A century ago, Theodore Roosevelt famously called the presidency a "bully pulpit." Today, Americans United for the Separation of Church and State argues that intermingling politics and religion produces pulpit bullies.

"Project Fair Play," an Americans United initiative, sent out letters to thousands of evangelical pastors in an attempt to "stop illegal church electioneering." But according to Jere Royall of the North Carolina Policy Council, the intimidating letters fail to let pastors know that most are doing less, not more, than the law allows.

When Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) started investigating the finances of televangelists last year, one of them-Atlanta-based Creflo Dollar-complained on Larry King Live that churches were exempt from federal financial disclosure requirements. He said that if Sen. Grassley wanted more information, he should "get a subpoena."

Others are looking for alternatives to subpoenas. The Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) has recently started a new division to bring to churches the level of oversight the ECFA now brings to about 2,000 evangelical Christian ministries.

In the last three months, Tulsa-based Oral Roberts University (ORU) has undergone a financial and leadership transformation as dramatic as any healing ever claimed by its founder.

The military and political impact of the troop surge in Iraq is receiving ample coverage-but what about its effect on the spiritual lives of military families?

Suzann Mayfield, director of marketing and communications for Military Community Youth Ministries (MCYM), sees big changes: "More moms involved. More dual military families, with both parents deployed. . . . We haven't seen a situation like this, perhaps ever, for military families."

Some 750,000 religious nonprofit organizations in America are required by law to share their Form 990 tax returns with anyone who asks to see them. Form 990s reveal income, and also information such as the compensation of key executives.

But what if you don't want people-including Sen. Charles Grassley of the Senate Finance Committee-to see your tax returns? No problem. Just call yourself a church.

Viewers of The Inspiration Networks, Trinity Broadcasting Network, and Sky Angel are familiar with heart-wrenching infomercials from the Christian Children's Fund (CCF). Founded in 1938, it is one of the nation's largest relief organizations, with a 2006 income exceeding $206 million. It is also average or slightly above average in financial efficiency, with less than 20 percent of CCF income typically going to fundraising and administrative costs.

SAN DIEGO- Three years old and decked out in a pink and green bikini, Kahmyah Stuart ducks below the surface of a turquoise pool at San Diego's Kroc Center and flippers away like a seal. Trouble is, Kahmyah doesn't know how to swim with her head above water. Neither has she realized the importance of coming up for air. So her grandmother, Kim Ervin, 45, trails her, bounding along the bottom of the pool to be there when Kahmyah, inevitably, pops up sputtering.