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:
Charter Member Billy Graham Evangelistic Association Resigns from ECFA
By Kim Roberts. The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) and Samaritan’s Purse, two of the largest Christian ministries in the country, have voluntarily resigned their membership in the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA).
Tony Evans Will No Longer Lead Dallas Megachurch
By Adelle M. Banks. Dallas megachurch founder Tony Evans, who stepped back from leading his church due to an undisclosed “sin” he announced last year, apologized to his congregation and his family on Sunday (Oct. 5), after the elder board of his Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship announced the pastor had completed a “restoration process” and will not return to leadership of the church.
TX Worship Pastor Arrested for Child Sexual Abuse Material
By Daniel Ritchie. A prominent worship pastor at an East Texas church has been arrested and charged with promotion of child pornography.
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:
Living on the Edge with Chip Ingram (Up 2 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Up 80 to 100)
Now in top 60% for financial efficiency in Educational Media sector, also raising donor confidence score by 20 points.
Mel Trotter Ministries (Up 1 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 75)
Now in top bottom 40% (up from top 20%) for financial efficiency in Rescue Missions/Homeless Shelters sector.
Mennonite Brethren Homes, dba Palm Village Retirement Community (Up 3 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 97)
Now in top 40% for financial efficiency in Community Development sector.
Milligan University (Up 1 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 43)
Now in bottom 40% (up from bottom 20%) for financial efficiency in Colleges/Universities sector.
Orphan Outreach (Up 3 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 95)
Now in top 40% for financial efficiency in Adoption/Foster Care sector.
Seattle Pacific University (Up 2 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Up 35 to 55)
Now in top 60% for financial efficiency in Colleges/Universities sector, also raising its donor confidence score by 20 points.
Set Free Alliance (formerly known as Water of Life) (Up 2 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Up 80 to 100)
Now in top 60% for financial efficiency in Foreign Missions sector, also raising its donor confidence score by 20 points.
Spoken Worldwide (Up 1 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 78)
Now in bottom 40% (up from bottom 20%) for financial efficiency in Bible Translation Organizations sector.
Stonecroft Ministries (1 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Up 77 to 80)
Board has at least four independent board members for every non-independent member.
The Kaleo Foundation (5 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Up 98 to 100)
Makes audited financials available on website.
The Neighborhood Christian Clinic (5 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Up 98 to 100)
Makes audited financials available on website.
Young Life (Up 3 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 89)
Now in top 40% for financial efficiency in Fellowship Evangelism sector.
Ministries with downgraded ratings:
Indiana Wesleyan University (Down 4 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 69)
Now in top 60% for financial efficiency in Colleges/Universities sector.
InterFACE Ministries, Inc. / IFACE (Down 5 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 92)
Now in top 40% (down from top 20%) for financial efficiency in Fellowship Evangelism sector.
International Christian Adoptions (5 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Down 97 to 95)
Does not make audited financials available on website.
Juanita Bynum International (Down 5 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 47)
Now in top 40% (down from top 20%) for financial efficiency in Christian Growth sector.
Long Beach Rescue Mission (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.
Mount Vernon Nazarene University (4 Stars, Transparency Grade: Down C to D, DCS: 63)
Does not make audited financials available on website, nor is it a member of the ECFA.
Palm Beach Atlantic University (2 Stars, Transparency Grade: Down C to D, DCS: 48)
Does not make audited financials available on website, nor is it a member of the ECFA.
Shepherds Theological Seminary (Down 5 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 93)
Now in bottom 40% for financial efficiency in Colleges/Universities sector.
The Foundry Ministries (Down 4 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 92)
Now in top 60% for financial efficiency in Rescue Missions/Homeless Shelters sector.
The King’s Christian Academy / Lexington Park Christian School (2 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Down 78 to 58)
Is not a member of the ECFA.
Tim Tebow Foundation (Down 2 to 1 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 75)
Now in bottom 20% for financial efficiency in Christian Foundations sector.
On The MinistryWatch Podcast
Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, Samaritan’s Purse Exit ECFA, Pro-Life in a Post-Roe World
On this week’s program, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association was a founding member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability. Its sister ministry, Samaritan’s Purse, joined soon after. Now, both ministries have voluntarily resigned due to a newly added leadership requirement. We’ll have details.
And, pro-life ministries continue to adjust to a post-Roe world. MinistryWatch senior reporter Kim Roberts took a deep dive into where the pro-life movement stands now.
Plus, the Church of England names its first female Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally. The appointment was ratified by King Charles III last week.
But first, Tony Evans will not be returning to lead his Dallas megachurch after completing a year-long restoration process due to an undisclosed sin.
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ECFA Changes
The following organizations have had membership status changes in the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability.
ADDITIONS:
Arise Ministries
Living on the Edge with Chip Ingram
REMOVALS:
Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (Charlotte, NC)
Samaritan’s Purse (Boone, NC)
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.