Caledon Teen Ranch, which for more than four decades has operated as a Christian charity, has been threatened with loss of its charitable status, which allows donors to claim income tax exemptions.

The threat by the Canadian Revenue Agency is based on a claim that the Ranch, on Highway 10 south of Orangeville, is really a sports facility masquerading as a religious organization.

Described on its website, teenranch.on.ca, as "a not for profit, Christian Organization incorporated in 1967, dedicated to the training of young men and women in the physical, mental, spiritual and social aspects of their lives," Teen Ranch was founded in 1967 by Mel Stevens, who continues to serve on a daily basis.

His son Tim is its current executive director, and the board of directors includes Jerry Bergman, a retired businessman, Don Wingfield, owner of Burlington-based Win Chemicals, and Pastor Ron Stevens, a brother of Mel Stevens who lives in California.

Reached last week, Mel Stevens said the CRA challenge is the third since Teen Ranch was founded in 1967, and the current challenge was launched three years ago.

Mr. Stevens said negotiations with the federal agency are continuing, and Teen Ranch is currently getting responses from supporters in the form of letters confirming the Christian character of its operations.

Tim Stevens later issued a press release which described Teen Ranch as "defending itself in an audit by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).

"In short, the CRA has taken the position that Teen Ranch does not really have as its central purpose the advancement of the gospel of Christ. Therefore, the CRA has determined that Teen Ranch is not eligible to be registered as a charity able to issue tax receipts."

The release said the CRA claims Teen Ranch has a collateral purpose of being a sports camp that happens to have a small religious component to it and should never have been given charitable status in the first place.

Specifically, the CRA has alleged that "there is no certainty that campers will gain a greater understanding of the Christian religion," and that "we are unable to conclude that a tangible religious benefit will necessarily occur as a consequence of Teen Ranch's actions".

But Teen Ranch says it exists "primarily to spread the gospel of Christ, by using sports and other activities as a means to attract young people to the ministry, giving the opportunity to share the message of Jesus by all means possible."

The facility says it has "a 40-year history of Christian camping advancing the gospel of Christ, following a wellestablished pattern used by many Christian camps for over 80 years."

The Ranch says the CRA's view that sports, in the context of Teen Ranch, cannot be a means to an end of advancing the Gospel "will likely affect many other Canadian Christian camps."

Although Teen Ranch is not seeking support from local politicians, it is contacting former campers, guests and their families to seek letters and e-mails that would confirm the Ranch's work as a vital Christian ministry that changes people's lives through its programs, teachings and examples.

"Teen Ranch believes that fairness will prevail and its charity status will be maintained," the release said. "However, whatever the final decision is on this issue, the vision, purpose and programs of Teen Ranch will continue on, with or without charity status. Teen Ranch will carry on impacting lives by teaching and living Biblical principles to thousands of people through its annual summer camp and other year round activities.

Teen Ranch is being represented locally by the Carters Professional Corporation law firm.

The website says that through its camp, Teen Ranch shows "our desire to assist you in providing a great adventure experience for your kids, an environment with positive role models and positive peer pressure built on a foundation of Christian faith and morality."