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, and now provide a brief explanation about why.
Ukraine and Israel have been in the news again this week, and we know that many of you want to get involved, so we’ve included guides on what to look for in ministries working in those countries and a list of ones we recommend.
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:
Burk Parsons Suspended From Pastoral Duties at St. Andrew’s Chapel
By Kim Roberts. Dr. Burk Parsons, senior pastor at St. Andrew’s Chapel in Sanford, Florida, and a teaching fellow at Ligonier Ministries, has been indicted by a commission of the Central Florida Presbytery and is currently suspended from his duties at St. Andrew’s as he awaits the resolution of the case.
Christian Reformed Church Losing Ministers Over LGBTQ Stance
By Yonat Shimron. At a church just outside Grand Rapids, Michigan, on Feb. 18, 33 ministers from the Christian Reformed Church in North America stood up to read aloud a declaration, officially accepting ordination in a rival denomination, the Reformed Church in America. The group ordination ceremony — the first of its kind — is one of the more public signs of an ongoing split in the Christian Reformed Church on the part of churches no longer willing to abide the CRC’s firm stance on sexuality.
Elevation Church Youth Pastor Fired Over Former Sexual Misconduct Allegations
By Bethany E. Starin. The Charlotte-based megachurch Elevation Church fired its youth pastor, Tim Somers, in late February for alleged sexual misconduct. Somers’ accused misconduct is with a student or students in the youth ministry of Oaks Church in Red Oaks, Texas, where he served about 12 years ago.
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 newly added to the database:
Council on Educational Standards and Accountability (4 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 80)
Fellowship of Israel Related Ministries (FIRM) (5 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 71)
Troy Brewer Ministries (5 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 63)
Ministries with upgraded ratings:
India Gospel League Inc. North America (Up 2 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Up 80 to 100)
Now in top 20% for financial efficiency in Foreign Missions sector, also raising donor confidence score by 20 points.
The Institute on Religion & Democracy (3 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Up 70 to 75)
Board has at least four independent board members for every non-independent member.
Turning Point for God (4 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Up 57 to 65)
Refrains from use of NDAs, has statement of faith, and requires employees to affirm statement of faith.
Ministries with downgraded ratings:
Advancing Native Missions / ANM (Down 3 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Down 98 to 78)
Now in bottom 40% for financial efficiency in Foreign Missions sector, also dropping donor confidence score by 20 points.
As Our Own (3 Stars, Transparency Grade: Down A to C, DCS: 93)
Does not make audited financials available on website.
Barnabas International (Down 4 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 90)
Now in top 60% for financial efficiency in Evangelism Support sector.
Christian HELP Foundation (5 Stars, Transparency Grade: Down A to C, DCS: 98)
Does not make audited financials available on website.
Community Bible Study (Down 5 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 95)
Now in top 40% for financial efficiency in Leadership Training sector.
Cornerstone University (1 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Down 55 to 53)
Does not make audited financials available on website.
Heaven’s Family (Down 5 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 100)
Now in top 40% for financial efficiency in Community Development sector.
India National Inland Mission (Down 2 to 1 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 76)
Now in bottom 20% for financial efficiency in Evangelism Support sector.
Inspiracom (3 Stars, Transparency Grade: Down A to C, DCS: 98)
Does not make audited financials available on website.
International Christian Concern (Down 4 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 97)
Now in top 60% for financial efficiency in Relief & Development sector.
Reciprocal Ministries International, Inc. (Down 4 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 97)
Now in top 60% for financial efficiency in Evangelism Support sector.
Sean Feucht Ministries (2 Stars, Transparency Grade: F, DCS: Down 46 to 21)
Does not file Form 990 with the IRS nor make it available to public.
TeachBeyond, Inc. (N/A Stars, Transparency Grade: Down C to D, DCS: 38)
Does not file Form 990 nor make audited financials available on website.
The Scott Dawson Evangelistic Association (N/A Stars, Transparency Grade: Down A to C, DCS: 71)
Does not make audited financials available on website.
Winter Haven Christian School (5 Stars, Transparency Grade: Down A to C, DCS: 98)
Does not make audited financials available on website.
Access to MinistryWatch content is free. However, we hope you will support our work with your prayers and financial gifts. To make a donation, click here.
On The MinistryWatch Podcast
Ligonier Ministries, Elevation Church, Liberty University, and Church Planting in the Pacific Northwest
On today’s program, Dr. Burk Parsons of Ligonier Ministries has been suspended from pastoral duties at St. Andrew’s Chapel where he is senior pastor. He is now under investigation by the Central Florida Presbytery. We’ll have details.
And, Elevation Church has fired its youth pastor amid allegations of sexual misconduct from a decade ago. We’ll take a look.
Also, after 16 months of wrangling and civil suits, Beverly Heights Presbyterian Church in Pennsylvania has officially left the Evangelical Presbyterian Church.
But first, a former Liberty University employee is suing the school for discrimination and retaliation.
ECFA Changes
The following organizations have had membership status changes in the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability.
ADDITIONS:
Emmaus Bible College (Dubuque, IA)
REMOVALS:
Safe Families of Oregon (Chicago, IL)
SonRays Ministries (Tonawanda, NY)
Theodyssey Group (Englewood, CO)
The Tabernacle Church (Sarasota, FL)
Advice About Giving
Hurricane Helene Giving. Western North Carolina is slowly recovering, but it will need help for months if not years ahead. We have compiled a list of ministries working in Hurricane Helene-affected areas. We’ve also included some tips for making decisions about how and where you should give. To see this article, click here.
To see our complete coverage of Hurricane Helene relief efforts, click here.
Ukraine Giving. If you want to give specifically to ministries working in and near Ukraine, click here. We posted this link before, but we’ve added a few new ministries recently.
Israel Giving. We have compiled a list of ministries working in Israel that we recommend. You will also find some ministries working there that we do NOT recommend. You can find the list here.
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 my desk, 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 I 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, I hope you’ll check it out. To find it, click here.