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:

Baylor University Lauds Grant to Study LGBT ‘Exclusion’ From Churches

By Kim Roberts. One of the largest Christian universities in the country is publicizing its receipt of a large grant to study the “disenfranchisement and exclusion” of individuals who identify as LGBT from church congregations. [Editor’s Note: Baylor has since rescinded its acceptance of the grant]

Gateway Reduces Number of Services, Hire New Executive Pastor

By Kim Roberts.  The Dallas-area Gateway megachurch is reducing the number of services at its campuses each weekend. According to a Gateway spokesperson, it will be cutting Saturday services at all of its campuses, except its flagship Southlake campus.

Texas Flooding Disaster Relief: Ministries That are Helping

By Kim Roberts. We have compiled a list of ministries who are assisting in the Central Texas flooding below, along with their donor confidence score, if they are profiled in the MinistryWatch 1000 database.

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 recently added into the database:

Love Life (5 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 74)

Ministries with upgraded ratings:

Axis (1 Stars, Transparency Grade: Up D to C, DCS: 38)

Files Form 990 with the IRS and makes audited financials available on website, but is not a member of the ECFA.

Buckner International / Buckner Children and Family Services (2 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Up 73 to 78)

Board contains between 5 and 11 members.

Cedar Ridge Childrens Home and School (Up 4 to 5 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 93)

Now in top 20% for financial efficiency in Community Development sector.

Children’s Hunger Fund / CHF (5 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Up 95 to 100)

Board now contains between 5 and 11 members.

Hope Haven Inc (4 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Up 90 to 92)

Makes audited financials available on website.

Hope of the Valley Rescue Mission (4 Stars, Transparency Grade: Up D to C, DCS: 64)

Files Form 990 with IRS and makes audited financials available on website.

Selah Freedom (3 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Up 70 to 78)

Board composition meets MinistryWatch recommendations.  

Ministries with downgraded ratings:

Asbury University (3 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Down 73 to 71)

Does not make audited financials available on website.

Cairn University (5 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Down 73 to 71)

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

Chestnut Mountain Ranch (Down 3 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Down 98 to 78)

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

Dallas Theological Seminary (1 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Down 73 to 71)

Does not make audited financials available on website, and is not free of public accusations of misdeeds against the organization, founder, CEO, senior pastor, or board members in the past five years.

Fuller Theological Seminary (2 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Down 55 to 53)

Does not make audited financials available on website.

InterAct Ministries, Inc.  (3 Stars, Transparency Grade: Down A to C, DCS: 98)

Does not make audited financials available on website.

InterFACE Ministries, Inc. / IFACE (5 Stars, Transparency Grade: Down A to C, DCS: 92)

Does not make audited financials available on website.

King University (2 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Down 50 to 48)

Does not make audited financials available on website.

LeTourneau University (4 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Down 95 to 93)

Does not make audited financials available on website.

Life Training Institute (Down 4 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 71)

Now in top 60% for financial efficiency in Pro-Life sector.

Oklahoma Christian University (4 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Down 75 to 73)

Does not make audited financials available on website.

Penfield Addiction Ministries (2 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Down 68 to 35)

Is not a member of the ECFA, and board composition does not meet MinistryWatch recommendations.

Rest Haven Homes (3 Stars, Transparency Grade: Down A to C, DCS: 95)

Does not make audited financials available on website.

Southern Nazarene University (2 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Down 53 to 51)

Does not make audited financials available on website.

Southwest Baptist University (5 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Down 69 to 67)

Does not make audited financials available on website.

The Luke Society (3 Stars, Transparency Grade: Down A to C, DCS: 98)

Does not make audited financials available on website.

Trinity International University (2 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Down 53 to 51)

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

Baylor University, The Church and AI, and How To Help Texas Flood Victims

On today’s program, Baylor University voluntarily rescinded their acceptance of an LGBTQ research grant after receiving pushback. The school’s president says their stance on biblical sexuality has not changed. We’ll have details.

And, is a membership with the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability worth the cost? We talked with current and former members.

Also, the adoption of A-I in church operations is now mainstream…but pastors aren’t ready to use it for everything.

Plus, a guide to giving to ministries helping with relief efforts in central Texas after floods devastated the area.

But first, a former member is suing John MacArthur’s megachurch for how it handled church discipline.

Listen here.

ECFA Changes

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

REMOVALS:

ONEDAY MOVEMENT (Dallas, TX)

ADDITIONS:

Hope Sacks (Cincinnati, OH)

US Based Food Distribution (Cincinnati, OH)

Fresh Water Wells (Cincinnati, OH)

Lifeline Pregnancy Care Center (Nampa, ID)

Kaufman Christian Help Center (Kaufman, TX)

ONEDAY: Global Evangelistic Celebration (Dallas, TX)

Timber Bay at Hayward, WI (Hayward, WI)

Honduras Child Sponsorship (Fort Washington, PA)

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.