Overturning the Money Tables
Rusty Leonard may be the only evangelical figure loved by the secular press and scorned by his Christian peers. When MinistryWatch, the nonprofit he started, reported on financial problems at Joyce Meyer Ministries, The Wall Street Journal and the St. Louis Post Dispatch used Leonard's findings in their articles on the Bible teacher. The pressure eventually compelled Meyer to adjust her financial arrangements, though she has claimed that MinistryWatch had nothing to do with it.
When Senator Charles Grassley investigated six churches for possibly misspending donor money, the national press repeatedly quoted Leonard, who was elated that someone, finally, was standing up for donors' interests.
When he founded MinistryWatch, Leonard says, he expected the flak from leaders of the ministries his organization rates for financial accountability. "But I thought the donors would love it. Particularly I thought the larger donors would say, 'Where have you been all my life?'
"I did not get that reaction," Leonard says. "I got a stiff arm." A few groups of large donors were upset, Leonard says, because he didn't get permission to launch his ministry. "But it was good data, and therefore it was dangerous data." These large donors were also upset because MinistryWatch gave negative ratings to ministries that were popular among larger donors. They were embarrassed. "This data could make them look dumb," Leonard says. "It shows that something they've been giving money to doesn't look all that good."
But Leonard doesn't just want to change how evangelicals give. He also wants to change how evangelicals—including their ministries and organizations—invest. He started Stewardship Partners, a money management firm that now has more than ...
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Geof
As a field worker in Cambodia, I am equally distressed and frustrated at how large ministeries use their money and power in poor countries. There need to be more voices rising up and challenging mega ministeries to keep them honest and effective in all aspects of their ministeries. Just because God has blessed and grown a ministry does not mean that all of their decisions are right and that they are above reproach.
wesh
I am totally supportive of what Leonard is trying to do. I am what my fosterson discribes as "the Tax Guy" so I get an inside glimps of what many non profits do. While there are many wonderful organization out there, pride, power and financial self interest are cornerstones of too many "charitable' organizations. A couple months ago, the Wall Street Journal had a front page article on non profit hospitals. To say that it made me emotionally distraught is an understatement. Robes of charity adorn many demons of greed. It's not what we say, but what we do that defines what we really are.
suzanne
Mr. Leonard thank you for your invaluable work and God bless you for taking on a challenging arena. I was dissappointed that so may Christians were critical of Grassley's efforts to expose irresponsible ministries. I applaud you both. In my area a church's financial abuses with the family living in high style and funneling money to family members was front page news for several weeks. It broke my heart to know many non-believers would be influenced by this scandal which is a disgrace to the name of Christ. I was also shocked that the majority of the church members were in denial and continued to support the pastor. I have found it to be a stumbling block in witnessing to family members, they think Christians are no different, or even worse than the usual scoundrels that manipulate and take advantage of people. I will happily use the resources this article has provided. Thanks
L. Medlyn
It is a very informative and enlightening article. I have always wanted to invest in non-profits who are doing an excellent job of using the donations they receive. I use the service that rates charities but never thought about rating religious organizations, except for the heads of them who live in huge mansions, drive fancy cars, whose wives wear furs, etc. I also agree with the group that said to vote against the people who abuse their donations. I never dreamed as I am sure other people haven't that a religious organization would divert their hard-earned money to questionable uses. This is an eye-opener. Now if people would vote against laws, or lack of laws, which are "immoral but not illegal."
Gary Taylor
Attaboy, Rusty. I retired from the Navy, founded a ministry, and launched a couple of businesses. Ministries and non-profits rank second of the three for transparency, accountability, and receiving value for money spent. They should be first. Too bad you can't work on the third place folks; five years in the Pentagon convinces me you'd better work on the two and let voters try to work on tax buck values.