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:

Defense Attorney in TD Jakes Lawsuit Sanctioned for Using AI

By Kim Roberts. The attorney defending Duane Youngblood in the defamation lawsuit filed by T.D. Jakes has been sanctioned by a federal court because he presented documents containing material fabricated by artificial intelligence.

Detroit Megachurch Pastor Admits to ‘Inappropriate Relationship’ With Former Member

By Daniel Ritchie. Bishop Charles Ellis III, longtime senior pastor of Detroit megachurch Greater Grace Temple, has admitted to an “inappropriate relationship” with a former church member. The pastor notified his church via email on July 22. “I recently was made aware of social media posts shared by a former member of my congregation, with whom I had an inappropriate relationship over 15 years ago,” he wrote.

NJ Church Threatened by Eminent Domain Gets Reprieve – for Now

By Bob Smietana. For months, the members of Christ Episcopal Church in Toms River, New Jersey, have been at odds with the town’s mayor — first over a proposal to build a homeless shelter on the church’s property, and then over the mayor’s plan to knock the church down to build a community park. While plans for the shelter were rejected by the Toms River zoning board last month, a proposal to take Christ Church’s property by eminent domain has apparently stalled.

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:

IF:Gathering (Up 4 to 5 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 95)

Now in top 20% for financial efficiency in Christian Growth sector. 

International Fellowship of Evangelical Students USA (5 Stars, Transparency Grade: Up C to A, DCS: 100)

Files Form 990 with IRS, makes audited financials available on website, and is member of the ECFA.

LeTourneau University (Up 3 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 93)

Now in top 40% for financial efficiency in Colleges/Universities sector. 

Liberty Ministries (Up 4 to 5 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 95)

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

National Christian Charitable Foundation Inc (Up 1 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 80)

Now in bottom 40% (up from bottom 20%) for financial efficiency in Christian Foundations sector. 

National Christian Foundation Real Property Inc.  (Up 3 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 58)

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

OneChild (Up 2 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Up 74 to 94)

Now in top 60% for financial efficiency in Relief & Development sector, also raising its donor confidence score by 20 points. 

Reach the Rest (Up 4 to 5 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 98)

Now in top 20% for financial efficiency in Evangelism sector.

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. 

Sky Ranches Inc (Up 2 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Up 78 to 98)

Now in top 60% for financial efficiency in Camps/Conference Centers sector, also raising its donor confidence score by 20 points. 

The Hope Center / Hope Center Foundation (0 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Up 51 to 53)

Makes audited financial available on its website. 

The Movement Foundation Inc.  (Up 3 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: 60)

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

The Signatry Charitable Trust (Up 2 to 3 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Up 80 to 100)

Now in top 60% for financial efficiency in Christian Foundations sector, also raising its donor confidence score by 20 points. 

University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (Up 1 to 2 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 44)

Now in bottom 40% (up from bottom 20%) for financial efficiency in Colleges/Universities sector. 

Watoto Child Care Ministries (Up 4 to 5 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 89)

Now in top 20% for financial efficiency in Foreign Missions sector. 

Western Seminary (0 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Up 46 to 48)

Makes audited financials available on its website. 

Ministries with downgraded ratings:

JAARS (Down 2 to 1 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 77)

Now in bottom 20% for financial efficiency in Bible Translation Organizations sector. 

Multnomah University (Down 2 to 1 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 75)

Now in bottom 20% for financial efficiency in Colleges/Universities sector. 

NickV Ministries (Down 2 to 1 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: 76)

Now in bottom 20% for financial efficiency in Evangelism sector. 

Richmont Graduate University (Down 5 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 98)

Now in top 40% (down from top 20%) for financial efficiency in Colleges/Universities sector. 

The Hope Rescue Mission (3 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Down 95 to 75)

Is not a member of the ECFA. 

The Institute on Religion & Democracy (3 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Down 75 to 73)

Does not make audited financials available on website. 

Whole Word Institute (Down 5 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 98)

Now in top 40% (Down from top 20%) for financial efficiency in Bible Translation Organizations sector.

Word for the World USA (Down 5 to 4 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: 100)

Now in top 40% (down from top 20%) for financial efficiency in Bible Translation Organizations sector. 

XO Marriage (0 Stars, Transparency Grade: F, DCS: Down 43 to 8)

Does not meet most MinistryWatch’s criteria for financial accountability and transparency, including board composition. 

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On The MinistryWatch Podcast

ACNA and Stewart Ruch, T.D. Jakes, the ERLC 

On today’s program, a third prosecutor has been appointed in the trial of Anglican Church in North America Bishop Stewart Ruch after the first two resigned. The Bishop is on trial with the denomination for welcoming abusers into the church, and minimizing the needs of abuse survivors. 

And, a North Carolina church was the victim of an online scam that stole nearly $800 thousand from their new building fund. That was two years ago—we’ll look at where the church is now. 

Plus, Brent Leatherwood resigns from the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, just one year after being fired…then unfired. Leatherwood led the agency for four contentious years. We’ll have details. 

But first, the defense attorney in a lawsuit involving T.D. Jakes has been sanctioned by the court for using artificial intelligence in the preparation of court documents.

Listen here.

ECFA Changes

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

REMOVALS:

Richmont Graduate University (Chattanooga, TN)

Chattanooga Bible Institute (Chattanooga, TN)

The Psychological Studies Institute (Chattanooga, TN)

Christian Missions International (Port St Lucie, FL)

Willamette Medical Teams (Albany, OR)

Alaska Freedom Journey   North Pole      AK

Hearts Going Toward Wellness (North Pole, AK)

AFJ-Training Modules (North Pole, AK)

Shepherd’s Grove Presbyterian Church (Garden Grove, CA)

Willamette International (Albany, OR)

Consulting Services Foundation (Jackson, MS)

Crystal Cathedral Ministries (Irvine, CA)

Hour of Power (Irvine, CA)

Fellowship of Evangelical Churches (Fort Wayne, IN)

Chris Mikkelson Evangelistic Ministries (Ocoee, FL)

Be Broken Ministries (Selma, TX)

OnRamp (College Station, TX)

One Hundred Years (Chattanooga, TN)

Irvine Presbyterian Church                  

Creation Studies Institute (Deerfield Beach, FL)

ADDITIONS:

Camp Chautauqua (Miamisburg, OH)

The Advantage, A Leadership Collaborative (Lititz, PA)

WAXU FM             

WALF FM (Riverview, FL)

WRBA FM (Dothan, AL)

Legacy Ministry                    

Creation Studies Institute (Deerfield Beach, FL)

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.