A wave of concern over fundraising practices in the non-profit sector prompted Oregon Senator Mark Hatfield to challenge evangelical leaders in 1977.1 An evangelical himself, he warned that Congress might pass legislation regulating the affairs of Christian ministries unless they found a way to police themselves with a “Christian Better Business Bureau.”2

In response, in 1979, a group of believers founded the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability.3 Charter members included Campus Crusade for Christ, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, and Dallas Theological Seminary.

The ECFA holds members to seven standards of responsible stewardship: doctrinal orthodoxy; a board of directors with financial oversight; an annual audit; policies ensuring adherence to tax-exempt purposes; financial disclosure; conflict-of-interest avoidance; and ethical fundraising practices.4 In addition, some members are selected each year for on-site visits to verify their compliance with ECFA standards.5 To date, more than 2,300 organizations and their subsidiaries have joined the council, whose website declares, “The ECFA seal is tangible evidence to donors that ECFA member organizations adhere to the highest standards of financial integrity and Christian ethics.”6

As an ECFA member, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) publishes its financial records each year and demonstrates the type of economic transparency necessary in all ministries. One can easily discover that the BGEA spends 87% of its $116 million budget on evangelistic outreach and has $301 million in net assets.7

In contrast, the abuses of some ministries remind us why Senator Hatfield called for the ECFA’s existence. A “televangelist,” for example, bought a $20 million jet, claiming he would use it only to spread the gospel. Yet the jet made questionable rounds to some of the world’s hottest vacation spots while faithful donors sent their money to support Christian work.8

More recently, another minister was sued for stealing a plan to profit from religious text messages. He allegedly earns $50 million per year from $5.99 subscriptions to the service.9 A man is claiming that the minister used his idea for the “Word on the Go” texting service after they developed it together.

Of course, while such embarrassing behavior by large ministries gets media attention, much of the financial irregularity in the Church occurs in the pew, where those who call themselves Christian refuse to be stewards of their own resources, all of which belong to God. In their giving and purchasing patterns, they betray their calling and confession that “Jesus is Lord.” Nevertheless, the EFCA plays a vital role in preserving the kingdom’s witness on earth.

Both the transparency of ECFA members and the obfuscation of less honorable ministries recall the need for every Christian organization to live out the Apostle Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 8:21, “for we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of man.” The greatest scandal is not the abuses of a few bad ministers but the widespread need for the ECFA in the first place. Unless the Church maintains financial integrity, it cannot speak prophetically on vital matters of money and finance.

That is why the First Baptist Church of Perryville took steps two decades ago to update standard, but antiquated practices, to have the highest level of financial accountability. All offerings are counted by teams of three who must each sign their own form identifying the checks, bills, and change in the offering.  All three sheets must agree exactly.  The financial secretary tracks the giving.  The treasurer only disperses checks, never touching funds. There is a yearly audit by a team experienced with accounting.  Use of funds is supervised by a stewardship committee. The whole process was designed specifically for our church by the vice-president of a large Maryland bank.  We firmly believe that people who represent the Living God must exhibit the highest level of fiscal responsibility and transparency.

 
 
Footnotes:
 
1  Randall Balmer, Encyclopedia of Evangelicalism, rev. ed. (Waco, TX: Baylor University Press, 2004), s. v. “Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability.”
 
2  “ECFA History,” Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability Website, http://www.ecfa.org/Content/GeneralBackground.aspx (accessed August 13, 2009).
 
3  Ibid.
 
4  “Seven Standards of Responsible Stewardship,” Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability Website, http://www.ecfa.org/Content/7Standards.aspx (accessed August 13, 2009).
 
5  “ECFA History.”
 
6  Ibid.
 
7  “Billy Graham Evangelistic Association,” Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability Website, http://www.ecfa.org/MemberProfile.aspx?ID=4764 (accessed August 13, 2009).
 
8  Brett Shipp, “Jet Flight Records Spur Copeland Ministry Questions,” WFAA-TV Website, February 28, 2007, http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/wfaa/bshipp/stories/wfaa070228_mo_churchjet.87be631.html (accessed August 13, 2009).
 
9  “Lawsuit Says Evangelist Stole Idea,” United Press International Website, June 26, 2009, http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/06/26/Lawsuit-says-evangelist-stole-idea/UPI-16631245990573/ (accessed August 13, 2009).