Conversations

Samaritan’s Purse, BGEA and the ECFA

EDITOR’S NOTE: From time to time we will publish letters and emails we get from readers, sometimes with a response, sometimes without comment. If you would like to share your thoughts about any of our stories or podcasts, please email us: [email protected]

Reader defends Samaritan’s Purse for leaving ECFA

An article that you wrote popped up in my Google feed. Because it had to do with Samaritan’s Purse, I read it.

After doing my due diligence and researching why they left the ECFA, I must say, I’m not impressed at all with your article or your shady misrepresentation of them and others.

It was very easy to find the reason why they chose to leave the ECFA, and I actually agree with them. As for posting their audited financials, I’m sure if anyone requests a copy, they will receive it.

Moving forward, I won’t waste my time on your articles. I can see you only state half-truths to make others look bad. You best be careful who you slight. If God is on their side, he will handle you. And, in this instance, I know God is with Samaritan’s Purse.  Why on earth would you not put the actual reason behind their leaving? Just for clicks. Shameful.

Thank you.

Paula Taves 

Warren Smith responds:

Thanks for this feedback. We included Franklin Graham’s letter in our article. We quoted from it and we linked to the complete letter so people could read for themselves. I think we gave him plenty of opportunity to respond.

“Saddened” by MinistryWatch’s decision to downgrade ratings of BGEA, Samaritan’s Purse

I am writing to communicate my disagreement with your rating  —  as well as my support for Franklin Graham’s position on the newly adopted Leader Care Standards of the EFCA.

It is outside of the EFCA’s stated purview and has over-arching ramifications. The fact that you have downgraded Samaritan’s Purse and the BGEA because of this has caused irreparable harm to your organization as well as theirs.

I will be unable to confidently rely upon your ratings since MinistryWatch and the EFCA have ventured from their previously held purpose and have now become the morality police.

Deeply saddened,
Corri Valenti

Leader care is outside the scope of the ECFA

Did you check with Samaritan’s Purse and BGEA as to why they dropped their ECFA membership?

I agree with them that Leader care has nothing to do with financial accountability and is outside the scope of ECFA.

I’ve used Ministry Watch to determine which charities I should contribute to, but I feel I can no longer rely on them.

God’s blessings,

Jo Ann Arneson

Warren Smith responds:

We did check with BGEA and SP and we included their response — including Franklin Graham’s full letter to the ECFA — in our article.

Leader care has a great deal to do with financial accountability. We have found that in almost every case we’ve ever covered where there has been financial or other fraud, a dysfunctional leader and accountability system for the leader was the root cause.

Grace and peace to you.

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