The CALL, Youth Haven Rise to Top Tier for Financial Efficiency

Plus, 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.

A few notable changes in the database this week:

• Two ministries rose into the top 20% for financial efficiency within their sectors: The CALL (Adoption/Foster Care) in Little Rock, Arkansas, and Youth Haven (Camps/Conference Centers) in Rives Jct, Michigan.
• Two ministries fell into the bottom 40% for financial efficiency within their sectors, dropping their Donor Confidence Scores by 20 points: Vision House in Renton, Washington, and Watered Gardens in Joplin, Missouri. Both ministries are in the Rescue Missions/Homeless Shelters sector and still earn “Give With Confidence” designations.
• One ministry voluntarily resigned from the ECFA in the past week: Anchor of Hope in New London, Connecticut.

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. And we note ministries who have recently joined or left the ECFA. Check it all out below.

 

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

Al Mohler Walks Back Blasphemy Law Support

By Bob Smietana. A prominent Southern Baptist theologian now says that he was wrong to endorse the idea of blasphemy laws in a recent book and during a book tour talk at an Idaho university.

The Wheaton Controversy

By Warren Cole Smith. For months now, the Roys Report has devoted significant reporting, commentary, interviews, and podcasts to Wheaton College President Philip Ryken and the college’s handling of allegations surrounding former administrator Dennis Massaro.

Parsons’ Church Court Verdict Mostly Upheld, Censure Reduced

By Kim Roberts. Burk Parsons, teaching fellow with Ligonier Ministries and pastor of St. Andrew’s Chapel in Sanford, Florida, will no longer be indefinitely suspended from his duties.

 

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

MinistryWatch Database Changes

MinistryWatch now has more than 1,700 ministries in its database. These ministries represent more than $58 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 to the database:

Mission Waco (4 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 73)

Missouri Baptist Children’s Home (1 Star, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 51)

Peoria Christian School (3 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 78)

Salisbury Christian School (5 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 76)

The Methodist Foundation of Arkansas (1 Star, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 48)

Under God Ministries/ 7th Street Food Pantry (5 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 53)

United Faith Christian Academy (1 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 52)

Westbury Christian School (4 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 73)

Westside Christian Academy (2 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 58)

Woodland Presbyterian School (5 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 76)

 

Ministries with upgraded ratings:

Plant With Purpose (1 Star, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Up 75 to 80)

Board contains at least 5 members and no more than 12 members.

Regent University (Up 3 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 91)

Now in top 40% for financial efficiency in Colleges/Universities sector.

Rescue Ministries of Mid-Michigan (4 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Up 73 to 75)

Organization requires its employees to affirm upon hiring the statement of faith of the organization.

Summit Ministries (Up 2 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: Down A to C, DCS: Up 80 to 98)

Now in top 60% for financial efficiency in Camps/Conference Centers sector, also raising its Donor Confidence Score by 98 — but cannot locate audited financials on website, docking both its Transparency Grade and its Donor Confidence Score.

The CALL (Up 4 to 5 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 95)

Now in top 20% for financial efficiency in Adoption/Foster Care sector.

Trinity Christian Academy Foundation (Up 1 to 2 Star, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 78)

Now in bottom 40% (up from bottom 20%) for financial efficiency in Christian Foundations sector.

Youth Haven (Up 4 to 5 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 90)

Now in top 20% for financial efficiency in Camps/Conference Centers sector.

 

Ministries with downgraded ratings:

Rosehill Christian School (Down 5 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 74)

Now in top 40% (down from top 20%) for financial efficiency in K-12 Schools/Academies.

Shepherd’s House Ministries (3 Stars, Transparency Grade: Down A to C, DCS: 97)

Could not find audited financials on website.

The Institute on Religion & Democracy (3 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Down 75 to 73)

Could not find audited financials on website.

Vision House (Down 3 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Down 97 to 77)

Now in bottom 40% for financial efficiency in Rescue Missions/Homeless Shelters sector.

Walter Hoving Home Inc (Down 2 to 1 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 67)

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

Watered Gardens (Down 3 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Down 100 to 80)

Now in bottom 40% for financial efficiency in Rescue Missions/Homeless Shelters sector.

 

 

On The MinistryWatch Podcast

Al Mohler and Blasphemy Laws, Sean Feucht, Burk Parsons

On this week’s program, Southern Baptist seminary leader Al Mohler walks back statements he made in support of blasphemy laws — which would mean punishing people for denying God’s role in the foundation of America. We’ll have details.

Plus, Sean Feucht succeeds in getting a lawsuit against him dismissed — for now. We’ll take a look.

And, ministry leaders overestimate revenue growth — and underestimate declines. We’ll go over results from our latest survey of ministry executives.

But first, a story that involves a well-known name in Reformed circles — Burk Parsons, teaching fellow at Ligonier Ministries and pastor of St. Andrew’s Chapel in Sanford, Florida. Parsons faced an indefinite suspension from ministry after being found guilty of being harsh and domineering toward people under his care. But last week, the Presbyterian Church in America’s highest court — the Standing Judicial Commission — reduced that punishment to an admonition after Parsons appealed.

The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. We get editorial, database, and other technical support from Stephen DuBarry, Rod Pitzer, Heidi Allums, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today’s program include Kim Roberts, Bob Smietana, and Jessica Eturralde.

Until next time, may God bless you.

Listen here.

 

ECFA Membership Changes

Removals

Anchor of Hope (New London, CT)

 

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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.