WEEKLY REVIEW

Snapshot of top happenings from this past 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 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:

Sean Feucht Accused of Moral, Ethical, and Financial Failure by Former Leaders

By Kim Roberts. Five former leaders of groups associated with Sean Feucht have issued a formal statement bringing to light what they call “longstanding and serious moral, ethical, financial, organizational and governance failures” by Feucht and calling for an independent investigation into possible fraud and embezzlement.

Pastor Doug Wilson’s Christian Empire Grows in Idaho

By Tracy Simmons. On 30 acres at the edge of Moscow, Idaho, construction crews are erecting a Jeffersonian set of classical buildings arranged around a central quad, resembling a miniature University of Virginia. But this isn’t a public university. It’s the new campus for Logos School, part of the influential pastor Doug Wilson’s decadeslong effort to transform this college town into a conservative Christian redoubt.

Controversial ‘Scandalizers’ List Leads to PCA Stated Clerk’s Retirement

By Kim Roberts. Bryan Chappell has announced that he plans to retire as stated clerk of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) following pushback from his recent appearance on the Gospelbound podcast with Collin Hansen.

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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:

Care Net Pregnancy & Family Services of Puget Sound (Up 3 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 98)

Now in top 40% for financial efficiency in Pro-Life sector.

College of Biblical Studies – Houston (Up 2 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Up 51 to 71)

Now in top 60% for financial efficiency in Colleges/Universities sector.

Empart USA (0 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Up 72 to 74)

Does make audited financials available on website.

Fortis Institute  (Up 2 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Up 76 to 86)

Now in top 60% for financial efficiency in Radio/TV Stations sector.

Ministries with downgraded ratings:

AbleLight / formerly Bethesda Lutheran Communities (1 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Down 75 to 55)

Is not member of the ECFA.

Anderson University (4 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Down 69 to 67)

Does not make audited financials available on website, and CEO/President’s compensation is not within one standard deviation of median compensation.  

Ashland University (4 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Down 66 to 64)

Does not make audited financials available on website, and does not have/require statement of faith.

California Baptist University (5 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Down 67 to 65)

Does not make audited financials available on website, and CEO/President’s compensation is not within one standard deviation of median compensation.

Campbell University (4 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Down 64 to 62)

Does not make audited financials available on website, and CEO/President’s compensation is not within one standard deviation of median compensation.

Campbellsville University (4 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Down 56 to 54)

Does not make audited financials available on website, and does not have/require statement of faith.

Charleston Southern University (4 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Down 71 to 69)

Does not make audited financials available on website, and does not require employees to sign statement of faith upon hiring.

 Chattanooga Christian Community Foundation / The Generosity Trust (Down 5 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 73)

Now in top 40% for financial efficiency in Christian Foundations sector.

Children to Love International (Down 4 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 98)

Now in top 60% (down from top 40%) for financial efficiency in Relief & Development sector.

Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation (Down 4 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 98)

Now in top 60% (down from top 40%) for financial efficiency in Christian Growth sector.

City Rescue Mission, Jacksonville (4 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Down 95 to 93)

Does not make audited financials available on website.

College of the Ozarks (4 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Down 71 to 69)

Does not make audited financials available on website.

Cornerstone Assistance Network (Down 4 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 95)

Now in top 60% (down from top 40%) for financial efficiency in Relief & Development sector.

Family Talk / Dr. James Dobson Family Institute (Down 3 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Down 93 to 73)

Now in bottom 40% for financial efficiency in Christian Growth sector, also dropping its donor confidence score by 20 points.

Fellowship of Companies for Christ / FCCI (3 Stars, Transparency Grade: Down A to C, DCS: 98)

Does not make audited financials available on website.

On The MinistryWatch Podcast

Sean Feucht, Doug Wilson’s Empire, Christianity Today, and Robert Morris

On this week’s program, ministry leader Sean Feucht is being accused of moral, ethical, and financial failure by former leaders of his various nonprofits. The accusers issued a formal statement this week detailing their accusations and are calling for an independent investigation.

And, with the construction of a new school campus, Pastor Doug Wilson’s empire continues to grow in Idaho. We’ll take a look.

Plus, Tim Dalrymple is leaving his role at Christianity Today to take the helm of the John Templeton Foundation.

But first, Robert Morris is pushing back on Gateway Church’s claims that they didn’t know the details of his sexual abuse of Cindy Clemishire.

Listen here.

ECFA Changes

The following organizations have had membership status changes in the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability. 

REMOVALS:

Choose Now (Valdosta, GA)

LifeCare Network (Brandon, FL)

Living Choices of North Texas (Denton, TX)

Sponsor A Family/Stop Hunger (Monrovia, CA)

ADDITIONS:

Agape Women’s Clinic (Round Rock, TX)

For Every Women Mobile Clinic (Tustin, CA)

Handi*Camp (Akron, PA)

Horizon Pregnancy Center (Huntington Beach, CA)

The Bucket Ministry Film, LLC (Fate, TX)

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 [email protected].  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.