Asbury Theological Seminary, Administer Justice Drop in Financial Efficiency Ratings

And other notable ministry happenings from this week.

Here at MinistryWatch, one of our goals is to equip donors with the information they need to make wise decisions with their giving. That’s why we manage our database, which rates more than 1,000 of the country’s largest ministries based on their financial efficiency, financial transparency, and their donor confidence. Each week, we highlight ministries in our database that have had rating changes, plus a brief explanation about why it matters.

A few notable changes in the database this week:

• In March, many of the Form 990s that processed through the MinistryWatch database were from Christian colleges and universities. The majority of them saw minor changes in their ratings, mostly for financial efficiency, but Asbury Theological Seminary dropped from 5 Stars down to 2 Stars—meaning they went from being in the top 20% among its peers for financial efficiency to sitting in the bottom 40%.
• Similarly, Administer Justice, which provides legal help to disadvantaged populations, dropped from 5 Stars down to 2 Stars—meaning they also fell from being in the top 20% for financial efficiency compared with other ministries in the Community Development sector to being in the bottom 40%.
• Arizona Christian School Tuition Organization dropped from 5 Stars down to 1 Star after its most recent financials. After publishing a spotlight on ACSTO, a spokesperson provided MinistryWatch with a statement explaining there was a mistake on their financials—its Form 990 said their fundraising costs spiked from 2% of overall costs to 26%, which they say is not true—and they are working to correct it. You can read that full statement here.

We also highlight stories from our podcast, where you can catch up on the week’s news in less than 30 minutes—perfect for a commute or walk. We highly recommend ministries join the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA), which is why we list organizations that have either joined ECFA in the past week or been removed. Check it all out below.

 

With that, here are this week’s three top stories on the MinistryWatch website:

Former UMC Child Care Director Arrested for $500K ‘Criminal Enterprise’

By Stacey Horton. Nearly six months after a church near Macon, Georgia, closed its doors due to financial insolvency, the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a woman for stealing over $500,000 from the church over the course of a few years.

Author of Christian Sexual Ethics Articles Arraigned on Sexual Assault Charges

By Stacey Horton.  A former Christian university professor has been charged with ongoing sexual assault of a child.

Dr. Stephen Nichols Speaks out About Excommunication From St. Andrew’s Chapel

By Kim Roberts. Stephen Nichols, former president of Reformation Bible College (RBC) and Ligonier Ministries Teaching Fellow, has spoken out about rumors circulating online about his family.

 

Here’s what else is new at MinistryWatch this week.

 

MinistryWatch Database Changes

MinistryWatch now has more than 1,300 ministries in its database. These ministries represent more than $44-billion in total revenue, most of that donor revenue from evangelicals. The following ministries have their profiles updated with the most recent year’s financial data. The Financial Efficiency rating of each ministry is in parenthesis. If this rating represents a change from the previous year, that change is noted:

 

Ministries recently added into the database:

Generals International (N/A Stars, Transparency Grade: F, DCS: 4)

National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference (2 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 53)

Presbyterian Children’s Homes & Services (2 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 50)

Southwest Christian School (4 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 71)

 

Ministries with upgraded ratings:

Concordia University – Seward, NE (Up 2 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Up 51 to 71)

Now in top 60% for financial efficiency in Colleges/Universities sector, also raising its Donor Confidence Score by 20 points.

 

Criswell College (Up 1 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 73)

Now in bottom 40% (up from 20%) for financial efficiency in Colleges/Universities sector.

 

Fairbanks Rescue Mission (Up 4 to 5 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 73)

Now in top 20% for financial efficiency in Rescue Missions/Homeless Shelters sector.

 

Hope Media Group / KSBJ (Up 1 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 78)

Now in bottom 40% (up from 20%) for financial efficiency in Radio/TV Stations sector.

 

Lifeline Children’s Services (Up 3 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 93)

Now in top 40% for financial efficiency in Adoption/Foster Care sector.

 

Lubbock Christian University (Up 2 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Up 49 to 69)

Now in top 60% for financial efficiency in Colleges/Universities sector, also raising its Donor Confidence Score by 20 points.

 

 

Ministries with downgraded ratings:

Administer Justice (Down 5 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Down 100 to 80)

Now in bottom 40% for financial efficiency in Community Development sector, also dropping its Donor Confidence Score by 20 points.

 

Arizona Christian School School Tuition Organization (Down 5 to 1 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Down 74 to 54)

Now in bottom 20% for financial efficiency in K-12 Schools/Academies sector (please see note near beginning of article)

 

Asbury Theological Seminary (Down 5 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Down 95 to 75)

Now in bottom 40% for financial efficiency in Colleges/Universities sector, also dropping its Donor Confidence Score by 20 points.

 

Biola University (Down 4 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 69)

Now in top 60% for financial efficiency in Colleges/Universities sector.

 

Calvary University (Down 2 to 1 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 78)

Now in bottom 20% for financial efficiency in Colleges/Universities sector.

 

City Relief / The Relief Bus (Down 5 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Up 92 to 100)

Now in top 40% (down from top 20%) for financial efficiency in Rescue Mission/Homeless Shelters sector.

 

Corban University (Down 4 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 71)

Now in top 60% for financial efficiency in Colleges/Universities sector.

 

Friends University (Down 4 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 71)

Now in top 60% for financial efficiency in Colleges/Universities sector.

 

Gardner-Webb University (4 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Down 68 to 66)

Does not post audited financials on website.

 

George Fox University (3 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Down 71 to 69)

Does not post audited financials on website.

 

Good News Jail and Prison Ministry (N/A Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Down 55 to 53)

Does not post audited financials on website.

 

Gordon College (Down 2 to 1 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 71)

Now in bottom 20% for financial efficiency in Colleges/Universities sector.

 

Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary (Down 2 to 1 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 75)

Now in bottom 20% for financial efficiency in Colleges/Universities sector.

 

Goshen College Inc (Down 4 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 68)

Now in top 60% for financial efficiency in Colleges/Universities sector.

 

Harding University (3 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Down 58 to 56)

Does not post audited financials on website.

 

Healing Hands International (Down 3 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Down 97 to 77)

Now in bottom 40% for financial efficiency in Relief & Development sector, also dropping its Donor Confidence Score by 20 points.

 

His Way at Work (Down 4 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 63)

Now in top 60% for financial efficiency in Leadership Training sector.

 

Lancaster Bible College (Down 5 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 71)

Now in top 40% (down from 20%) for financial efficiency in Colleges/Universities sector.

 

 

On The MinistryWatch Podcast

Elevation Church, Humanitarian Crisis in Lebanon, Texas Summer Camps Fight to Survive

On this week’s program, a church child care director has been charged with stealing $500,000 from a Georgia United Methodist Church. Investigators went so far as to call it a ‘criminal enterprise’—and because of it, the church was forced to shut its doors. We’ll have details.

Plus, war in the Middle East has led to a humanitarian crisis for the Lebanese people caught in the crossfire. MinistryWatch reporter Tony Mator rounded up a number of Christian aid organizations rushing to help. We’ll take a look.

And, last year’s deadly Texas floods have led to safety legislation intended to increase safety for campers. But measures meant to make camps safer may instead cause some to close permanently.

But first, Elevation Church increases the number of its campuses across the country. Meanwhile, tithes and attendance are decreasing.

Listen here.

 

ECFA Membership Changes

Additions

Project Living Hope (Stayton, OR)

Collegiate Impact (Kansas City, MO)

Hearts & Homes (Cranbury, NJ)

Venture Church Network of Northern California & Nevada (Morgan Hill, CA)

India Transformed! (Denver, CO)

Country Place Ministries (Moscow, TN)

Sudie Clark Hanger Missionary Care Ministry (Watkinsville, GA)

ComfortCare Women’s Health (Staunton, VA)

Team Healthcare (Pompton Plains, NJ)

CrossCity Christian Church (Fresno, CA)

 

Drop A Dime On Us.  Do you have a story idea for MinistryWatch?  If so, send us an email.  A lot of the stories we do originate from our readers and listeners.  They send us news tips, press releases, emails, questions, and links.  So, if you have a story you’d like us to cover, or a ministry that you think needs a closer look, please email us.  Our email is [email protected].  That will come directly to the desk of MinistryWatch President Warren Smith, and we’ll take it from there.

MinistryWatch and Sex Crimes. We write a lot about pastors and ministry leaders involved in sex crimes. That’s why we thought it might be a good time to re-post this story, which explains why we think covering these crimes are necessary: Why MinistryWatch Reports on Sex Crimes.  As always, your feedback is welcome.

MinistryWatch Video.  In closing, a reminder that we have created a short (3.5 minutes) video that explains what we do here at MinistryWatch, and why.  If you’re new to MinistryWatch, we hope you’ll check it out. To find it, click here.

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