WEEKLY REVIEW: Snapshot of Top Ministry Happenings From This Past Week

Upgrades for Atlanta Dream Center, HeartCry Missionary Society; Downgrades for Daystar, Southeastern University, Taylor University

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:

Lawsuit Accuses TX Megachurch of Deceiving Members Into Giving Pastor Wide-Ranging Control

By Mark Wingfield. Pastoral succession, megachurch wealth and family dynasties combine in a lawsuit filed against Second Baptist Church of Houston and its leaders April 15.

Presbyterian Church USA Closes Missions Agency

By Kim Roberts. The Presbyterian Church (USA) has shuttered its World Missions agency and ended all of its mission co-worker roles. The move comes amid financial cuts at the dwindling mainline Protestant denomination.

TX Pastor’s Wife Sentenced to 10 Years Probation for Misapplication of Church Property

By Kim Roberts. Nearly four years after indictments were issued against Randy and Michelle Free for theft of property from Cedar Cross Country Church in Alvarado, Texas, both of the Frees have been sentenced.

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 to the database:

Frontier Ventures (N/A Stars, Transparency Grade: F, DCS: 6)

Ministries with upgraded ratings:

Advancing Native Missions / ANM (2 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Up 78 to 80)

Refrains from use of NDAs.

Forgotten Children Worldwide (3 Stars, Transparency Grade: C, DCS: Up 73 to 76)

Board composition follows best practices from MinistryWatch database.

Frontline Response / Atlanta Dream Center Inc / Out of Darkness (1 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Up 70 to 75)

Board members number between 5-11.

HeartCry Missionary Society (N/A Stars, Transparency Grade: F, DCS: Up 8 to 27)

Board composition follows best practices from MinistryWatch database.

Living Alternatives Pregnancy Resource Center (1 Stars, Transparency Grade: D, DCS: Up 53 to 58)

Board members number between 5-11.

Ministries with downgraded ratings:

Caring Network, NFP (1 Stars, Transparency Grade: Down A to C, DCS: 75)

Does not make audited financials available on website.

Christian City Inc.  (1 Stars, Transparency Grade: Down A to C, DCS: 70)

Does not make audited financials available on website.

Christian Union (1 Stars, Transparency Grade: Down A to C, DCS: 74)

Does not make audited financials on website.

City Mission of Findlay (3 Stars, Transparency Grade: Down A to C, DCS: 75)

Is not an ECFA member.

Coalition for Christian Outreach / CCO (2 Stars, Transparency Grade: Down A to C, DCS: 75)

Does not make audited financials available on website.

Daystar U.S. (1 Stars, Transparency Grade: Down A to C, DCS: 69)

Does not make audited financials available on website.

Decision Point (2 Stars, Transparency Grade: Down A to C, DCS: 78)

Does not make audited financials available on website.

Seattle Pacific University (2 Stars, Transparency Grade: Down C to D, DCS: 37)

Is not ECFA member, and does not make audited financials available on website.

Southeastern University (5 Stars, Transparency Grade: Down C to D, DCS: 69)

Is not ECFA member, and does not make audited financials available on website.

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

Is not ECFA member, and does not make audited financials available on website.

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

Is not ECFA member, and does not make audited financials available on website.

Taylor University (2 Stars, Transparency Grade: Down A to C, DCS: 71)

Does not make audited financials available on website.

The Firs Bible & Missionary Conference (4 Stars, Transparency Grade: Down A to C, DCS: 98)

Does not make audited financials available on website.

Waterfront Rescue Mission (4 Stars, Transparency Grade: A, DCS: Down 100 to 98)

Ministry has had lawsuit filed against it in past 5 years.

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On The MinistryWatch Podcast

Dr. Michael Brown, Wycliffe Bible Translators, TD Jakes, and More

On today’s program, a team of elders is recommending Dr. Michael Brown return to public ministry in spite of a recent report concluding that he engaged in sexual misconduct. We’ll have details.

And, the Presbyterian Church USA—historically, very involved in evangelistic efforts—is now closing its missions agency. Theologians say they are not surprised given the denomination’s leftward drift.

Plus, more than a year after Wycliffe Bible Translators listed its sprawling Orlando headquarters for sale, its status remains unclear with the property still marked “under contract.” MinistryWatch reporter Shannon Cuthrell takes a closer look.

But first, megachurch Pastor TD Jakes has announced plans to step aside as head of The Potter’s House.

Listen here.

ECFA Changes

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

REMOVALS: 

Partners in Compassionate Care (Grand Rapids, MI)

Open Door Adoption Agency (Thomasville, GA)

Fostering Hope New England (Providence, RI)

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.