Ohio AG's office reviewed Faith Life Church's management, financial practices in 2022

Yahoo

17-03-2025

Three years before a criminal investigation into allegations of sexual abuse of minors by former youth leaders at New Albany's Faith Life Church, the state investigated the church's leadership and financial controls.
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost in early February recused himself and his office's Bureau of Criminal Investigation from this year's investigation because he said he's friends with church founders Gary and Drenda Keesee, whose son, Tom Keesee, and another former church youth leader have been accused of the abuse.
But he didn't have to do the same in 2022, when his office's charitable law section investigated the financial allegations because he said he didn't know the Keesees then.
While Yost has not said how well he knows the Keesees, other than they have been to his home for dinner, he said Friday through a spokesperson that "he did not know the individuals until last year, so there was no potential for a conflict during the review by the charitable law section."
Yost, who is running for governor in 2026, stated in a Feb. 1 response to a Change.org petition that because of his connection to the Keesees, his office could not investigate the abuse allegations.
"Either way, the credibility of the investigation would have been called into question — either by my critics who would claim my friendship prevented a thorough investigation, or by defense counsel at trial, who would try to claim that I am overreacting and targeting his client to prove my integrity for political purposes."
The Knox County Sheriff's office previously recused itself after Drenda Keesee took office Jan. 1 as a Knox County Commissioner.
Prompted by a whistleblower tip, Yost's charitable law section focused on church solicitations, collections and expenditures connected to The Journey Campaign, Faith Life efforts to reach a wider audience though financial giving, according to the church's website.
One of Faith Life's core tenets is 'Embracing faith, family and financial restoration through the power of Jesus Christ,' according to its website. Some critics and former church members have said the church is overly focused on "sewing seeds," as a way to donate in exchange for rewards and healing. They describe the approach as the "prosperity gospel" and question how church donations and tithing are spent.
The Dispatch previously reported that pastors Gary and Drenda Keesee operate several businesses, have book deals, appear on religious television programs and own a private plane. Critics say sermons focus more on the Keesees than on the gospel message.
According to an April 11, 2022, letter informing the church the state had finished its investigation, Assistant Attorney General William Sieck said the church's management and the Keesees' consolidation of power raised red flags.
Sieck wrote that the church lacked oversight by independent directors or congregation members. Church bylaws, he wrote, gave Gary Keesee "near total control over board composition and an insurmountable veto over all board decisions."
According to the letter, the church bylaws at the time also stated that if Gary Keesee died, Drenda Keesee would succeed him and get paid twice his salary of "several hundred thousand dollars" a year in "widow's compensation."
Sieck said those details did not violate Ohio charitable laws but called them "unusual and concerning," noting that "undisclosed control is fertile soil, at minimum, for mistrust," according to the letter.
Sieck also included the Bible verse John 3:19-20: "For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed," to show how good governance and transparency are not only good business practices but also consistent with church doctrine.
The letter commended the church for improving some practices, including disclosing unrestricted donations, hiring a CPA firm to review its financial records and hiring a new controller.
He recommended the church take the following actions:
Use a local CPA instead of Guinn Smith & Co., which is based in Texas.
Hold at least one meeting a year to discuss church governance and finances that would be open to all church members.
Seek certification from the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability. As of Friday, an online database of council members did not include Faith Life.
Amend church bylaws to add two board members to represent the congregation.
Sent from Yost, and signed by Sieck, the letter concludes that charitable organizations and boards must be devoid of conflicts of interest "to avoid transactions that unfairly enrich the charity's leaders."
In response to The Dispatch's questions Friday about the letter, Faith Life attorney Katie Taber in a statement: "The church carefully evaluated each recommendation and implemented changes where needed to further strengthen its policies and procedures."
While she was not specific, Taber told The Dispatch that the church board comprises a "well-rounded group of professionals who bring both expertise in their respective fields and a strong faith-based understanding of scripture and the Kingdom principles taught and practiced by the church."
She also said Faith Life "engages an independent accounting firm and conducts annual audits," as it has done for "many years, to ensure that the church is operating at the highest level of financial integrity" and "remains committed to ongoing improvement and best practices.
"Faith Life Church takes stewardship seriously and will continue working diligently to manage its resources with wisdom and integrity."
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio AG's office investigated Faith Life Church's finances in 2022