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 score. Each week, we highlight ministries in our database that have had rating changes, plus a brief explanation about why it matters.
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 three top stories on the MinistryWatch website from this past week:
Rez.Church Pastor Resigns, Legal Battle Between Church & School Continues
By Kim Roberts. Jonathan Wiggins, pastor of Rez.Church in Loveland, Colorado, resigned his position last week because of “moral failure and personal shortcomings,” according to a report in the Loveland Reporter-Herald.
St. Andrew’s Chapel Salaries Well Above Median Salary in the Region
By Kim Roberts. Burk Parsons, lead pastor of St. Andrew’s Chapel in Sanford, Florida, and a teaching fellow with Ligonier Ministries, receives over $410,000 in annual compensation from the church, in addition to an undisclosed salary from Ligonier, according to a recent report filed with the Central Florida Presbytery.
IHOPKC Leader Mike Bickle ‘Permanently Disqualified’ From Church Office
By Kim Roberts. Mike Bickle, former leader of International House of Prayer in Kansas City (IHOPKC), has “disqualified himself permanently from holding any such high and honorable office anywhere in the Body of Christ in his lifetime,” according to a Pastoral Recommendation Team (PRT) report, convened by Tikkun Ministries.
Here’s what else is new at MinistryWatch this week.
MinistryWatch Database Changes
MinistryWatch now has more than 1,000 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 with upgraded ratings:
Asheville Christian Academy (Up 1 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 80)
Now in bottom 40% (up from bottom 20%) for financial efficiency in K-12 Schools/Academies sector.
Camp Eagle (3 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Up 98 to 100)
Makes audited financials available on website.
Cedar Ridge Childrens Home and School (Up 4 to 5 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 95)
Now in top 20% for financial efficiency in Community Development sector.
City Mission of Schenectady (Up 3 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 100)
Now in top 40% for financial efficiency in Rescue Mission/Homeless Shelters sector.
Concordia University – Seward, NE (Up 1 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 51)
Now in bottom 40% (up from bottom 20%) for financial efficiency in Colleges/Universities sector.
Evansville Rescue Mission (Up 3 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Up 90 to 92)
Now in top 40% for financial efficiency in Rescue Missions/Homeless Shelters sector; and, makes audited financials available on website.
Far Reaching Ministries (Up 3 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 66)
Now in top 40% for financial efficiency in Foreign Missions sector.
Fellowship of Christians in Universities and Schools (FOCUS) (3 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Up 90 to 92)
Makes audited financials available on website.
Ministries with downgraded ratings:
Advocates for Community Transformation (1 Stars, Transparency Grade: Down A to C, DCS: 75)
Does not make audited financials available on website.
Amazima Ministries International (Down 2 to 1 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 73)
Now in bottom 20% for financial efficiency in Foreign Missions sector.
Asbury University (Down 4 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 71)
Now in top 60% for financial efficiency in Colleges/Universities sector.
Biglife International (2 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Down 76 to 58)
Is not a member of the ECFA.
Concerned Women for America (Down 2 to 1 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 80)
Now in bottom 20% for financial efficiency in Advocacy sector.
Cornerstone Christian Academy (Down 4 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 93)
Now in top 60% for financial efficiency in K-12 Schools/Academies sector.
Dallas International University (Down 3 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, 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.
Eagle Ranch (Down 3 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Down 95 to 75)
Now in bottom 40% for financial efficiency in Adoption/Foster Care sector, also dropping its donor confidence score by 20 points.
Faith Comes By Hearing / Hosanna Ministries (Down 4 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 62)
Now in top 60% for financial efficiency in Bible Translation Organizations sector.
Family Connections Christian Adoptions (4 Stars, Transparency Grade: Down A to C, DCS: 93)
Does not make audited financials available on website.
On The MinistryWatch Podcast
IHOP, Ethnos 360, Camp Mystic Parents Unhappy
On this week’s program, an investigation dug into abuse allegations at IHOP-KC—and now a pastoral team charged with making recommendations based on that investigation has determined Mike Bickle is ‘permanently disqualified’ from church office. We’ll take a look.
And, a sexual abuse lawsuit against the missionary agency Ethnos360 has been dismissed.
Plus, remembering Voddie Baucham, who passed away last week.
But first, Camp Mystic has announced plans to partially reopen next summer—and not everyone is happy about it.
ECFA Changes
The following organizations have had membership status changes in the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability.
REMOVALS:
Compassion Radio Member Corona CA
City on a Hill Member Milwaukee WI
Compassion Ventures, Inc. dba Aliso Viejo 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 info@ministrywatch.com. 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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