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Kenneth Copeland
Photo: TheNeonClear, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons18

Kenneth Copeland

American televangelist (born 1936)

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.2

From Wikipedia’s article on Kenneth Copeland (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Born Dec 6, 1936.1

About

(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.

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.

From Wikipedia’s article on Kenneth Copeland, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.2

Early life and education

  • Date not recordedOral Roberts University3
  • Date not recordedPolytechnic High School3

Kenneth Max Copeland was born on December 6, 1936, and raised in West Texas, near a United States Army Air Forces airfield. This inspired him to become a pilot.

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 Top 40 on April 20, 1957, staying on the charts for 15 weeks and peaking at No. 17.

In the fall of 1967, he enrolled in Oral Roberts University, where he soon became pilot and chauffeur to Oral Roberts.

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Kenneth Copeland Bible College

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. On August 28, 2003, Kenneth Copeland Bible College opened an extension campus in Langley, British Columbia.

From Wikipedia’s article on Kenneth Copeland (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Career

Occupation: televangelist, writer, preacher, evangelist.6

  • Date not recordedFounded Eagle Mountain International Church4
  • Date not recordedFounded Kenneth Copeland Ministries5

Personal life

  • BornDec 6, 1936, Lubbock7
  • CitizenshipUnited States8
  • ResidenceFort Worth9
  • SpouseGloria Copeland10

Copeland has been married three times. His first marriage was to Ivy Bodiford (July 5, 1937 – June 20, 2022) in October 1955. They had one child, and divorced in 1958. He then married Cynthia Davis in 1958, divorcing in 1961.

Copeland married Gloria Neece (born February 12, 1942) in 1963. 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.

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.

Copeland has amassed significant wealth during his career and has referred to himself as a "very wealthy man". The Houston Chronicle referred to him as the wealthiest pastor in America, allegedly having a net worth of $750 million in 2021. As of 2024, Copeland's net worth was estimated to be $300 million. Copeland's use of private jets, luxury cars and lavish houses has been widely criticized, having been featured on a 2015 episode of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver where John Oliver criticized the Copelands for using tax laws to live in a $6.3 million mansion as the parsonage allowance for their home is not subject to income taxes, for using church donations to buy a $20 million jet that was used for trips to a ski resort and a private game ranch, and for promotion of healing through faith and skepticism of medicine.

In April 2026, Copeland appeared on a podcast hosted by Bryce Crawford, an Evangelical social media influencer. Copeland spoke about his upbringing, the growth of his ministry, and the topic of prosperity gospel. Prior to this, Copeland had not participated in a scheduled sit-down interview in over fifteen years.

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Immunization

In 2013, a measles outbreak with 25 confirmed cases in Tarrant County, Texas, was attributed in the press to anti-vaccination sentiments expressed by members of the Copeland Ministries. The church denied making any such statements and urged members to get vaccinations, even offering free immunizations through the church itself. 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.

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 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 autism connection with vaccinations in older children. Furthermore, the new MMR vaccination is without thimerosal (mercury), which has also been a concern to many.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Copeland argued that pastors should not cancel services, and repeatedly said the pandemic had ended or would end soon. 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". In another sermon shortly thereafter, he claimed to destroy the virus with the "wind of God". 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.

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.

From Wikipedia’s article on Kenneth Copeland (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Politics

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. 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. Copeland and other Christian leaders such as Greg Laurie and John Hagee have received criticism for their support of Israel. Copeland has previously drawn criticism for his comments on the Joe Biden presidency.

Donald Trump advisory board

Copeland sat on the evangelical executive advisory board that Donald Trump assembled during his campaign for the presidency. Appointment to the board did not require endorsement of his bid for the presidency, and Copeland clarified that he did not endorse Trump at the time. 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. 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.

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. During the 2024 Southwest Believers' Convention in Fort Worth, Texas, Copeland told the thousands in attendance and online that voting is a sacred trust. His involvement in politics as a nationally prominent ministry leader has drawn both praise and criticism.

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.

From Wikipedia’s article on Kenneth Copeland (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Planes and yachts

A position is the aircraft’s or vessel’s, not the person’s. Being on board isn’t confirmed.

Flight data: adsb.lol (ODbL) & ADSB.fi. Flights, photos and icons: CelebPlanes. Maps: Esri.

Sources

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