teaches that financial blessing and physical well-being are the will of God for believers, and that material and financial success are a sign of divine favor.<ref>{{cite book | last = Wilson | first = J. Matthew | title = From Pews to Polling Places: Faith and Politics in the American Religious Mosaic | year = 2007 | publisher = [[Georgetown University Press]] | isbn = 978-1-58901-172-4 }}</ref> This may be unlocked through giving to ministry, and Copeland has written that parishioners will get a "hundredfold" return on their investment through "giving to God" by offering to his ministry.<ref name="vox1" />
 
Throughout his career, Copeland has supported and partnered with other ministers with similar views, including [[Heidi Baker]], [[Jerry Savelle]], [[Todd White (pastor)|Todd White]], and Oral Roberts. In 1986 Copeland supported and prayed over [[Reinhard Bonnke]] during Bonnke's Fresh Fire Conference.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bonnke |first=Reinhard |title=Living a Life of Fire |pages=392}}</ref> Daniel Kolenda, who was the successor to Reinhard Bonnke, said that Kenneth Copeland told Bonnke that one-day Bonnke would preach to a million people on one day.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suTHNVaVC1s |title=Daniel Kolenda Reflects on the Partnership of Reinhard Bonnke and Kenneth Copeland Ministries |date=2020-02-11 |last=Kenneth Copeland Ministries |access-date=2024-11-20 |via=YouTube}}</ref>
Following [[E.W. Kenyon]] and Kenneth Hagin, Copeland has taught his belief that Jesus had to suffer in [[Hell]] for three days and three nights in order to [[Atonement|atone for sin]]. Some critics have labelled this heresy, claiming it denies the sufficiency of the [[blood of Christ]]. His teaching that believers are "little gods" has also been heavily criticized
 
===Television and other programming===
==KCM Prison Outreach==
Since 1967, Copeland's ministry has held three-to-six-day conventions across the United States.<ref>Kate Bowler, ''Blessed: A History of the American Prosperity Gospel'', OUP USA, 2013, p. 82</ref> KCM still holds an annual Southwest Believer's Convention in his hometown of Fort Worth during the first week of August.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2022 Southwest Believers' Convention {{!}} Kenneth Copeland Ministries |url=https://www.kcm.org/events/2022-southwest-believers-convention?_ga=2.84735647.727533793.1642015458-1664595969.1642015458 |access-date=January 12, 2022 |website=www.kcm.org}}</ref> Kenneth and Gloria Copeland also preach and minister at other conventions and conferences throughout the world.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2022 Branson Victory Campaign {{!}} Kenneth Copeland Ministries |url=https://www.kcm.org/events/2022-branson-victory-campaign?language_content_entity=en-US |access-date=February 22, 2022 |website=www.kcm.org}}</ref>
 
On May 27, 1971, KCM began a one-hour television program called ''The Word of Faith''. In 1972, a television program called ''The Prayer Group'' was launched. This was a half-hour television program aired across the United States.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=2020 |title=Reaching the World Through Television |journal=Believers Voice of Victory Magazine}}</ref>
Kenneth Copeland Ministries send over 1,000,000 books, bibles and products to people in prisons every year [Kenneth, BVOV broadcast, Aug 03 2006]. In 2002, KCM received and processed 276,000 pieces of incoming mail from prisoners [kcm.org]. Partners around the world of KCM who either work or already minister in prisons request materials as they minister inside prisons in England, Italy, North Africa and Pakistan [Andrew Prescott, overseeing KCM Europe Prison Ministry, BVOV magazine, June 2006].
 
==Teaching= Articles in 'Believer's Voice of Victory' magazine===
In 1989, the weekly show ''The Word of Faith'' was replaced by a daily series called ''[[Believer's Voice of Victory]]''.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://issuu.com/kcmeurope/docs/bvov_01-22_digital_issuu/s/14341898 | title=The Founding of a Ministry }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.zippia.com/kenneth-copeland-ministries-careers-1342148/history | title=Kenneth Copeland Ministries History: Founding, Timeline, and Milestones - Zippia | date=August 27, 2020 }}</ref>
 
===Victory Channel===
*October 2006 main article heading - 'Ready to Reveal His Glory'
In 2015, KCM launched the Believer's Voice of Victory Network on channel 265 on [[Dish Network]].<ref name="dish-channels" /> Believer's Voice of Victory Network was renamed Victory Channel in 2019 and is available over-the-air and on some cable providers.<ref name="govictory1" /> On October 2, 2020, the Believer's Voice of Victory (BVOV) stopped broadcasting on the [[Trinity Broadcasting Network]] (TBN).<ref name="TBN" /> At the start of 2022, it was added on several national cable systems under a new channel lease with Olympusat, which had previously offered [[TBN Inspire|Hillsong Channel]] and [[Universal Church of the Kingdom of God|Living Faith Network]], then [[ShopHQ|Bulldog Shopping Network]], on the channel space.{{Citation needed|date=September 2024}}
**subheading: "The riches of Heaven itself have been poured into that earthen vessel called your body, where your spirit resides, the very glory of Heaven has been poured into you".
 
Pastor Gene Bailey hosts the Victory Channel's popular ''FlashPoint'' current-events prophecy program and reaches approximately 11,000 households. ''FlashPoint'' commonly features nationally known ministry leaders such as [[Lance Wallnau]] and Hank Kunneman; other guests have included [[Donald Trump]], [[Charlie Kirk]], [[Marjorie Taylor Greene]] and former Ambassador to Israel David Friedman.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hixenbaugh |first=Mike |date=May 3, 2024 |title=Inside the Christian TV show rallying Trump superfans with apocalyptic warnings |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/flashpoint-trump-republican-christian-tv-show-rcna150303 |access-date=September 27, 2024 |website=[[NBC News]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Rabey |first1=Steve |date=February 2, 2024 |title=With FlashPoint Live, roster of Pentecostal 'prophets' hits the road for Trump |url=https://religionnews.com/2024/02/02/with-flashpoint-live-familiar-roster-of-pentecostal-preachers-hits-the-road-for-trump/ |access-date=September 27, 2024 |publisher=[[Religion News Service]]}}</ref>
*October 2006 secondary article heading - 'Settle It'
**subheading: "The Lord is not holding back direction for your life. His Word is clear on that as well. All you have to do is ask".
 
===Facilities and aircraft===
*September 2006 main article heading - 'Living in the Glory'
Kenneth Copeland Ministries is located in Fort Worth, Texas, on a {{convert|33|acre|adj=on}} property that was once [[Marine Corps Air Station Eagle Mountain Lake]] (MCAS Eagle Mountain Lake), a [[United States Marine Corps]] air base, valued in 2008 at $554,160 ({{Inflation|US|554160|2008|fmt=eq}}) by Tarrant Appraisal District. The site includes the [[Eagle Mountain International Church]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=Eagle Mountain International Church, Inc.: Texas (US): OpenCorporates|url=https://opencorporates.com/companies/us_tx/0024727601|access-date=December 3, 2021|website=opencorporates.com}}</ref> television and radio production facilities, warehouse and distribution facilities, residences for the Copeland family, and [[Marine Corps Air Station Eagle Mountain Lake#Present day|Kenneth Copeland Airport]].{{R|NBC news 2008}} As of 2024, [[Federal Aviation Administration]] (FAA) records indicated that no aircraft were based at the airport and that it had a single usable runway;<ref name="FAA">{{FAA-airport|ID=4T2|use=PU|own=PU|site=23299.*A}}. Federal Aviation Administration. Effective 31 October 2024.</ref> that same year, KCM told the ''[[Fort Worth Star-Telegram]]'' that it was raising money to resurface the second runway so it could be used again. It was using the former Marine Corps hospital building as a medical clinic for church members.<ref>{{cite news |last=Gonzales |first=Ella |title=A rare glimpse inside the Eagle Mountain Lake site where a long-gone base helped win WWII |url=https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/fort-worth/article290201214.html |date=28 September 2024 |access-date=25 November 2024 |url-access=limited}}</ref> In 2008, approximately 500 people were employed by KCM.{{R|NBC news 2008}} Copeland's son John Copeland was the ministry's chief operating officer until his divorce from Marty Copeland in 2018.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://justice1.dentoncounty.gov/PublicAccessDC/CaseDetail.aspx?CaseID=2435637 |title=Register of Actions; Case No. 17-0439-393: In the Matter of the Marriage of J.D.C. and M.J.C. and In the Interest of J.D.C. and A.N.C., Children |website=dentoncounty.gov |access-date=January 4, 2025}}</ref> He remains a consultant to the ministry.{{citation needed|date=January 2025}}
**subheading: "He never intended us to wander around without a clue how to use the glory and power within us. He wants us to comprehend it well enough to put it to work just like Jesus did when He was on the earth".
 
KCM owns several [[business jet]]s, including a 1998 [[Cessna Citation II|Cessna 550 Citation Bravo]], which it received from a donor in October 2007 and is used for [[domestic flight]]s, and a 2005 [[Cessna Citation X|Cessna 750 Citation X]], which it uses for [[international flight]]s. In 2018, KCM acquired a [[Gulfstream V]] that was formerly owned by [[Tyler Perry]],<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.kansascity.com/news/nation-world/article195841759.html |title='Word from the Lord': Televangelist's ministry buys Tyler Perry's Gulfstream jet |last=Gutierrez |first=Lisa |date=July 15, 2019 |work=[[The Kansas City Star]] |access-date=December 13, 2022}}</ref> and was [[Maintenance, repair, and operations|restoring]] a 1962 [[Beechcraft Model 18|Beech H-18 Twin]], which the ministry plans to use for [[Disaster response|disaster relief efforts]].<ref name="flightaware1" /><ref name="private-aircraft" />
*September 2006 secondary article heading - 'Partnering with Jesus - a divine connection'
**subheading: "We are in a divine connection that God put in place for the sake of this world."
 
===Kenneth Copeland Bible College===
*August 2006 main article heading - 'Dream On'
Kenneth Copeland Bible College (KCBC) is located on the property of Kenneth Copeland Ministries and Eagle Mountain International Church (EMIC). KCBC is an accredited member with Transworld Accrediting Commission International.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Accreditation Status {{!}} Transworld Accrediting Commission International |url=https://transworldaccrediting.com/schools/kenneth-copeland-bible-college/ |access-date=September 1, 2021 |language=en}}</ref> On August 28, 2003, Kenneth Copeland Bible College opened an extension campus in Langley, British Columbia.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Partida |first=Erica |date=November 15, 2023 |title=Vision Update: KCBC Canada Welcomes First Class! |url=https://blog.kcm.org/vision-update-kcbc-canada-welcomes-its-first-class/ |access-date=December 4, 2023 |website=KCM Blog |language=en-US}}</ref>
**subheading: "Faith is what clothes our God-given, Bible-based hopes with natural substance. It's what makes them become a reality in this material world".
 
=== Israel ===
*August 2006 secondary article heading - 'Dealing with People you find Difficult'
Copeland and KCM have been public and vocal supporters of Israel for several decades. On August 17, 2022, the President of Israel, [[Isaac Herzog]], called and personally thanked Copeland and KCM for their support of Ukrainian and Russian Jews.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBxRnY_U71M |title=President of Israel Thanks KCM for Helping Ukrainian Jews Make Aliyah |date=2022-08-18 |last=Kenneth Copeland Ministries |access-date=2024-05-28 |via=YouTube}}</ref> In 2020 he was listed by the [[Israel Allies Foundation]] as one of the top supporters of Israel along with [[Paula White]], [[John Hagee]], Mike Huckabee, and other Christian leaders.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Israel's Top 50 Christian Allies |url=https://israelallies.org/israels-top-50-christian-allies |access-date=2024-05-28 |website=Israel Allies Foundation |language=en}}</ref> Copeland and other Christian leaders such as [[Greg Laurie]] and John Hagee have received criticism for their support of Israel.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-10 |title=5 reasons why evangelicals are rallying behind Israel |url=https://www.reckon.news/news/2023/11/5-reasons-why-evangelicals-are-rallying-behind-israel.html |access-date=2024-05-28 |website=Reckon |language=en}}</ref>
**subheading: "Every time you say "I love You Father," the Holy Ghost - the Spirit of Love - is knocking the old walls down, stretching you on the inside, and you're learning things you didn't know you knew".
 
==Personal life==
*July 2006 main article heading - 'The Name above all Names'
Copeland has been married three times. His first marriage was to Ivy Bodiford in October 1955. They had one child,<ref name="lubbock1" /> and divorced in 1958. He was then married to Cynthia Davis from 1958 to 1961.
**subheading: Do you receive whatever you ask of God in prayer? You can. Many Believers don't know that, but it's true. Jesus Himself said so. He didn't say it just once, either. He said it again and again. In John 14:13 He said, "Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son." In John 15:16 He said. "I have chosen you and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, HE may give it you".
 
Copeland married Gloria ([[née]] Neece) in 1963.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Carvajal |first=Edduin |date=September 28, 2020 |title=Kenneth and Gloria Copeland Have Been Married for over 50 Years – Glimpse into Their Family |url=https://news.amomama.com/230338-kenneth-gloria-copeland-have-been-marrie.html |access-date=February 22, 2022 |website=news.amomama.com |language=en}}</ref> They are the parents of John Copeland and Kellie Copeland. Gloria co-hosts the ministry's flagship broadcast, ''The Believer's Voice of Victory'', alongside her husband.
*July 2006 secondary article heading - 'The Heavenly Protection of Earthly Authority'
**subheading: "In the face of a battle, whether it be a terrorist attack, an all-out war or an attack of nature, mankind usually rises to the occasion. Christians especially step up to the challenge and Christ shines through His Body. When we love all men and pray for those in authority, we place ourselves squarely inside the realm of His governorship".
 
Kellie preaches throughout the United States, as does Copeland's daughter Terri, who also preaches at Eagle Mountain International Church, which is pastored by her husband George Pearsons.{{citation needed|date=January 2025}}
*June 2006 main article heading - 'Jump into the field of faith'
**subheading: "Lord increase our faith!" That was the cry of Jesus' first 12 disciples... and it's been the heart cry of untold millions of believers ever since. And why shouldn't it be? Again and again in the New Testament we see people receive miracles from God... according to their faith. We hear Jesus say, "If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed... nothing shall be impossible unto you" (Matthew 17:20). We read the words of the apostle John who wrote, "...this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith" (1 John 5:4) The Bible makes it absolutely clear: Faith can overcome anything in this world order. There is literally no limit to what faith can do.
 
Copeland has amassed significant wealth during his career and has referred to himself as a "very wealthy man".<ref name="washingtonpost-private-jet" /> The ''[[Houston Chronicle]]'' referred to him as the wealthiest pastor in America, allegedly having a net worth of $750 million in 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.insider.com/texas-pastor-worth-750m-avoided-150k-taxes-on-mansion-report-2021-12|title=America's richest pastor avoids $150,000 in annual taxes on a $7 million Texas mansion that he said God told him to build, report says|date=December 17, 2021|website=Business Insider|first=Bill|last=Bostock|access-date=December 24, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Root |first1=Jay |title=Kenneth Copeland is the wealthiest pastor in America. So why does he live in a tax-free Texas mansion? |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/investigations/unfair-burden/article/kenneth-copeland-wealth-pastor-tax-free-mansion-16662283.php |access-date=8 October 2024 |work=Houston Chronicle |date=Dec 15, 2021}}</ref> As of 2024, Copeland's net worth was estimated to be $300 million.<ref>{{cite web |last=Farah |first=Lynn |title=8 of the richest pastors and televangelists of 2024 – net worths, ranked: from T.D. Jakes to Joel Osteen and Kenneth Copeland, who have sizeable fortunes that they mostly prefer not to discuss |url=https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3260500/8-richest-pastors-and-televangelists-2024-net-worths-ranked-td-jakes-joel-osteen-and-kenneth |publisher=South China Morning Post |date=27 April 2024}}</ref>
*June 2006 secondary article heading - 'The Road to Excellence'
**subheading: "Recently, God has been raising up ever-growing numbers of people who are hungry. Hungry to know their Lord in a deeper way. Hungry for all He planned them to be. Hungry to serve Him - in pulpits, on mission fields, in homes, in office buildings, and anywhere else He might choose to send them"
 
===Donald Trump advisory board===
*May 2006 main article heading - 'Let God do the impossible in your life'
Copeland sat on the evangelical executive advisory board that [[Donald Trump]] assembled during his campaign for the presidency.<ref name="independent2" /> Appointment to the board did not require endorsement of his bid for presidency,<ref name="politico" /> and Copeland clarified that he did not endorse Trump at the time.<ref name="kcmtrump" /> Before the 2016 election, Copeland said that Christians who did not vote for Trump would be guilty of murder, referring to the pro-choice stance of [[Hillary Clinton]].<ref name="wapo2" /> After a state dinner at the White House that Copeland attended, he stated in an interview that Trump was "led by the Spirit of God", and that his most important legacy as president would be the appointments of conservative judges.<ref name="charismamag" />
**subheading: What do you do when you're facing the impossible? How do you respond when you encounter a problem so enormous, an obstacle so overwhelming, that it essentially becomes the biggest thing in your life? It's all right to pray on the run because you ought to pray continually, but if that's all you do, you'll miss about 90 percent of what God wants to tell you.
 
On November 5, 2022, Copeland spoke at a Donald Trump rally in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, stating that Trump is the only president he has ever seen wear the red, white, and blue in office.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hume |first=Chris |date=2022-11-08 |title=Kenneth Copeland Speaks at Trump Rally in Pennsylvania |url=https://www.thelancasterpatriot.com/kenneth-copeland-speaks-at-trump-rally-in-pennsylvania/ |access-date=2024-05-28 |website=The Lancaster Patriot |language=en}}</ref> During the 2024 Southwest Believers' Convention in Fort Worth, Texas, Copeland told the thousands in attendance and online that voting is a sacred trust.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Greene |first=Marissa |date=2024-07-30 |title=Ahead of election, Kenneth Copeland ties Christianity to politics at Fort Worth conference |url=https://fortworthreport.org/2024/07/30/ahead-of-election-kenneth-copeland-ties-christianity-to-politics-at-fort-worth-conference/ |access-date=2024-10-08 |website=Fort Worth Report |language=en-US}}</ref> His involvement in politics as a nationally prominent ministry leader has drawn both praise and criticism.
*May 2006 secondary article heading - 'God's Wisdom - Your Priority!'
**subheading: "Every one of us has been faced with a crisis or decision that baffles us. The situation may be simple or it may be complex. It may be relevant for a moment, a day or a lifetime. Regardless of the situation, the solution is always located about 18 inches below our heads. It's tucked deep within our inner man, in our born-again spirit. All we need to do is get it from our hearts to our heads. How do we do that? Ask the Lord for wisdom".
 
On April 16, 2025, Copeland took part in an invitation only White House Easter Dinner, hosted by the White House Faith Office. Other notable leaders at the dinner included [[Franklin Graham]], [[Jentezen Franklin]], [[Alveda King]], [[Greg Laurie]], and [[Paula White]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=DiMella |first=Ashley |date=2025-04-16 |title=President Donald Trump hosts Easter dinner with 'worship and prayers' |url=https://www.foxnews.com/food-drink/president-donald-trump-hosts-easter-dinner-worship-prayers |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=Fox News |language=en-US}}</ref>
==2006 statements on key issues and doctrines==
 
== Controversy ==
*ON THE TSUNAMI OF 2004
{{criticism section|date=January 2025}}
[BVOV broadcast, week of January 2nd]
KCM has been criticized for its use of private aircraft. KCM promised from 2006 to 2010 to create an aviation relief assistance program called ''Angel Flight 44'', to help [[Haiti]].<ref name="christianpost.com" /> A spokesperson responded "This was not a specific promise with a timeline attached", and said that the money was spent on airplane repairs.<ref name="christianpost.com" /> In 2008, the ministry owned five airplanes<ref name="au1" /> and continued to purchase more.<ref name="kcm-jet" /> In February 2007, Copeland was accused of using KCM's Citation X for personal vacations.<ref name="Jetrecords" /> The Copelands' financial records and a list of KCM's board of directors are not publicly available; the information is held in confidence by the [[Internal Revenue Service]].<ref name="Jetrecords" /> Responding to media questions, Copeland pointed to an accounting firm's declaration that his jet travel complied with federal tax laws.<ref name="Jetrecords" />
KC: "...in that Tsunami in December of '04. That was the heaviest area on earth (as far as I know) of persecution against Christians and their churches and killing 'em and burning their churches and so forth. And the weight of sin can get so strong in any given place that it actually damages the earth and its structure and that happened there. The Scripture says that... in several... well the eighth chapter of Romans says the whole creation moans and groans for manifestation of the sons of God... and the wages of sin is death and once it breaks, man! Well, just havoc takes place. God perfected and protected His own in that Tsunami and the only thing left standing were the churches. And so here, and thank God they were full of the love of God and we were able to get finances in there and help people. And when they did, then, uh, the people that had been persecuting them had to come over to the church to get food to live. And they were lovely about it, they didn't say 'Uh Uh, now you hurt us, we're going to hurt you' - no, they said 'Come on man, we've got enough to eat...' And one pastor I'm thinking about, he had a bunch of tents set up - he said 'I got a place for you to live until you get your house put back'. And this one fellow standing there, was a... a Muslim, and he's standing there with tears running down his cheek, man, he said 'My God, my God, these people are full of love'. That's what we're supposed to be"!
 
In December 2008, KCM's Citation Bravo was denied tax exemption after KCM refused to submit a standardized [[Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts|Texas Comptroller]] form that some county appraisal districts use to make determinations, which would have required making public the salary of all ministry staff.<ref name="jet-not-exempt" /><ref name="CLG 2010-03-11" /> KCM subsequently [[lawsuit|filed suit]] with the Tarrant Appraisal District in January 2009 and its petition to have the aircraft's tax-exempt status restored was granted in March 2010.<ref name="CLG 2010-03-11" /><ref name="sued-over-tax" /><ref name="settle-suit" />
"That's a spiritual fact. This thing ain't getting any better 'til after it's over. This thing is going downhill on skids, but we're going up".
 
KCM has utilized an FAA program that blocks enrolled aircraft on [[flight tracking]] websites; in 2010, the flights of five of the ministry's aircraft were kept private, including the Citation X and a [[North American T-28 Trojan]].<ref name="usatoday30.usatoday.com" /> [[United States Senator]] [[Chuck Grassley]] has questioned some of the flights taken by these aircraft, including layovers in [[Maui]], [[Fiji]], and [[Honolulu]].<ref name="usatoday30.usatoday.com" /> The ministries say that the stopovers were for preaching or for allowing pilot rest.<ref name="usatoday30.usatoday.com" />
*ON HOLY COMMUNION
[BVOV broadcast, week of August 28th]
KC: "The Body of Christ has made a religious tradition out of it, you know - it's the second Sunday of the month - or whatever - but not realising that you are qualified to serve communion to yourself. Your pastor doesn't have to do that - it's wonderful if he does take advantage of it, but the Body of Christ needs to learn to RUN to that communion table for healing, for deliverance, for protection. I mean, man! Take the covenant in hand and stand before the Throne of God. I tell you, man! It's powerful".
 
Copeland raised funds for the building of a hangar, upgrading of the runway, and maintenance.<ref name="kcm-jet" /> Copeland's and other televangelists' use of private jets, luxury cars and lavish houses has been widely criticized.<ref name="washingtonpost-private-jet" /><ref name="nyt1" /><ref name="huffpost" /> In 2015, Copeland, in a broadcast alongside fellow televangelist [[Jesse Duplantis]], defended the use of private jets as a necessary part of their ministry.<ref name="washingtonpost-private-jet" /><ref name="usatoday4" /><ref name="foxnews2" /><ref name="cbs-june-2019" />
"When you begin to really get an insight into what you're doing here - Jesus said 'This is My Blood of My Covenant - you drink it'. Man! That's just, I mean that's pregnant with revelation. When you take the time to spend there and think about His Blood that was shed and His... sometimes in my mind, the most important drops of Blood were the first drops. Those drops that were pushed through the pores of His skin rather than to break the covenant of love and rather than to violate this test that had come on Him, that came on the first Adam (and he blew it off) and Jesus was not about to let the devil in HIS garden and it came in the Garden of Gethsemane, man! When Blood ran down, out of the pores of His skin, and out His forehead and down His face and into His beard... those drops".
 
[[Mike Huckabee]], a [[Republican Party (United States) presidential primaries, 2008|2008 Republican presidential primary]] candidate who made six appearances on Copeland's program ''[[Believer's Voice of Victory]]''<ref name="huckabee" /> rented KCM's facilities for a fundraiser, which was criticized by the [[Trinity Foundation (Dallas)|Trinity Foundation]].<ref name="2008-01-29 ADG" /> As a result of the Huckabee appearances, KCM was one of six ministries investigated in the [[United States Senate inquiry into the tax-exempt status of religious organizations]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Huckabee's Link To TV Preacher Questioned|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/huckabees-link-to-tv-preacher-questioned/|access-date=January 5, 2021|work=CBS News|date=February 8, 2008 |language=en-US}}</ref> KCM was one of four that did not co-operate or volunteer to make reforms.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Goodstein|first=Laurie|date=January 8, 2011|title=Tax-Exempt Ministries Avoid New Regulation|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/08/us/politics/08churches.html|url-status=live|access-date=January 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120506135332/https://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/08/us/politics/08churches.html|archive-date=May 6, 2012|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=March 27, 2015|title=Televangelists escape penalty in Senate inquiry|url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/televangelists-escape-penalty-in-senate-inquiry|access-date=January 5, 2021|work=Fox News|agency=Associated Press|language=en-US}}</ref> The investigation did not conclude the Copelands had done anything wrong.<ref name="nbcnews1" /><ref>Senate Finance Committee, Minority Staff Review of Eagle Mountain International Church d/b/a Kenneth Copeland Ministries January 5, 2011 [https://www.finance.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/EMIC%20Copeland%2001-5-11.pdf]</ref>
*ON CHRISTIAN FINANCIAL PROSPERITY
[talking with Leroy Thompson, BVOV broadcast, week of January 2nd]
KC: "Let's go back and think about, a moment, what happened in 'Katrina' and those hurricanes. The devil's worst nightmare is a man of the Word, full of faith and prayer, knows how to pray and he got money; because he's walking in the Anointing, he is walking in a fellowship with God through prayer and then God says "You go do this" and he says "Yes, Sir. Well, when?", "Right now", "Okay." And he launches out instead of saying "Well, God, I need some gas for my car [etc.]" Well God can provide all that but all of that should have been provided before the instruction came.
Now what happened in those hurricanes down there, the government failed, the city government failed, the state government failed, the U.S. government failed and a lot of people died because of it. Now, I'm not in position to judge and blame those people in government. God didn't anoint government to do that in the first place. And people have forced the government into a place of provision and that's not their role to start with. So what happened then - man, the Church stepped up! ...We had a situation... where we had an airplane that would haul 8,000 lbs of stuff and you could land it in short runways. And we went in down there in one of the closest airport that was still, where you could still land on the thing (well, you know where Slidel is?) and right on the edge of that thing. And there were hospitals crying out, they had people about to die, they had little... diabetic babies that were in insulin shock and it was going to be a month before they could get anything in there by truck! So... we took their orders, what they needed, and flew back up here to a medical supply company and went in there and got all that stuff and we had it in there by dark and there were 1,000 people that did not die that would have died before the evening of the next day, had we not had the money, and the equipment, and had it ready, and somebody to fly it and somebody to get this job done, man! I mean, we didn't have time to pray and get an aeroplane - people are dieing before morning"!
[LR: "Right you need it now"]
KC: "We need it right now! And God directed that thing and told us exactly where to go and exactly what to say and exactly what to do and we did and said exactly what the Spirit of God said to do and filled that aeroplane up and flew that thing in there and those doctors and nurses just stood and wept, man".
[LR: Suppose you'd just had the Word and prayer?"]
KC:"Well, we could have done it, but we'd have had to pray in an aeroplane, prayed in some fuel, prayed in the money, prayed in the medicine - well what's the difference, I mean, the Government would have been there by then, but of course there'd have been a thousand people dead - but I mean, that's the way the world functions. And the Church ought to be ready all the time. And they couldn't get any food and here come 'Operation Blessing' from the 700 Club, Pat Robertson and that fabulous ministry come driving up in their... and people already cooking, already feeding. Didn't ask the Government for nothing - we were there to help the Government... [LR:"God's people, they rising up and that's what needs to be done".] KC:"And we ain't scratched the surface yet".
 
In 2013, a [[Epidemiology of measles#United States|measles outbreak]] with 25 confirmed cases in [[Tarrant County, Texas]], was attributed in the press to [[Vaccine hesitancy|anti-vaccination]] sentiments expressed by members of the Copeland Ministries.<ref name="usatoday" /> The church denied making any such statements and urged members to get vaccinations, even offering free immunizations through the church itself.<ref name="christianpost3" /> Pastor Terri Copeland Pearsons, who is Kenneth Copeland's daughter, offered free vaccination clinics and advised those who did not attend one of the clinics to [[quarantine]] themselves at home for two weeks. In a statement on the church website, Pearsons said she was not against immunizations, but also raised concerns about them.<ref name="npr1" />
*ON SOME THEOLOGIANS
[2006 West Point Christian Fellowship Spring Revival, April 7th]
KC: "God's Word is so simple, we've had to have some really high priced help to misunderstand it! And we've had some over the years too, haven't we! I mean, they've told us for years what God didn't mean, what He can't do anymore, and I found out He said what He meant and He just settled it forever, and the quicker you get over what He said, the better off you're going to be, amen".
 
{{Blockquote|"Some people think I am against immunizations, but that is not true, vaccinations help cut the mortality rate enormously. I believe it is wrong to be against vaccinations. The [[MMR vaccine controversy|concerns]] we have had are primarily with very young children who have family history of [[autism]] and with bundling too many immunizations at one time. There is no indication of the [[Controversies in autism|autism connection]] with vaccinations in older children. Furthermore, the new [[MMR vaccine|MMR vaccination]] is without [[thimerosal]] (mercury), which has also been [[Thiomersal controversy|a concern]] to many."<ref name="abcnews1" />}}
==Controversial statements==
 
Copeland and his wife were featured in a 2015 episode of ''[[Last Week Tonight with John Oliver]]''.<ref name="john-oliver1" /><ref name="wapo4" /><ref name="time-mag1" /> [[John Oliver (comedian)|John Oliver]] criticized the Copelands for using tax laws to live in a $6.3 million mansion as the [[Clergy house|parsonage]] allowance for their home is not subject to income taxes,<ref name="npr2" /> for using church donations to buy a $20 million jet that was used for trips to a ski resort and a private game ranch,<ref name="wfaa1" /> and for promotion of healing through faith and skepticism of medicine.
*"'''Satan conquered Jesus on the Cross''' and took His spirit to the dark regions of hell" ''(Kenneth Copeland, Holy Bible: Kenneth Copeland Reference Edition Kenneth Copeland Ministries, 1991), 129.)''
*"When [Jesus's] blood poured out it did not atone." ''(Kenneth Copeland: From a personal letter to D.R.McConnell, dated 12/3/79. from A Different Gospel, p.120)''
*"God's reason for creating Adam was his desire to reproduce himself. I mean a reproduction of himself. And in the garden of Eden he did just that. He was not a little like God, he was not almost like God, he was not subordinate to God even. Adam was as much like God as you can get, just the same as Jesus when he came to earth, he said if you have seen me you have seen the father... '''Adam in the Garden of Eden was God manifested in the flesh'''." ''(Kenneth Copeland, Following the Faith of Abraham I (Fort Worth, TX: Kenneth Copeland Ministries, 1989), tape #01-3001, side 1.''
*Jesus "has got to be all man. '''He cannot be a God''' and come storming in here with attributes and dignities that are not common to man. He can't do that. It's not legal." ''("The Incarnation", side 1, audiocassette #01-0402, emphasis in original, Fort Worth, TX: KCM, 1985.)"''
*"'''You don't have a God in you; you are one,'''" ''(The Force of Love (Fort Worth: Kenneth Copeland Ministries, 1987, audiotape #02-0028), side 1.)''
*"When we use the spiritual laws that God has set up, '''God must obey what we request'''." ''(Praise the Lord, TBN, 2/5/86)''
*"This is all a copy, it's a copy of home. It's a copy of the mother planet, where God lives he made a little one just like his and put us on it. And Adam is as much like God as you could get, just the same as Jesus when he came into the earth he said that if you have seen me you have seen the Father. He wasn't a lot like God , he is God manifested in the flesh. And I want you to know something, Adam was God manifested in the flesh, he was God's very image, very likeness everything he did, everything he said, every move he made was the very image of allmighty God" ''Following the faith of Abraham,1989, side1 audio tape (01-3001) by Kenneth Copeland''
 
In May 2019, he received criticism for his lavish lifestyle after ''[[Inside Edition]]'' released an interview where he defended his purchase of a private jet. He stated "If I flew commercial, I'd have to stop 65% of what I'm doing" and he additionally defended a previous comment where he said that he did not fly commercial because he likened it to flying with demons.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Saddler |first1=Michael Brice |title=Televangelist Kenneth Coleman confronted about private jets. "It's a biblical thing," he said. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion/2019/06/04/wealthy-televangelist-explains-his-fleet-private-jets-its-biblical-thing/ |access-date=September 2, 2023 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=June 3, 2019}}</ref>
==External links==
*[http://www.kcm.org/ Kenneth Copeland Ministries homepage] - Kenneth Copeland Ministries official web site.
*[http://www.kcm.org/media/webcasts/index.php Archived broadcasts of "Believer's Voice of Victory"]
*[http://www.kcmcanada.ca/ Kenneth Copeland Ministries Canada homepage]
 
Copeland had drawn criticism for his comments on the [[Joe Biden]] presidency.<ref>{{cite web | title=Televangelist Kenneth Copeland manically fake laughs for 40 seconds in mockery of Joe Biden's victory | website=Evening Standard | date=November 9, 2020 | url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/us-politics/televangelist-kenneth-copeland-laughs-joe-biden-media-b60676.html | access-date=November 30, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=Spocchia | first=Gino | title=Kenneth Copeland laughs maniacally at media for calling US election for Biden | website=The Independent | date=November 9, 2020 | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-election-2020/kenneth-copeland-biden-trump-election-b1719273.html | access-date=November 30, 2021}}</ref> He also gained attention during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]],<ref name="newsweek9" /> arguing pastors should not cancel services,<ref name="christian-post5" /><ref name="guardian2" /> and repeatedly saying the pandemic had ended or would end soon.<ref name="independent-corona" /> On March 29, 2020, in a televised sermon, Copeland "executed judgment" on COVID-19. He claimed that it was "finished" and "over" and that the US was now "healed and well again".<ref name="independent-corona" /> In another sermon shortly thereafter, he claimed to destroy the virus with the "wind of God".<ref name="independent-corona" /> He urged followers to continue to give tithes to his ministry even if they had lost their jobs through economic hardship brought about by the pandemic.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 24, 2020 |title=America's Bible Belt played down the pandemic and even cashed in. Now dozens of pastors are dead |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/bible-belt-us-coronavirus-pandemic-pastors-church-a9481226.html |access-date=October 27, 2023 |website=The Independent |last=Woodward|first=Alex|language=en}}</ref>
 
On August 3–8, 2020, the Kenneth Copeland Ministries hosted the Southwest Believers' Conference at the Fort Worth Convention Center in Fort Worth, Texas, despite restrictions on social gatherings to limit the spread of the pandemic. Local leaders criticized the event, attended by hundreds of people, but were unable to enforce public health restrictions, because religious gatherings were exempt under Governor [[Greg Abbott]]'s executive orders.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Hanson|first=Blake|date=August 4, 2020|title=Tarrant County leaders unable to stop religious convention in Fort Worth that draws large crowd|url=https://www.fox4news.com/news/tarrant-county-leaders-unable-to-stop-religious-convention-in-fort-worth-that-draws-large-crowd|access-date=January 5, 2021|website=FOX 4|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title='Now's not the time to relax,' says disappointed Tarrant County judge, as popular televangelist wraps up large multi-day convention|url=https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/nows-not-the-time-to-relax-says-disappointed-tarrant-county-judge-as-popular-televangelist-wraps-up-large-multi-day-convention/287-3ad1b0a9-3339-4c1a-87a3-61ec579d2254|access-date=January 5, 2021|website=wfaa.com|date=August 8, 2020 |language=en-US}}</ref>
 
== Selected bibliography ==
 
* ''From Faith to Faith: A Daily Guide to Victory.'' 1991. {{ISBN|978-0-88114-843-5}}
* ''A Ceremony of Marriage.'' 2012. {{ISBN|978-0-938458-15-9}}
* ''The Power of the Tongue.'' 2012. {{ISBN|978-1-57562-113-5}}
* ''Blessed to Be a Blessing: Understanding True, Biblical Prosperity.'' 2012. {{ISBN|978-1-60463-016-9}}
* ''Raising Children Without Fear.'' 2012. {{ISBN|978-1-60683-899-0}}
* ''Six Steps to Excellence in Ministry.'' 2012. {{ISBN|978-1-57562-104-3}}
* ''Pursuit of His Presence: Daily Devotions to Strengthen Your Walk With God'' 2012. {{ISBN|978-1-57562-435-8}}
* ''A House Not Divided: Defeating the Spirit of Division.'' 2016. {{ISBN|978-1-60463-280-4}}
* ''God, the Covenant and the Contradiction: Accessing God's Promises of Healing, Peace and Provision.'' 2023. {{ISBN|978-1-60463-508-9}}
 
==See also==
* [[Eagle Mountain International Church]]
* [[Ulf Ekman]]
* [[Tony Palmer (bishop)]]
* [[Trinity Foundation (Dallas)]]
 
==References==
{{reflist|refs=
<ref name="abcnews1">{{Cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Health/texas-church-epicenter-measles-outbreak/story?id=20071644|title=Texas Church at Epicenter of Measles Outbreak|date=August 27, 2013|website=ABC News|access-date=December 22, 2017|archive-date=December 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201228190752/https://abcnews.go.com/Health/texas-church-epicenter-measles-outbreak/story?id=20071644|url-status=live}}</ref>
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<ref name="huffpost">{{cite news |last=Kuruvilla |first=Carol |date=June 5, 2019 |title=Televangelist Kenneth Copeland Defends His Private Jets: 'I'm A Very Wealthy Man' |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/kenneth-copeland-jet-inside-edition_n_5cf822fee4b0e63eda94de4f |work=HuffPost |access-date=October 2, 2021}}</ref>
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<ref name="independent2">{{cite news |last=Sharman |first=Jon |date=February 6, 2018 |title=Trump adviser urges followers to 'inoculate yourself with the word of God' against flu |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/gloria-copeland-trump-adviser-flu-shot-jesus-god-christian-evangelical-healing-miracle-a8197801.html |work=The Independent |access-date=April 9, 2020}}</ref>
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<ref name="NBC news 2008">{{cite news |title=Televangelist's family prospers from ministry |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna25865017 |access-date=May 3, 2024 |work=NBC News |date=July 27, 2008 |language=en}}</ref>
<ref name="politico">{{cite news |last1=Gass |first1=Nick |title=Trump's evangelical advisory board features Bachmann, Falwell |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2016/06/trump-evangelical-advisory-board-224612 |access-date=October 3, 2021 |work=Politico |date=June 21, 2016}}</ref>
<ref name="wapo2">{{cite news |last=Pulliam Bailey |first=Sarah |date=October 11, 2016 |title=Televangelist: Christians who don't vote are 'going to be guilty of murder' |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2016/10/11/televangelist-christians-who-dont-vote-are-going-to-be-guilty-of-murder/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=April 9, 2020 |archive-date=December 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201228190726/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2016/10/11/televangelist-christians-who-dont-vote-are-going-to-be-guilty-of-murder/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="charismamag">{{cite news |last=Strang |first=Steve |date=2018 |title=Kenneth Copeland on Trump's State Dinner: 'It Was Like a Really Anointed Church Service' |url=https://www.charismamag.com/blogs/the-strang-report/38641-kenneth-copeland-on-trump-s-state-dinner-it-was-like-a-really-anointed-church-service |work=Charisma Magazine |access-date=April 9, 2020 |archive-date=August 2, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200802215036/https://www.charismamag.com/blogs/the-strang-report/38641-kenneth-copeland-on-trump-s-state-dinner-it-was-like-a-really-anointed-church-service |url-status=live}}</ref>
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<ref name="flightaware1">{{cite web|url=http://flightaware.com/resources/airport/4T2|title=Kenneth Copeland Airport FBOs (Fort Worth, TX) [4T2] ✈ FlightAware|access-date=April 16, 2017|archive-date=April 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170417073837/http://flightaware.com/resources/airport/4T2|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="private-aircraft">{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104010640/http://www.believersstandunited.com/faq/ |url=http://www.believersstandunited.com/faq/ |archive-date=November 4, 2013 |title=FAQ: Why does Kenneth Copeland Ministries own private aircraft? What types of aircraft are they? Why don't Kenneth and Gloria fly on commercial airlines? |access-date=May 14, 2013 |work=Believers Stand United}}</ref>
<ref name="Jetrecords">{{cite news |title=Jet flight records spur Copeland ministry questions |url=http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/wfaa/latestnews/stories/wfaa070228_mo_churchjet.87be631.html |publisher=[[WFAA-TV]] |date=February 28, 2007 |access-date=October 17, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070907124947/http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/wfaa/latestnews/stories/wfaa070228_mo_churchjet.87be631.html |archive-date=September 7, 2007}}</ref>
<ref name="jet-not-exempt">{{cite news |url=http://www.star-telegram.com/804/story/1078037.html |title=Televangelist's $3.6 million jet not tax-exempt, county says |publisher=[[Fort Worth Star Telegram]] |date=December 5, 2008 |access-date=December 17, 2008}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}} – dead link</ref>
<ref name="CLG 2010-03-11">{{cite news |title=A Victory for Church Freedom |date=March 11, 2010 |url=http://churchlawgroup.com/blog/uncategorized/a-victory-for-church-freedom/ |work=Church Law Group |access-date=May 14, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104224501/http://churchlawgroup.com/blog/uncategorized/a-victory-for-church-freedom/ |archive-date=November 4, 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
<ref name="sued-over-tax">{{cite news |first=Darren |last=Barbee |title=Appraisal district sued over tax exemption for private jet |date=February 25, 2009 |work=Fort Worth Star-Telegram |pages=B07 Metro}}</ref>
<ref name="settle-suit">{{cite news |title=TAD, Copeland ministry settle suit over tax-exempt jet |date=March 10, 2010 |work=Fort Worth Star-Telegram}}</ref>
<ref name="usatoday30.usatoday.com">{{cite web|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/washington/2010-04-08-blocked-flights-inside_N.htm|title=Televangelist, college boosters, Hooters on stealth fliers list – USAToday.com|access-date=April 16, 2017|archive-date=December 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201228190745/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/washington/2010-04-08-blocked-flights-inside_N.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="christianpost.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.christianpost.com/news/televangelist-kenneth-copeland-blasted-for-unfulfilled-vows-43561/|title=Televangelist Kenneth Copeland Blasted for 'Unfulfilled Promises'|work=The Christian Post|first=Lillian|last=Kwon|date=February 2010 |access-date=April 16, 2017|archive-date=December 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201228190751/https://www.christianpost.com/news/televangelist-kenneth-copeland-blasted-for-unfulfilled-vows-43561/|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="huckabee">{{cite magazine |last1=Van Biema |first1=David |title=Huckabee Stands By a Televangelist |url=https://content.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1684330,00.html |access-date=October 3, 2021 |magazine=Time |date=November 15, 2007}}</ref>
<ref name="2008-01-29 ADG">{{cite news |url=http://www2.arkansasonline.com/news/2008/jan/29/plate-passed-huckabee-ministry-site |title=Plate passed for Huckabee at ministry site |publisher=[[Arkansas Democrat-Gazette]] |date=January 29, 2008 |access-date=December 17, 2008 |archive-date=February 1, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080201124216/http://www2.arkansasonline.com/news/2008/jan/29/plate-passed-huckabee-ministry-site/ |url-status=dead}}</ref>
<ref name="nbcnews1">{{cite web |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna40960871 |title=Televangelists escape penalty in Senate inquiry |work=NBC News |date=July 1, 2011 |access-date=February 11, 2013 |author=Zoll, Rachel |archive-date=February 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150202184640/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/40960871/ns/politics-capitol_hill/t/televangelists-escape-penalty-senate-inquiry/#.URiVeTsiGYV |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="usatoday">{{cite news |last1=Szabo |first1=Liz |title=Texas measles outbreak linked to church |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/08/23/texas-measles-outbreak/2693945/ |access-date=October 3, 2021 |work=USA Today |date=August 25, 2013}}</ref>
<ref name="christianpost3">{{Cite web|url=http://www.christianpost.com/news/texas-measles-outbreak-linked-to-church-led-by-kenneth-copelands-daughter-infection-spread-to-congregation-staff-day-care-103057/|title=Texas Measles Outbreak Linked to Church Led by Kenneth Copeland's Daughter; Infection Spreads to Congregation, Staff, Day Care|website=The Christian Post|first=Nicola|last=Menzie|date=August 26, 2013 |access-date=December 22, 2017|archive-date=October 26, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131026223133/http://www.christianpost.com/news/texas-measles-outbreak-linked-to-church-led-by-kenneth-copelands-daughter-infection-spread-to-congregation-staff-day-care-103057/|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="npr1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2013/09/01/217746942/texas-megachurch-at-center-of-measles-outbreak|title=Texas Megachurch At Center Of Measles Outbreak|work=NPR.org|access-date=December 22, 2017|archive-date=December 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201228190757/https://www.npr.org/2013/09/01/217746942/texas-megachurch-at-center-of-measles-outbreak|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="au1">{{cite web|title=Tax-Exempt Status For Televangelist's Jet Denied|publisher=Americans United|url=https://au.org/church-state/january-2009-church-state/au-bulletin/tax-exempt-status-for-televangelist%E2%80%99s-jet-denied|access-date=December 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180120124428/https://au.org/church-state/january-2009-church-state/au-bulletin/tax-exempt-status-for-televangelist%E2%80%99s-jet-denied|archive-date=January 20, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>
<ref name="kcm-jet">{{cite web |title=Glory to God! It's Ours! The Gulfstream V is in our hands! |date=January 12, 2018 |url=https://blog.kcm.org/gulfstream-v-is-here/ |publisher=Kenneth Copeland Ministries |access-date=October 3, 2021}}</ref>
<ref name="usatoday4">{{cite news |last=Bote |first=Joshua |date=December 15, 2019 |title='None of your business': A televangelist defending his private jets goes viral |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/06/04/televangelist-kenneth-copeland-defends-private-jets-inside-edition/1337549001/ |work=USA Today |access-date=April 6, 2020 |archive-date=December 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201228190837/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/06/04/televangelist-kenneth-copeland-defends-private-jets-inside-edition/1337549001/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="foxnews2">{{cite news |last=Calicchio |first=Dom |title=Televangelist Kenneth Copeland defends use of private jets in TV interview, denies calling people 'demons' |url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/televangelist-kenneth-copeland-defends-use-of-private-jets-in-tv-interview-denies-calling-people-demons |work=Fox News |access-date=April 6, 2020 |archive-date=December 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201228190824/https://www.foxnews.com/us/televangelist-kenneth-copeland-defends-use-of-private-jets-in-tv-interview-denies-calling-people-demons |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="cbs-june-2019">{{cite news |last=Brito |first=Christopher |date=June 4, 2019 |title=Televangelist defends lavish lifestyle and use of private jets, calls it a "biblical thing" |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/kenneth-copeland-televangelist-defends-lavish-lifestyle-and-use-of-private-jets-2019-06-04/ |work=CBS News |access-date=April 6, 2020 |archive-date=December 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201228190817/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/kenneth-copeland-televangelist-defends-lavish-lifestyle-and-use-of-private-jets-2019-06-04/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="newsweek9">{{cite news |last=Lemon |first=Jason |date=March 12, 2020 |title=Conservative Pastor Claims He 'Healed' Viewers of Coronavirus Through Their TV Screens |url=https://www.newsweek.com/conservative-pastor-claims-he-healed-viewers-coronavirus-through-their-tv-screens-1492044 |work=Newsweek |access-date=March 15, 2020 |archive-date=March 16, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200316135415/https://www.newsweek.com/conservative-pastor-claims-he-healed-viewers-coronavirus-through-their-tv-screens-1492044 |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="christian-post5">{{cite news |last=Blair |first=Leonardo |date=March 13, 2020 |title=Kenneth Copeland calls coronavirus 'very weak strain of flu,' says healthy people shouldn't fear |url=https://www.christianpost.com/news/kenneth-copeland-calls-coronavirus-very-weak-strain-of-flu-healthy-people-shouldnt-fear.html |work=The Christian Post |access-date=April 2, 2020 |archive-date=April 5, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200405160813/https://www.christianpost.com/news/kenneth-copeland-calls-coronavirus-very-weak-strain-of-flu-healthy-people-shouldnt-fear.html |url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="guardian2">{{cite news |last=Wilson |first=Jason |date=April 4, 202 |title=The rightwing Christian preachers in deep denial over Covid-19's danger |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/apr/04/america-rightwing-christian-preachers-virus-hoax |work=The Guardian |access-date=April 5, 2020 |archive-date=December 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201228190821/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/apr/04/america-rightwing-christian-preachers-virus-hoax |url-status=live}}</ref>
<!-- UNUSED <ref name="conversation1">{{cite news |last=Gagné |first=André |date=March 29, 2020 |title=Coronavirus: Trump and religious right rely on faith, not science |url=https://theconversation.com/coronavirus-trump-and-religious-right-rely-on-faith-not-science-134508 |work=The Conversation |access-date=April 2, 2020 |archive-date=December 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201228190843/https://theconversation.com/coronavirus-trump-and-religious-right-rely-on-faith-not-science-134508 |url-status=live}}</ref>-->
<ref name="TBN">{{cite web|title=Effective Oct. 2, 2020, the Believer's Voice of Victory (BVOV) broadcast will no longer air on the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN).|date=August 3, 2020 |publisher=Kenneth Copeland Ministries|url=https://blog.kcm.org/the-bvov-broadcast-to-no-longer-air-on-tbn/|access-date=August 30, 2020|archive-date=December 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201228190823/https://blog.kcm.org/the-bvov-broadcast-to-no-longer-air-on-tbn/|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="john-oliver1">{{cite web|title=Last Week Tonight with John Oliver: Televangelists (HBO)|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7y1xJAVZxXg|website=YouTube| date=August 16, 2015 |access-date=August 18, 2015|format=August 16, 2015|archive-date=August 17, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150817233241/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7y1xJAVZxXg|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="wapo4">{{cite news|last1=Ohlheiser|first1=Abby|title=Comedian John Oliver takes on the prosperity gospel by becoming a televangelist|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2015/08/17/comedian-john-oliver-takes-on-the-prosperity-gospel-by-becoming-a-televangelist/|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=August 18, 2015|date=August 17, 2015|archive-date=December 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201228190806/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2015/08/17/comedian-john-oliver-takes-on-the-prosperity-gospel-by-becoming-a-televangelist/|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="time-mag1">{{cite web|last1=Locker|first1=Melissa|title=John Oliver Becomes a Televangelist and Finally Starts His Own Church|url=https://time.com/3999933/john-oliver-televangelist-church-alst-week-tonight/|website=Time Magazine|access-date=August 18, 2015|date=August 17, 2015|archive-date=August 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150824174155/http://time.com/3999933/john-oliver-televangelist-church-alst-week-tonight/|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="npr2">{{cite web|last1=Burnett|first1=John|title=Can A Television Network Be A Church? The IRS Says Yes|url=https://www.npr.org/2014/04/01/282496855/can-a-television-network-be-a-church-the-irs-says-yes|website=NPR|date=April 2014 |access-date=August 18, 2015|format=April 1, 2014|archive-date=November 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171103005046/http://www.npr.org/2014/04/01/282496855/can-a-television-network-be-a-church-the-irs-says-yes|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="wfaa1">{{cite web|title=Senate audit critical of TV preacher Kenneth Copeland|url=http://www.wfaa.com/story/news/local/investigates/2014/08/10/13660222/|website=WFAA|access-date=August 18, 2015|___location=Dallas, Texas|date=January 7, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151019235219/http://www.wfaa.com/story/news/local/investigates/2014/08/10/13660222/|archive-date=October 19, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>
}}
 
==External links==
* [http://www.kcm.org/ Kenneth Copeland Ministries official site]
 
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Television evangelists|Copeland, Kenneth]]
[[Category:American Pentecostals|Copeland, Kenneth]]
[[Category:People from Lubbock, Texas|Copeland, Kenneth]]
[[Category:People from Fort Worth|Copeland, Kenneth]]
[[Category:1936 births|Copeland, Kenneth]]
[[Category:Living people|Copeland, Kenneth]]
 
[[sv{{DEFAULTSORT:Kenneth Copeland]], Kenneth}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:20th-century American male writers]]
[[Category:20th-century American non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:20th-century Protestant religious leaders]]
[[Category:21st-century American male writers]]
[[Category:21st-century American non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:21st-century Protestant religious leaders]]
[[Category:1936 births]]
[[Category:American Charismatics]]
[[Category:American Christian Zionists]]
[[Category:American faith healers]]
[[Category:American male non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:American Pentecostal pastors]]
[[Category:American television evangelists]]
[[Category:Imperial Records artists]]
[[Category:Oral Roberts University alumni]]
[[Category:Oral Roberts University people]]
[[Category:Pentecostals from Texas]]
[[Category:Pentecostal writers]]
[[Category:People from Fort Worth, Texas]]
[[Category:People from Lubbock, Texas]]
[[Category:Prosperity theologians]]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenneth_Copeland"