This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/02/arts/television/janice-crouch-78-a-founder-of-a-religious-tv-network-dies.html

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Janice Crouch, 78, a Founder of a Religious TV Network, Dies Janice Crouch, ‘Gospel of Prosperity’ Disciple, Dies at 78
(about 1 hour later)
Janice Crouch, who founded the Trinity Broadcasting Network with her husband, Paul, and preached a “gospel of prosperity” with him on TBN programs, reaching millions of viewers around the world, died on Tuesday. She was 78.Janice Crouch, who founded the Trinity Broadcasting Network with her husband, Paul, and preached a “gospel of prosperity” with him on TBN programs, reaching millions of viewers around the world, died on Tuesday. She was 78.
Her death was confirmed in a family statement on TBN’s website. The network said she had been hospitalized on May 25 after a stroke, but gave no other details.Her death was confirmed in a family statement on TBN’s website. The network said she had been hospitalized on May 25 after a stroke, but gave no other details.
At her death, the network and members of her family were fighting in court over multiple lawsuits, including one involving an accusation of rape and a cover-up, and another claiming financial improprieties.At her death, the network and members of her family were fighting in court over multiple lawsuits, including one involving an accusation of rape and a cover-up, and another claiming financial improprieties.
Mrs. Crouch was a convivial and colorful presence on the air, typically appearing in a bouffant frosted pink or champagne. Speaking with a singsong lilt, she referred to herself as Mama as she delivered an uplifting version of Scripture that included personal encounters with the divine and linked spirituality to material success.Mrs. Crouch was a convivial and colorful presence on the air, typically appearing in a bouffant frosted pink or champagne. Speaking with a singsong lilt, she referred to herself as Mama as she delivered an uplifting version of Scripture that included personal encounters with the divine and linked spirituality to material success.
A donation to their church, the Crouches said, would be repaid with divinely ordained riches.A donation to their church, the Crouches said, would be repaid with divinely ordained riches.
Mrs. Crouch and her husband were the longtime hosts of TBN’s talk show “Praise the Lord.” She was also TBN’s vice president and director of network programming, helping to develop many of its popular shows.Mrs. Crouch and her husband were the longtime hosts of TBN’s talk show “Praise the Lord.” She was also TBN’s vice president and director of network programming, helping to develop many of its popular shows.
The Crouches started their network as a single station, now called KTBN-TV 40, in Santa Ana, Calif., in 1973 with the help of the televangelists Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker, who went on to found their own hugely popular televised ministry in South Carolina.The Crouches started their network as a single station, now called KTBN-TV 40, in Santa Ana, Calif., in 1973 with the help of the televangelists Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker, who went on to found their own hugely popular televised ministry in South Carolina.
In time, Mr. Crouch said, a vision inspired him to invest in satellite distribution, which became the foundation of TBN’s global broadcasting empire.In time, Mr. Crouch said, a vision inspired him to invest in satellite distribution, which became the foundation of TBN’s global broadcasting empire.
TBN, which calls itself the world’s most watched religious broadcaster, now has programming 24 hours a day, providing Bible study, religious movies and soap operas, and Christian rock videos. Evangelists like Pat Robertson, Billy Graham and Robert H. Schuller have appeared on the network.TBN, which calls itself the world’s most watched religious broadcaster, now has programming 24 hours a day, providing Bible study, religious movies and soap operas, and Christian rock videos. Evangelists like Pat Robertson, Billy Graham and Robert H. Schuller have appeared on the network.
The network says its shows are translated into many languages and appear on more than 80 satellite channels and more than 5,000 television stations. TBN’s parent company listed $799,244,556 in total assets and received $52,905,172 in contributions and grants in its tax filings for 2014, the most recent year available.The network says its shows are translated into many languages and appear on more than 80 satellite channels and more than 5,000 television stations. TBN’s parent company listed $799,244,556 in total assets and received $52,905,172 in contributions and grants in its tax filings for 2014, the most recent year available.
Twice a year, the Crouches held “Praise-a-thons,” fund-raising drives in which they appealed for donations to keep programs like “Praise the Lord” on the air.Twice a year, the Crouches held “Praise-a-thons,” fund-raising drives in which they appealed for donations to keep programs like “Praise the Lord” on the air.
The Crouches were criticized for using those donations to finance a luxurious lifestyle, including the use of private jets. The family was reported to have multiple homes, among them his-and-hers mansions in Newport Beach, Calif.The Crouches were criticized for using those donations to finance a luxurious lifestyle, including the use of private jets. The family was reported to have multiple homes, among them his-and-hers mansions in Newport Beach, Calif.
In 2007, TBN purchased Holy Land Experience, a religious theme park in Orlando, Fla., for $37 million. Mrs. Crouch became Holy Land’s president and creative director and began a major remodeling of the park, renting adjacent rooms in a luxury hotel for nearly two years. One was used to house clothing and her two Maltese dogs, which otherwise occupied a motor home.In 2007, TBN purchased Holy Land Experience, a religious theme park in Orlando, Fla., for $37 million. Mrs. Crouch became Holy Land’s president and creative director and began a major remodeling of the park, renting adjacent rooms in a luxury hotel for nearly two years. One was used to house clothing and her two Maltese dogs, which otherwise occupied a motor home.
The family controversies made headlines in 2004, when The Los Angeles Times reported that Mr. Crouch had paid a former employee, Enoch Lonnie Ford, $425,000 in 1998 after Mr. Ford threatened to sue TBN for unjustly firing him. As part of the settlement, the newspaper said, Mr. Ford agreed not to publicize his claim that he had had a sexual encounter with Mr. Crouch. But Mr. Ford later threatened to publish a manuscript that discussed the matter.The family controversies made headlines in 2004, when The Los Angeles Times reported that Mr. Crouch had paid a former employee, Enoch Lonnie Ford, $425,000 in 1998 after Mr. Ford threatened to sue TBN for unjustly firing him. As part of the settlement, the newspaper said, Mr. Ford agreed not to publicize his claim that he had had a sexual encounter with Mr. Crouch. But Mr. Ford later threatened to publish a manuscript that discussed the matter.
Mr. Crouch denied Mr. Ford’s claims, and the case was settled by a private arbitrator.Mr. Crouch denied Mr. Ford’s claims, and the case was settled by a private arbitrator.
In 2012, The Orange County Register reported that a granddaughter, Carra Crouch, had sued the network that year, alleging that she was raped by a TBN employee in 2006, when she was 13, and that the Crouch family had covered up the assault. The suit contended that when Carra Crouch told her grandmother about the assault, Mrs. Crouch “became furious” and screamed at her granddaughter, saying, “It is your fault.”In 2012, The Orange County Register reported that a granddaughter, Carra Crouch, had sued the network that year, alleging that she was raped by a TBN employee in 2006, when she was 13, and that the Crouch family had covered up the assault. The suit contended that when Carra Crouch told her grandmother about the assault, Mrs. Crouch “became furious” and screamed at her granddaughter, saying, “It is your fault.”
That suit has not yet been resolved, according to documents in Orange County Superior Court.That suit has not yet been resolved, according to documents in Orange County Superior Court.
In another lawsuit filed around the same time, another granddaughter, Brittany Koper, who was TBN’s finance director, accused the network of misusing donated money. Ms. Koper and her husband, Michael, were fired and accused by the network of stealing $1.3 million.In another lawsuit filed around the same time, another granddaughter, Brittany Koper, who was TBN’s finance director, accused the network of misusing donated money. Ms. Koper and her husband, Michael, were fired and accused by the network of stealing $1.3 million.
TBN has since filed multiple suits against the Kopers. Paul Crouch Jr., Mrs. Crouch’s son and Ms. Koper’s father, was forced off TBN’s staff and quit its board because of the acrimony.TBN has since filed multiple suits against the Kopers. Paul Crouch Jr., Mrs. Crouch’s son and Ms. Koper’s father, was forced off TBN’s staff and quit its board because of the acrimony.
Janice Wendell Bethany was born in New Brockton, Ala., on March 14, 1938. She grew up in Columbus, Ga., as a pastor’s daughter raised in the Assemblies of God, a Pentecostal denomination.Janice Wendell Bethany was born in New Brockton, Ala., on March 14, 1938. She grew up in Columbus, Ga., as a pastor’s daughter raised in the Assemblies of God, a Pentecostal denomination.
She graduated from high school and attended Evangel College (now Evangel University) in Springfield, Mo., before she met Paul Crouch in 1956. They married a year later and began to preach. Mr. Crouch also worked in radio and television, and in 1965, they moved to California to pursue their career in religious television.She graduated from high school and attended Evangel College (now Evangel University) in Springfield, Mo., before she met Paul Crouch in 1956. They married a year later and began to preach. Mr. Crouch also worked in radio and television, and in 1965, they moved to California to pursue their career in religious television.
Mr. Crouch died in 2013. Mrs. Crouch is survived by Paul Jr. and another son, Matthew, who is TBN’s chairman; a sister, Dorothy Casoria; several grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.Mr. Crouch died in 2013. Mrs. Crouch is survived by Paul Jr. and another son, Matthew, who is TBN’s chairman; a sister, Dorothy Casoria; several grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.