MinistryWatch Podcast

On today’s program, a former employee sues Liberty University, claiming she was given heavier work loads, less pay, and was passed over for promotions. In the end, she claims she was fired for being a whistleblower. We’ll have details. Plus, email scams are targeting churches…in some cases, scammers pose as pastors seeking donations. How can churches and members protect themselves? We take a look. Also, the Southern Baptist Convention launches a new abuse helpline. We’ll also have a remembrance of Dr. James Dobson, who died on Thursday. First, a lawsuit leveled against Grand Canyon Education has been dropped. The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. We get database and other technical support from Stephen DuBarry, Rod Pitzer, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today’s program include Kim Roberts, Tony Mator, Daniel Ritchie, Yonat Shimron, Isaac Wood, Jessica Eturralde, Laura Erlanson, and Aaron Earls. A special thanks to Lifeway Research and Baptist Press for contributing material for this week’s podcast.   MANUSCRIPT:   FIRST SEGMENT Warren: Hello everybody. I’m Warren Smith, coming to you from Charlotte, North Carolina. Christina: And I’m Christina Darnell, in for Natasha Cowden this week, and we’d like to welcome you to the MinistryWatch podcast. Warren: On today’s program, a former employee sues Liberty University, claiming she was given heavier work loads, less pay, and was passed over for promotions. In the end, she claims she was fired for being a whistleblower. We’ll have details. Plus, email scams are targeting churches…in some cases, scammers pose as pastors seeking donations. How can churches and members protect themselves? We take a look. And, the Southern Baptist Convention launches a new abuse helpline. We’ll also have a remembrance of Dr. James Dobson, who died on Thursday. Christina: But first, a lawsuit leveled against Grand Canyon Education has been dropped. Warren: The Federal Trade Commission first brought the lawsuit during the Biden Administration, claiming Grand Canyon Education—which is the for-profit marketing arm of Grand Canyon University—misled prospective students about how much it would cost to complete their doctoral programs. Christina: Also, in November, Grand Canyon secured another victory after the court found that the Education Department had used the wrong standard when it denied the university’s application for nonprofit status in 2019. All that led to last week, when the Federal Trade Commission formally dismissed their case. Warren: That’s right. In a statement, the F-T-C said the case presented “consumers very little upside relative to the cost of pursuing it to completion, especially given the developments chronicled above.” They said it would be “imprudent to continue expending Commission resources on a lost cause.” Christina: Grand Canyon Education praised the decision. Warren: They did. Grand Canyon University President Brian Mueller—who is also president of Grand Canyon Education—says the accusations against them have always been false. Christina: Still, Grand Canyon University isn’t out of the woods yet. A civil case brought by former doctoral students is still ongoing in federal court. Warren: In June 2024, Tanner Smith and Qimin Wang are two plaintiffs—both former students who claim they were lied to about the cost of the doctoral programs. They say they were both required to take continuation courses that added over $8,000 to the cost of their degree programs. Christina: Our next story takes us to Liberty University, who is facing a discrimination and wrongful termination lawsuit from a former employee. Warren: Erika Woolfolk, a black woman, worked as a civil rights investigator in Liberty’s Office of Equity and Compliance for Title IX. She is a graduate of the school and worked there from 2014 to 2024. She filed a lawsuit on August 12, claiming she was subjected to a hostile work environment where coworkers made racially charged comments. She says she was denied promotions and advancement opportunities in favor of less qualified white employees, assigned disproportionate workloads, and denied remote work privileges afforded to white colleagues. Christina: She also claims she was fired for cooperating with federal investigations. In August 2022, she cooperated with the Department of Education about Title IX violations at the school. That investigation resulted in a $14 million fine against Liberty. Then in February 2024, she filed a formal complaint with the Education Department about the school’s alleged discriminatory treatment against her. A few months later, she was terminated. Warren: Her lawsuit says the school’s reason for termination was about vague ‘compliance issues’ with no specific details for her to address or refute. Woolfolk was terminated on the same day as Peter Brake, another civil rights investigator who filed a lawsuit in February 2025 against the school and its leaders for discrimination and whistleblower retaliation. Christina: Liberty University disagreed with Woolfolk’s claims, saying her termination was not based on her race nor her interactions with the federal Department of Education. Warren: Woolfolk was fired for “legitimate business reasons related to Liberty’s continuing effort to provide excellent service in the Title IX investigation function,” according to the university’s statement. Christina: Next, a former youth pastor at an Assemblies of God church has been hit with criminal charges. His arrest comes as the denomination continues to grapple with its handling of sexual predators. Warren: The Baltimore County Police have arrested Thomas Pinkerton. He allegedly committed sex crimes against multiple teenagers while he was a youth leader at Central Christian Church in Baltimore, Maryland, between the years 2006 and 2010. Christina: Pinkerton has been charged with crimes against six teenagers between the ages of 13 and 19. Police suspect he abused his victims with inappropriate touching and kissing at the church and also at his home. They also believe there may be more victims. Warren: According to NBC News, the seven men came forward last fall with the allegations. Christina: This is happening as the Assemblies of God is still grappling with the fallout of a sex abuse scandal in its Chi Alpha college ministry. Warren: At the biennial meeting of the Assemblies of God governing body, leaders defended its actions even as it vowed to do a better job of stopping sexual predators. Christina: In Pinkerton’s case, the church noted that Pinkerton left the congregation more than 15 years ago to start his own ministry. Warren: Lead Pastor Larry Kirk called the allegations “deeply heartbreaking” and said the church is “committed to walking alongside these young men with compassion and support.” Pinkerton, who now lives in Georgia, and recently worked as a traveling evangelist. He claimed to be “completely shocked” by the charges. He is currently being held without bond. Christina: Let’s cover one more story before the break—another youth pastor arrested and charged with sex crimes…plus, lessons for parents and church leadership in protecting children online. Warren: A Virginia youth pastor has been arrested and accused of solicitation of sexual materials from minors. Jacob Ryan Barnett, 34, was arrested by FBI agents in North Carolina. He is accused of grooming minors by contacting them through social media platforms like TikTok, Snapchat and Discord. He allegedly used a fake identity —under the name “Jodie Johnson” — in conversations with a 15 year-old girl in Michigan. The youth pastor sent her nude pictures of himself while convincing her to do the same. Christina: The investigation started after the girl’s mother checked her daughter’s phone, and found the messages and contacted the FBI. The FBI was able to trace the communication back to Barnett. Warren: FBI agents found that Barnett was following thousands of underage girls on TikTok. Their investigation also uncovered that Barnett was using other social media platforms like Snapchat and Discord to solicit sexually explicit material from other children while he continued to pose as a teenage boy. Christina: And this is where we have a warning for parents. Warren: Right. The Department of Justice is encouraging parents to monitor the online activity of their children. Talk to them about the dangers out there and let them know how to report people who try to exploit them. Christina: We also talked to Dr. Kathy Koch, who is the founder and president of Celebrate Kids. Warren: We did. She is also encouraging parents to step into their kids’ social media worlds. She says it’s not intruding, it’s investing. She said: “Curiosity communicates love. Asking about a post or a friend online isn’t about control, it’s about connection.” Scroll through their feeds, ask about the memes and DMs. She says we’re not just protecting them from danger, we’re reinforcing the foundation of trust. Christina: What about churches? What measures can they take to prevent this sort of sin within their own ranks? Warren: Jeff Dalrymple, director of Abuse Prevention & Response for the Southern Baptist Convention, says it is a good idea for churches to provide internet and social media safeguards and accountability for church staff and ministry leaders—things like filters on church Wi-Fi that blocks inappropriate sites. If convicted, Barnett faces a minimum of 10 years in prison with the possibility of life in prison. Christina: Warren, let’s take a quick break. When we return, an online scammer posing as a North Carolina pastor, asks for donations in the form of gift cards. Cases like this are on the rise. I’m Christina Darnell, along with my co-host Warren Smith, and we’ll have that story and much more, after this short break.   BREAK   SECOND SEGMENT Christina: Welcome back.  I’m Christina Darnell, along with my co-host Warren Smith, and you’re listening to the MinistryWatch podcast. Next, the story we promised before the break. Warren: On Aug. 13, the rector of the 160-plus member Good Shepherd Anglican Church near Charlotte, N.C., sent an urgent warning to parishioners about an email claiming to be from him. The email requested donations in the form of gift cards — a known tactic used for phishing scams in which criminals deceive victims into revealing sensitive information. “Please know that neither I nor anyone from our church will ever request funds via a gift card or any unconventional methods,” said Rev. David Libbon, noting how the sender’s email address differed slightly from his own. Christina: There was another case, also just last week, in Georgia, where people from multiple churches received an email from someone posing as their pastor, asking for “responses to a request I need you to handle discreetly. And these incidents are far from isolated. Warren: Churches and nonprofits both large and small increasingly find themselves in the cross-hairs of email scammers. According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Report, cyber crimes have steadily risen over the last five years, while financial losses from such crimes have skyrocketed. The FBI reported that in 2024, the most commonly reported cyber crime was phishing/spoofing. The financial impact of these scams has also risen dramatically. In 2023, victims lost $18.7 million. In 2024, that number jumped to $70 million. Phishing losses were even higher in 2022, at $160 million. Christina: Experts say that as organizations have implemented more sophisticated cybersecurity defenses, criminals have resorted to phishing as a workaround. In many cases, those scams target churches. According to IT expert Marcelo Barros, reports show a 58 percent increase in global phishing attacks from 2022 to 2023. Warren: Cybersecurity analyst Dami Olusanya said nearly 43% of North American cyberattacks target ministries and nonprofits…and she warns that it is a mistake for churches to assume they are too small or don’t have the type of data to interest criminals. To the contrary, churches’ lax cybersecurity defenses can make them an attractive target for phishing, malware and ransomware attacks. Christina: The problem, according to Church Tech Today, is that “churches operate in high-trust, low-tech environments.” Email addresses are publicly listed, volunteers handle tech or admin work, and members tend to trust messages purportedly sent by leadership. Warren: But churches can protect themselves. They can provide training, so they won’t be duped by phishing emails or suspicious links. Robust firewalls and filters can stop phishing emails from reaching intended victims in the first place, and a guest Wi-Fi network can meet the needs of visitors without compromising sensitive data. You can find more on this story, including some best practices, by going to our website. Christina: Our next story involves a small North Carolina church that has found a good use for its under-utilized facility. Warren: Four years ago, the Rev. Matt Conner presented his congregation with a stark reality: Newell Presbyterian Church had about 18 months of financial solvency ahead. The time had come to seriously consider its future. Chartered in 1890 in what was then a sleepy part of northeast Charlotte dotted with dairy farms and tobacco fields, the church grew, and then started a slow decline. These days about 50 people attend Sunday morning services and the church has an annual budget of $190,000. Christina: But Newell Presbyterian has one asset increasingly in demand in the now bustling neighborhood of subdivisions and apartment complexes: land. Warren: The church sits on 9.5 acres, accumulated plot by plot by devoted church members who had long since passed on. The church recently voted to sell a 4.5-acre parcel to a nonprofit developer for the construction of 50 affordable townhomes right next to its sanctuary. Christina: As many as 400 houses of worship (mostly churches but also synagogues and mosques) have repurposed their property for affordable housing over the past decade, said Nadia Mian, a researcher at Rutgers University’s Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy who is cataloging those projects. Warren: Newell Presbyterian’s Matt Conner says that even though his church is not growing numerically, it has grown in faith and commitment, and its members speak of a renewed sense of purpose and mission, and a sacred responsibility to neighbor and place. Christina: How did Newell Presbyterian make this happen? Warren: The church turned to DreamKey Partners, a nonprofit real estate development company that has worked with a handful of other churches in the Charlotte area. Christina: One of those is Caldwell Presbyterian Church, just a few miles away. Warren: Eight miles away from the Newell church, another Presbyterian congregation has also committed itself to affordable housing. Caldwell Presbyterian has converted a 14,000-square-foot building that once housed Sunday school classrooms into 21 studio apartments for people coming out of chronic homelessness. After it opens in October, the church will turn the building over to a local nonprofit that will oversee day-to-day operations. Christina: Our next story involves an Atlanta church that is seeking answers after authorities removed 12 foster youth from its basement in the middle of the night. Warren: Now Faith Apostolic Ministries in Clayton County, Georgia, is demanding an explanation from county officials after the fire marshal ordered 12 youth temporarily living in the church basement to leave in the middle of the night due to code violations—despite having nowhere else to go. Christina: On the night of July 29, Clayton County Fire and Emergency Services arrived at the church following a reported incident. Warren: Upon their arrival, the crew discovered that a dozen 15- to 19-year-olds were living in the building, as the church’s basement had been converted into living quarters for the minors without approval or proper safety measures. Fire Marshal personnel then conducted an inspection and issued five citations to the church for issues involving fire safety systems, exit requirements, and “general requirements for board and care.” Because the church was not properly zoned to house the youths, authorities called DFACS to help relocate the teens. Christina: But the church is pushing back, asserting they had authorization to temporarily house the teens after flooding forced the closure of their regular state-approved facility. Warren: Now Faith issued a formal statement calling the news circulating that the foster children were living in the basement “misleading.” The church says it relocated the youth to its basement after unexpected flooding damaged their permanent licensed treatment facility, noting that the site has operated as a state-approved emergency placement location for the past seven years. According to the church, the relocation followed all state protocols, and the teens were under continuous supervision by a professional, 24/7 treatment and monitoring team. The Georgia Division of Family & Children Services also approved the move and, according to the church, expressed no concerns about the safety or legality of the arrangement. Leaders say the children’s well-being remained the top priority throughout the process. Christina: The statement also suggests there may have been another motive behind the teens’ removal, and that is political retaliation. Warren: Senior Pastor C.H. Braddy has publicly criticized Clayton County officials, including raising concerns about governance and the campaign practices of Chairwoman Alieka Anderson-Henry. Braddy alleged that Fire Chief Tim Sweat and Chairwoman Dr. Alieka Anderson-Henry had previously campaigned at Now Faith Apostolic Ministries while the church was housing children and were aware of the church’s mission to assist the Department of Human Services. But he says his church became a target when he rejected alleged kickbacks from county officials. The church owners could pay up to $1,000 per violation. The  Clayton County Code Enforcement Board will review the citations on September 9. Christina: Warren, we’re going to take another break. When we return, our lightning round of ministry news of the week. I’m Christina Darnell, with my co-host Warren Smith. More in a moment.   BREAK   THIRD SEGMENT Christina: Welcome back.  I’m Christina Darnell, with my co-host Warren Smith and you’re listening to the MinistryWatch Podcast. Warren, we like to use this last segment as a sort of lightning round of shorter news briefs. So why; don’t you start us off? Warren: The Southern Baptist Convention’s Office for Abuse Prevention and Response has launched a revamped helpline for those needing assistance with matters related to sexual abuse. The initiative, a partnership with the Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention (ECAP), is designed to deliver “Gospel-focused” support for survivors, ministry leaders and others needing advice on preventing sexual abuse or responding to abuse allegations. The helpline can be accessed at 833-611-HELP or by visiting https://sbcabuseprevention.com/helpline. Christina: Next, school is back in session for many students around the country. And if it’s not yet, it will be soon. This week, in the Ministries Making a Difference column, we look at churches and ministries collaborating to give students a strong start to the new school year. Warren: New Horizons of Southwest Florida is celebrating a successful summer of pouring into under-resourced students in southwest Florida through its two primary summer camp programs. Christina: Its Super Kids Reading Camp focused on literacy and creativity for younger students, which included an art camp and fishing workshop. Its Super Teens Leadership Camp engaged older students in team building, mentorship, and community service projects, such as volunteering at a humane society and nonprofit cafe that feeds people in need. Students also received breakfast and lunch, new shoes, and school supplies. Warren: New Horizons of Southwest Florida has an A transparency grade in the MinistryWatch database, and a high donor confidence score of 95. Christina: Another highly rated ministry we’re following is Mission Arlington, in Texas, That group hosted a dental clinic where volunteer dentists treated 37 teenagers in anticipation of the new school year. They also prepared packs of school supplies to be distributed to students in the Arlington Independent School System. Warren: Mission Arlington has 5 stars and an A transparency grade in the MinistryWatch database, and a donor confidence score of 92. Christina: You can read about more ministries in our “back to school” edition of Ministries Making a Difference by going to MinistryWatch.com Warren: And, before we go, I did want to mention a leadership change at Northwest University (NU), a Christian college in Washington state. Northwest has named a new president ahead of the 2025-2026 school year. Jeremy Johnson will take the reins this week, starting August 18, 2025, in the wake of Joseph Castleberry’s retirement from the position. Johnson, an NU alum, has worked as senior pastor of North Point Church for 13 years, and in 2017 helped launch the Springfield Dream Center where he also worked as an executive leader. Christina: Finally, Warren, just as we were getting ready to record this week’s program, we got news of the death of Dr. James Dobson. Warren: Ad-lib Dr. Dobson’s life and career. Christina: Warren, any final thoughts before we go? Warren:  Warren ad-lib Dr. Dobson Warren Ad-Lib AUGUST Donor Premium. Like, share on podcast app and social media. Webinar yesterday. Christina: The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. We get database and other technical support from Stephen DuBarry, Rod Pitzer, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today’s program include Kim Roberts, Tony Mator, Daniel Ritchie, Yonat Shimron, Isaac Wood, Jessica Eturralde, Laura Erlanson, and Aaron Earls. A special thanks to Lifeway Research and Baptist Press for contributing material for this week’s podcast. I’m Christina Darnell, in for Natasha Cowden, coming to you from Mooresville, North Carolina. Warren: And I’m Warren Smith, also in Charlotte, North Carolina. Christina: You’ve been listening to the MinistryWatch podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.

When the Soviet Union collapsed, Frances Fukuyama famously declared that we had reached the “end of history.” He meant that the big arguments, the major ideological struggles, were now all in the past, and that liberal democracy would prevail from then on. The rest would be just cordial arguments about policy. That peaceful kingdom has obviously not come to pass. Some might argue that Fukuyama’s core thesis is still true. Liberal democracy lacks a coherent, universal rival. No alternative ideology has matched its global appeal or institutional resilience. Even authoritarian regimes adopt democratic trappings (e.g., elections in Russia) to gain legitimacy, implicitly acknowledging liberal democracy’s normative power. That said, Fukuyama clearly underestimated internal challenges within democracies—polarization, disinformation, and inequality—evident in events like the U.S. Capitol riot or Brexit. These weaken the system’s appeal and stability. While history may not have “ended,” liberal democracy remains a dominant, yet contested, paradigm. Its triumph is neither inevitable nor complete, as cultural, economic, and political forces continue to shape ideological battles globally. These are some of the issues that Hunter Baker looks at in his new book Postliberal Protestants: Baptists Between Obergefell and Christian Nationalism. And, if you’re not Baptist, don’t be turned off by the sub-title. Baker argues – I think convincingly – that the Southern Baptist Convention, the largest protestant denomination in the country, is in some ways a proxy for all of evangelicalism. I think he’s mostly right, and that’s why I think his book should be read not just by Baptists, but by all Christian leaders who want to have a role in shaping important public conversations in the 2020s and beyond. Also, Hunter Baker’s argument for religious liberty – a cause long championed by Southern Baptists – is one that I think bears particular attention in this era in which we’ve seen a resurgence of religious intolerance both in the United States and around the world. Hunter Baker has both a law degree and a Ph.D., and he’s the provost and dean of faculty at North Greenville University, in South Carolina. He is the author of four books, and you may have seen his byline at WORLD Magazine, where he is a frequent contributor to WORLD Opinions. In a spirit of full disclosure, I should also say that Hunter is a friend, someone I turn to regularly for counsel and fellowship. The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. Until next time, may God bless you.

On today’s EXTRA Episode, Warren Smith discusses new research from Ryan Burge on “exvangelicals.” Burge’s conclusion: The movement is “way overblown.” To read a transcript of today’s episode, click here. The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. Until next time, may God bless you.

On today’s program, World Vision prevails in court after it was sued for discrimination. The ruling protects the ministry’s right to hire based on its religious beliefs. We’ll have details. And, a seminary professor accused of sexual misconduct resigned from Concordia Seminary, and is now hired by an independent seminary…raising questions about what background and reference checks seminaries conduct in its hiring process. Plus, a new study shows that Americans’ trust in the church is rebounding—slightly—after dropping to an all-time low in recent years. We’ll take a look. But first, a pro-life clinic in Colorado has been cleared by the court to continue offering abortion pill reversal treatments. The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. We get database and other technical support from Stephen DuBarry, Rod Pitzer, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today’s program include Kim Roberts, Daniel Ritchie, Makella Knowles, Christin Fejervary, Aaron Earls—and you, Warren. A special thanks to Lifeway Research and The NonProfit Times for contributing material for this week’s podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.   MANUSCRIPT:    FIRST SEGMENT Warren: Hello everybody. I’m Warren Smith, coming to you from Charlotte, North Carolina. Christina: And I’m Christina Darnell, in for Natasha Cowden this week, and we’d like to welcome you to the MinistryWatch podcast. Warren: On today’s program, World Vision prevails in court after it was sued for discrimination. The ruling protects the ministry’s right to hire based on its religious beliefs. We’ll have details. And, a seminary professor accused of sexual misconduct resigned from Concordia Seminary, and is now hired by an independent seminary…raising questions about what background and reference checks seminaries conduct in its hiring process. Plus, a new study shows that Americans’ trust in the church is rebounding—slightly—after dropping to an all-time low in recent years. We’ll take a look. Christina: But first, a pro-life clinic in Colorado has been cleared by the court to continue offering abortion pill reversal treatments. Warren: Two years ago, Colorado enacted a law making it illegal for doctors and nurses to help women who had changed their mind after taking chemical abortion pills. The law threatened professional discipline for practitioners who use progesterone to reverse the abortion attempt and try to save the baby’s life. Christina: A Catholic pro-life clinic called Bella Health and Wellness challenged the law in federal court. Warren: That’s right. In October 2023, Bella Health won a temporary injunction blocking the law from applying to them—but earlier this month, the court made it permanent. Christina: Becket Fund Senior Counsel Rebekah Ricketts told MinistryWatch that during the course of the legal proceedings—so, the last two years or so—16 babies’ lives have been saved. Warren: She also said this case is the first court decision in the country to recognize the religious protection for doctors and nurses administering progesterone for abortion pill reversal. Christina: You said the court blocked the bill for Bella Health specifically…will this not apply to other pro-life groups? Warren: That’s a good question. The injunction is technically limited to Bella Health and Wellness because of a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision limiting injunctions…but Ricketts told us that, practically, it would still apply to any religiously-motivated practitioners in Colorado who want to administer progesterone for abortion pill reversal, Ricketts said. Ricketts also hopes the judge’s reasoning and decision will guide other courts around the country who might encounter the same issue. Cases involving abortion pill reversal are currently pending in California and New York. Christina: In our next story, another ministry prevails in court. Warren: World Vision won a discrimination lawsuit by a decision of the U. S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Because of World Vision’s religious mission, it is not subject to discrimination claims by employees who are performing tasks “key religious functions” central to that mission. Christina: What’s the back story for this one? Warren: Aubry McMahon applied for and was extended an offer to serve as a remote customer service representative for World Vision in 2021. After World Vision learned a few days later that McMahon was in a same-sex marriage, it revoked the offer. Christina: McMahon sued, alleging that World Vision had discriminated against her marital status, sex and sexual orientation. Warren: Yes, it has. The district court initially ruled in World Vision’s favor, finding that the doctrine of church autonomy essentially made “World Vision’s religiously motivated personnel decision” none of the court’s business. But the lower court reversed its ruling in 2023 after McMahon appealed. It determined it could use “neutral principles of law” to decide the case and not entangle itself in religion. Christina: But World Vision argued that customer service representatives play a significant role in the ministry’s voice, saying they perform key religious functions—things like communicating World Vision’s worldwide ministries and projects to donors, praying with them, and inviting them to join the ministry’s religious mission. The higher court agreed and reversed the lower court’s decision. Warren: The court ruled that because of these “vital religious duties,” the ministerial exception applies to hiring customer service representatives and bars McMahon’s discrimination claims. Christina: World Vision wasn’t the only Christian ministry interested in the outcome of this case. Warren: No, they weren’t. First Liberty, a nonprofit public interest law firm that defends religious liberty, filed a “friend of the court” brief on behalf of Samaritan’s Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association in the case. They were pleased with the decision. Liberty Counsel is another one. They hope the decision might have implications for their case involving Liberty University and Jonathan Zinski, a biological male, who informed the university after his 90-day probation period expired that he wanted to “transition” to “identify as female” and change his name to “Ellenor.” He was terminated for open violation of Liberty’s doctrinal statement regarding human sexuality and is now alleging “sex discrimination.” Christina: Warren, let’s look at one more story before the break. An Oklahoma pastor has been fired from his church and removed from the board of a Christian school after being arrested on multiple ‘peeping Tom’ charges. Warren: Kendrick Oakley was arrested August 6 and charged with 11 “Peeping Tom” offenses. He is accused of trying to take photos of a woman at a Hobby Lobby store in July 2024. Christina: How was he caught? Warren: A loss prevention officer reportedly noticed Oakley via the store’s security cameras trying to film up the woman’s skirt. The officer followed Oakley to his car and wrote down his license plate number. The officer then notified the woman and helped her file a police report online. Christina: So this happened over a year ago…why the delay in arresting him? Warren: In a statement, Tulsa law enforcement blamed a jurisdiction issue for the long delay. They said Oakley claimed he was Indian. According to something called McGirt case law, that prevents the state from being able to prosecute him. But in the end, officials said Oakley was afforded due process and they decided McGirt was not applicable to his case…he did not meet the criteria for Cherokee citizenship. Christina: Oakley served on staff at DestinyLife Church for three years and was recently elected to the board of Claremont Christian School, both located in Claremont. Warren: The school and church released a joint statement after Oakley was arrested. They said their church gathered to process the news, and they immediately removed him from the school board and from the church staff and eldership. Christina: Warren, let’s take a quick break. When we return, a seminary professor accused of secular misconduct resigns from one seminary only to pop up at another…raising the question of how seriously seminaries take background and reference checks in their hiring process. I’m Christina Darnell, along with my co-host Warren Smith, and we’ll have that story and much more, after this short break.   BREAK   SECOND SEGMENT Christina: Welcome back.  I’m Christina Darnell, along with my co-host Warren Smith, and you’re listening to the MinistryWatch podcast. Next, the story we promised before the break. Warren: This story is a bit different for us. It involves an alleged affair between two former employees at Concordia Seminary, a Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod seminary in St. Louis. It’s not the sort of story we would normally cover, but this case brings into the open some interesting – and sometimes troubling – questions about church discipline, and seminaries screen their faculty. Christina: So what’s the story? Warren: It involves Jill Wilson and Erik Herrmann. They were both Concordia Seminary employees. Hermann was a professor there. She worked for him in a coordinating position at Concordia Seminary where he was the Dean of Theological Research and Publication. Both were married. Concordia Seminary trains ministers for the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod (LCMS). After just a few weeks on the job, Wilson decided to leave Concordia to pursue another position. The affair ended in April 2023. Christina: Well, that behavior is certainly troubling, but I’m still not sure why this is a story for MinistryWatch? Warren: On May 18, 2023, Wilson took the first step in trying to get Herrmann to face some accountability for his actions. She contacted Lee Hagan, president of the LCMS Missouri District, to report Herrmann’s alleged sexual misconduct. Less than a month later, Hagan informed Wilson by email that Herrmann had resigned from the LCMS clergy roster and from the faculty of Concordia Seminary. He also wrote, “I pray that you and your husband are receiving the pastoral care and support that you need.” He did not mention if the school would conduct an investigation or if they would enact any disciplinary action or restorative process. Hagan declined to comment about the situation when contacted by MinistryWatch. Egger did not reply to our multiple inquiries. Christina: OK, so this story is not really about the affair itself, but how Concordia, and – by association – the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod handled the affair. Warren: That’s right. And not just them. Now Herrmann is a member of the faculty at the Christ School of Theology with the Institute of Lutheran Theology (ILT). He has been appointed as a Distinguished Professor and Research Fellow (DPRF) in historical theology. ILT is an online institution accredited by the Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE), and its Christ School of Theology is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools (ATS). It is an independent institution not funded by any denomination. Christina: So this story is really about how easily individuals can move between positions of spiritual influence without oversight. Warren: That’s right. Wilson has now gone public with her concerns, maintaining a blog related to spiritual abuse and other matters. She wrote: “Institutions and endorsers must ask themselves: What processes failed? And how can they be strengthened to ensure this does not happen again?” Christina: Those are good questions. Warren: ABHE Standard 4 related to faculty requires that the institution be characterized by “[c]ommitted Christian faculty members who engage in the academic, spiritual, and vocational development of students.” However, there doesn’t appear to be any specific background or reference checks for faculty. ABHE did not respond to a request for more information before the time of publication. Barbara Mutch is ATS senior director of accreditation. She wrote in reply to MinistryWatch’s inquiry, “The ATS Standards of Accreditation do not explicitly require background or reference checks for faculty. However, they do require schools to ensure that faculty are qualified and that hiring practices are fair and ethical.” “To meet these standards, schools must have clear, reliable procedures for verifying credentials and assessing faculty suitability,” Mutch said. “Depending on the institution’s context and policies, this may include background or reference checks. However, schools may also fulfill these expectations through other rigorous and appropriate means.” Christina: So what do other schools do? Warren: In comparison, Talbot School of Theology at Biola University in California conducts background and reference checks for its faculty as an “essential” part of its hiring process, Talbot President Ed Stetzer told MinistryWatch. He said Talbot conducts a thorough and detailed interview process in which candidates must articulate their views through responses to questions and sit for multiple interviews. “If you don’t hire well, you don’t maintain your identity and your focus. If you don’t screen well, you [don’t] protect your students well. I’ve never regretted a thorough hiring process,” Stetzer said. Christina: Our next story involves financial fraud in an Indiana church – and what all churches can learn from it. Warren: Heartland Community Church in Lafayette, Indiana, filed a police report last year after receiving an alert from their bank about account discrepancies. On Aug. 20, 2024, the Tippecanoe County Sheriff’s Department began investigating, revealing over $100,000 had been embezzled from church accounts since December 2021. Now, Julia Wonnacott, 36, is accused of stealing hundreds of thousands from her local church for personal use. That personal use included designer bag purchases to a surgery in Mexico. Christina: According to a probable cause affidavit, Wonnacott confessed to fellow church employees she had been misusing her position to siphon church funds. When she began working for HCC in February 2020 as an administrative assistant, she was given access to all church bank accounts. Warren: That’s right, and that’s one of the lessons that other churches can learn from this situation. It’s better if no one person has access to all the accounts and of a non profit organization. And for any expenditures over a pre-set amount, the organization should require two signatures. Christina: That’s good advice, but how do you protect against someone who is just trying to commit fraud. Warren: That’s a good question, and in this case, it’s not clear that simply dividing duties would have completely solved the problem, because she is accused of forging the signatures of other church officials. Christina: And she piled up huge purchases. Warren: She reportedly transferred hundreds of thousands of dollars in church funds into her personal PayPal account until every account was empty or overdrawn. She made multiple purchases on PayPal, Walmart, Target, and Amazon, all from her work computer. Wonnacott misappropriated $2,800 as earnest money for her home and $13,000 for the down payment. Authorities estimate the losses to be well over the initial speculation, now assumed to be about $250,000 in 2023 and up to $200,000 in 2022. Christina: These are huge amounts of money, and it appears that she was pretty obvious and brazen in her behavior. Warren: That’s right, and that’s another tip for other churches. These transactions would likely have been uncovered in an annual audit, or any sort of regular oversight of the financial records. The alleged wrongdoing took place over multiple years, so an annual audit would certainly have raised red flags. Finally, if you are a church, you should have someone who is NOT the bookkeeper review the monthly financial statements and bank accounts. Perhaps an elder with a banking and accounting background. And change that person every year or two. A cursory review won’t catch much, but it will tell you how much money is in the bank account, and just knowing the monthly bank balance can be an indicator of the overall financial health of the church. Christina: So what’s going to happen to Wonnacott herself? Warren: Wonnacott now faces 17 felony charges—namely fraud, corrupt business influence, and counterfeiting. The investigation is ongoing. Her trial is set for December 1. Christina: Our next story is one we’ve been following for a while. That’s the so-called Great Generational Wealth Transfer. Warren: Millennial Christians and their generational peers are in the process of becoming stewards of the largest amount of wealth that has ever passed from one generation to the next. Roughly $124 trillion will shift from the current generation to the next as the Great Wealth Transfer transpires. Christina: That means the next generation is poised to become power players on the global philanthropic scene. Warren: New research from National Christian Foundation (NCF) suggests there are some important differences between the Christian philanthropic culture of today and the Christian philanthropy that might form as the Great Wealth Transfer continues. In fact, the next generation of givers have already begun changing the landscape. NCF interviewed 360 Millennial Christians (ages 28-45). Of these, 159 had a high net worth of at least $1 million in investible assets. Christina: What were some of the findings? Warren: Only 60% of this younger cohort feel called to give in the same way as their parents. This shift will have striking implications for philanthropy as the next generation’s priorities will set the tone for stewardship and giving for the coming decades. Also, the next generation of stewards wants to make more than a financial contribution. The next generation tends to prioritize communities, rather than institutions. Only half of next-generation stewards responded they felt strongly aligned with the church as an institution, in contrast to the 74% of current-generation stewards who feel that way. Christina: Anything else? Warren: Additionally, more than one-third of next-gen stewards who have not created wealth but stand to inherit it reported feeling “uninformed.” This demographic reported feeling more burdened and overwhelmed by the prospect of wealth management than those who had contributed to wealth creation. The research also found that agency was a key factor in determining whether a steward’s view on wealth was broadly negative or positive, though the responses were almost always complex. Those in the next generation who already had experience creating, giving and utilizing wealth reported more confidence, peace, gratitude, and joy than those who had not yet been involved. Christina: Warren, we’re going to take another break. When we return, our lightning round of ministry news of the week. I’m Christina Darnell, with my co-host Warren Smith. More in a moment.   BREAK   THIRD SEGMENT Christina: Welcome back.  I’m Christina Darnell, with my co-host Warren Smith and you’re listening to the MinistryWatch Podcast. Warren, we like to use this last segment as a sort of lightning round of shorter news briefs. What’s up first? Warren: While most Americans remain distrustful of the church, a growing number say they have confidence in the institution. Currently, 36% say they trust the church, according to Gallup’s annual tracking poll. For the past three years, the percentage of U.S. adults who said they had a great deal or quite a lot of confidence in the church or organized religion has hovered near record lows. In 2022, trust fell to 31% of Americans and has been at 32% the previous two years. For the first time since 2020, however, the church has experienced a significant jump in trust. In 2025, 36% say they have a great deal or quite a lot of confidence in the church as an institution. The church was last that high in 2021 (37%). Christina: We’ve released the latest MinistryWatch Index. It was flat throughout July, remaining unchanged from the month before. Warren: The MinistryWatch Index is based on the revenue of 38 large Christian ministries, ministries that represent all of the 21 ministry segments tracked by MinistryWatch. This month’s lackluster performance adds another month to a now record eight months of flat performance by the Index. The no growth and negative growth of the MinistryWatch Index over the past eight months could suggest concern about the future of the economy. Christina: A recent survey conducted by MinistryWatch of ministry executives found that fundraising has now replaced finding and recruiting staff as their top leadership concern. Warren: This concern seems well-founded. A recent survey found that giving by evangelicals is down. Christina: Other studies, especially those by Giving USA, suggest that philanthropic giving correlates closely to the rise and fall in value of the major stock markets. Warren: Note that this relationship is correlative and not causative. That theory is being tested this year. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is up about 3.5 percent for the year. The tech-heavy NASDAQ has been volatile. It was flat for the first five months of the year, though at one point in April is was down about 19 percent. A recent rally has year-to-date performance up about 10.2 percent. Christina: MinistryWatch, in collaboration with the Trinity Foundation, each month publishes a list of the private planes belonging to pastors and Christian ministries. The list also includes basic information about their usage by pastors and ministries. Warren: This month’s list is below. Here are a few highlights: The Trinity Foundation currently tracks 61 planes owned by more than 40 ministries. Last month, Samaritan’s Purse sold one of its Gulfstream G550 jets. During July, these planes made a total of 307 flights. That was down significantly from the 383 flights in June and 375 in May. Operating costs were approximately $1.43 million for the month, down from $1.68 million in June and $1.82 million in May. These costs do not include the cost of the plane itself. The three biggest users of private aircraft remain the same as last month, though in a different order. Samaritan’s purse came in first ($209,306), followed by Assemblies of God ($177,860). Liberty University was in a close third with $177,600, although that was a sharp decline from the prior month when Liberty University’s private aircraft usage cost was $264,900. If you find this information interesting or helpful, you might want to follow The Trinity Foundation’s daily X feed. You can find that account, @PastorPlanes, here.) But we think that for most people this monthly list will be more digestible and easier to read. Christina: Warren, any final thoughts before we go? Warren: Warren Ad-Lib AUGUST Donor Premium. Like, share on podcast app and social media. Webinar yesterday. Christina: The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. We get database and other technical support from Stephen DuBarry, Rod Pitzer, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today’s program include Kim Roberts, Daniel Ritchie, Makella Knowles, Christin Fejervary, Aaron Earls—and you, Warren. A special thanks to Lifeway Research and The NonProfit Times for contributing material for this week’s podcast. I’m Christina Darnell, in for Natasha Cowden, coming to you from Mooresville, North Carolina. Warren: And I’m Warren Smith, also in Charlotte, North Carolina. Christina: You’ve been listening to the MinistryWatch podcast.  Until next time, may God bless you.

Here at MinistryWatch we measure a lot of things. We measure financial efficiency. Simply explained, that’s the amount of money that goes to ministry vs. the amount of money. We grade ministries based on their transparency. Our Donor Confidence Score takes into account more than a dozen factors before providing an overall score designed to help you decide whether to give to a ministry or not. One of the most vexing problems we face in the work we do is the problem of measuring ministry effectiveness. We can measure how much money goes to an evangelistic effort, but how do you really measure true conversions. You can count decision cards, or hands raised, or baptisms, but how do you measure love, joy, and peace? If you give money to a child sponsorship program, you get a photo of the little boy or girl, but do you really know what happened to him or her? At age 20 or 25 or 30, is that little girl you prayed for and donated money for…is she OK? Is she following Jesus? Most ministries, even very good ones, struggle with these sorts of measurements. My guest today, Nathan Mayo, doesn’t have all the answers, but Nathan and the group he helps lead, True Charity, has been asking these tough questions for years, and he has some interesting things to say on the subject. If you’ve been around MinistryWatch for a while, you know that I’m a big fan of True Charity. It’s founder James Whitford, has been a guest on the program, and we’ve quoted him and others from True Charity in many of our stories. That’s why I’m excited to have Nathan Mayo on the program today. Nathan earned his Bachelor of Science in Economics from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Upon completion of his military service as a Captain, Nathan and his wife, Abigail, spent two years in Haiti building up a network of Haitian-run churches and schools before moving to Missouri to join True Charity in 2020. Nathan is inspired by solving challenging problems with data and translating the insights of experts into applications for practitioners. Here’s the giving guide I mentioned in the program: https://www.truecharity.us/giving-guide/ The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. Until next time, may God bless you.

The producers of the new season of “Shiny Happy People” have taken a page out of the Geraldo Rivera School of Journalism. To read a transcript of today’s podcast, click here. The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. Until next time, may God bless you.

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. 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. 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. The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. We get database and other technical support from Stephen DuBarry, Rod Pitzer, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today’s program include Kim Roberts, Kathryn Post, Daniel Ritchie, Bob Smietana, Katie Ruth Bowes, and Isaac Wood. A special thanks to the Biblical Recorder and The NonProfit Times for contributing material for this week’s podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.   MANUSCRIPT:    FIRST SEGMENT Warren: Hello everybody. I’m Warren Smith, coming to you from Charlotte, North Carolina. Christina: And I’m Christina Darnell, in for Natasha Cowden this week, and we’d like to welcome you to the MinistryWatch podcast. Warren: 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. Christina: 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. Warren: The attorney is Tyrone Blackburn, and he was defending Duane Youngblood in a defamation lawsuit filed by TD Jakes. Blackburn has been sanctioned by a federal court because he presented documents that contained material fabricated by artificial intelligence. U.S. District Court Judge William Stickman ordered Blackburn to pay over $76-thousand in fees to cover expenses Jakes had to pay to defend himself against the “AI-generated hallucinations and other misrepresentations in Defendant’s motion to dismiss briefing.” Christina: Last year, Duane Youngblood accused Jakes of attempted sexual assault. Jakes has maintained his innocence and filed a defamation lawsuit against Youngblood in November 2024. Jakes noted that Youngblood is on parole after felony convictions for sexual assault and corruption of minors. Warren: According to a statement provided to Dallas Morning News, Blackburn said he purchased an A-I program because he doesn’t employ paralegals and most of his current clients are pro bono. The A-I program generated its own legal prompts and motions, and contained false quotes and case law. Before he could fix the A-I generated errors, Youngblood asked him to leave the case. Christina: But the judge essentially told him that wasn’t an excuse—that he was fully responsible for the accuracy of his legal briefs, regardless of who—or what—contributed to it. It was Blackburn’s signature on the document. Warren: Right. Jakes’ attorney said he spent a lot of time—and therefore Jakes spent a lot of money—responding to the A-I generated misrepresentations. In November, Jakes, who founded The Potter’s House megachurch in Dallas, suffered a massive heart attack while he was preaching. Then in April, he stepped aside from his role as the lead pastor and handed the reins to his daughter and son-in-law, Sarah Jakes Roberts and Touré Roberts. Christina: Next, an update on the Anglican Church in North America trial of Bishop Stewart Ruch. Warren: Three weeks after the A-C-N-A trial of Bishop Stewart Ruch began, another prosecutor has been appointed—this marks the third person named to this role after the first two resigned. Christina: Who is this new prosecutor? Warren: His name is Thomas Crapps, and he’s a Florida-based lawyer with over 30 years of legal experience. In an announcement, he said “Bringing justice to victims is my sole interest in this case. I want to be crystal clear: if they have been sidelined in any proceedings to date, I am committed to faithfully representing their interests going forward.” Christina: Ruch is on trial because he has been accused of failing to prioritize the needs of alleged abuse survivors…and of knowingly welcoming individuals with predatory behavior into churches in his diocese without alerting church members. Warren: The church trial, which has been rocked by controversy since it began, will determine whether Ruch neglected his duties as bishop and violated church bylaws. The denomination has issued a statement voicing confidence in the court’s ability to carry out this trial, which is set to reconvene next week, on August 11. Christina: Our next story involves an Idaho pastor charged with human trafficking and sexual abuse of women in his congregation. Warren: Gregory Wayne Jones, former pastor of Liberty Christian Fellowship Church in Mountain Home, Idaho, has been accused of using his position to abuse women connected to the church. Jones claimed it was a part of the healing process for the victims who sought counseling from him. Christina: According to the affidavit, “Jones exploited vulnerable women through private ‘spiritual sessions’ he called ‘The Process’ at both the church and its affiliated daycare, the NXT Dream Center.” Warren: Jones is accused of abusing women during these sessions, claiming it was part of their healing journey. He claimed to be a “spiritual father” and threatened his victims with public humiliation and demonic attacks. He is also accused of trying to get his victims to find other women for him to counsel who needed “spiritual healing.” The Elmore County Sheriff’s Office began investigating Jones in January after a woman came forward. Now, at least six women have come forward with allegations against Jones. One alleged victim was only 17 at the time of the abuse. Christina: Next, another pastor who served his time—and is now back leading his church. Warren: Houston megachurch pastor Kirbyjon Caldwell is back at Windsor Village Church. This past Sunday, August 3, he joined the choir onstage to lead worship, marking his first time attending services since he was released from prison last year. Christina: What did he serve time for? Warren: In 2020, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud after he and his co-conspirator Gregory Smith, scammed elderly victims out of more than $3.5 million. Christina: Between 2013 and 2014, Caldwell and Smith convinced 29 people to invest in Chinese historical bonds—which are not recognized by the government of China and have zero investment value. But Smith convinced victims they would receive quick returns, and they should sell other investments so they could afford to participate. The money went to a number of bank accounts that Caldwell controlled. Caldwell used $900-thousand of his share to pay loans, mortgages, and credit cards. Warren: Caldwell was released from prison in September 2024. The pastor has reportedly paid back all of his victims, according to the church. He is set to deliver his first sermon since his release at Windsor Village Church this Sunday. Christina: Warren, let’s take a quick break. When we return, a North Carolina church scammed out of nearly $800-thousand has—two years later—begun worshiping in their new facility. We’ll look at how they overcame the setback. I’m Christina Darnell, along with my co-host Warren Smith, and we’ll have that story and much more, after this short break.   BREAK   SECOND SEGMENT Christina: Welcome back.  I’m Christina Darnell, along with my co-host Warren Smith, and you’re listening to the MinistryWatch podcast. Next, the story we promised before the break, a story about a church in North Carolina that could have lessons for lots of other churches around the country. Warren: After years of praying and giving, the people of Elkin Valley Baptist Church broke ground on a new worship center. But in one day, the pendulum swung from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows. In the morning, church staff found out they had been approved for a construction loan through the North Carolina Baptist Foundation. That same afternoon, their hopes were dashed when they found out a cybercriminal had stolen almost $800 thousand out of their capital campaign fund. Christina: That was in November 2022. The church called an emergency meeting to inform members that their building project had skid to a halt. Instead of casting blame, leadership decided to move forward in faith. Now, a little more than two years later, the congregation is meeting in their newly built worship center. Warren: Originally, the goal for the building fund had been $1 million. But after the theft, the church ended up raising almost $1.4 million in pledges. The community showed up, with local business owners and church members giving donations, plus materials and labor. The church also cut costs by doing a lot of the work themselves, handling some of the painting, carpentry and finishing touches, which saved an estimated $400 thousand. Christina: The church also took new steps for financial oversight. Warren: That’s right. They completely stopped electronic payments. They established a new financial oversight team to approve every building expenditure. And they restructured the financial accounting system, adding security and internal protocols. Pastor Robbins says “You don’t have to wait for a devastating attack to catch those things up to where they need to be.” In the end, Elkin Valley carries a loan of around $660,000 for a project that would have cost nearly $3 million. And in September 2024, Elkin Valley held its first service in the newly completed worship center. Christina: Next, public interest law firms have been stacking up wins for religious liberty at the United States Supreme Court. Warren: In just the last term, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of religious freedom in Mahmoud v. Taylor, allowing parents to opt their children out of radical gender theory lessons that conflict with their beliefs. Also, in Catholic Charities v. Wisconsin, a unanimous Supreme Court ruled that the State of Wisconsin could not discriminate against Catholic Charities based on its theological choices. Plus, religious liberty wins in 2022 and 2023. And in the upcoming term, the Supreme Court has already agreed to hear several more cases related to religious liberty. Christina: Still, cases of religious discrimination continue to happen at the local level. Warren: Well, that’s right. First Liberty Institute Senior Counsel Jeremy Dys told MinistryWatch he continues to see many threats to religious liberty across the United States. Students at an elementary school in Michigan were blocked by school officials from singing a “Christian based” song at the school talent show. Chaplain Russell Trubey was threatened with a letter of reprimand and visited by the military police because of content in his sermons. And Jocelyn Boden was fired by Bath & Body Works because she wouldn’t violate her religious beliefs by following the company’s “preferred pronoun policy.” Christina: Public interest law firms often represent these churches and ministries pro bono — at no cost to the ministry. Some of the most active public interest law firms in the religious liberty fights include Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), the American Center for Law & Justice, Liberty Counsel, First Liberty Institute, the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, the Thomas More Society, Pacific Justice Institute, and Christian Legal Society. Together, these groups have total revenue exceeding $220 million. Warren: ADF is the largest by far in terms of total annual revenue at over $100 million annually. ADF says it has won nearly 80% of its cases, including 16 at the U.S. Supreme Court. It receives about 6,000 requests for legal assistance each year and is active in about 1,000 legal matters. It has developed a network of 4,500 attorneys across the country and around the world to which it may refer cases. Christina: In our next story, a New Jersey church threatened by eminent domain gets a reprieve—for now. Warren: 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. Christina: What happened? Warren: Toms River Mayor Daniel Rodrick told the Asbury Park Press newspaper that a vote on the eminent domain proposal — which had been scheduled for July 30 — is off the agenda for now. A first reading of the proposal had passed back in May, but a second vote is needed for approval. Rodrick has said that the church property—which has a large parking lot and borders a neighborhood that has no park within walking distance—would make the perfect spot for a park. He said he had hoped the proposal would lead the church to sell its property. But that has not happened. Christina: So where do they go from here? Warren: We’re not sure. The mayor said he plans to survey the public to see if the community supports the plan to take the church’s property. But church leaders won’t give it up without a fight. They have indicated they have no interest in selling the property and claim the Episcopal church is thriving. Church leaders have also vowed to oppose any attempt to take the property in court. Christina: Warren, we’re going to take another break. When we return, our lightning round of ministry news of the week. I’m Christina Darnell, with my co-host Warren Smith. More in a moment.   BREAK   THIRD SEGMENT Christina: Welcome back.  I’m Christina Darnell, with my co-host Warren Smith and you’re listening to the MinistryWatch Podcast. Warren, we like to use this last segment as a sort of lightning round of shorter news briefs. What’s up first? Warren: Brent Leatherwood, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, resigned on Thursday (July 31), saying it was time for him to move on. The move comes after a tumultuous year for the ERLC, the public policy arm of the nation’s largest Protestant denomination. In summer 2024, after an attempt to abolish the agency failed during the SBC’s annual meeting, the former chair of the ERLC’s board announced that Leatherwood had been fired — only to be overruled hours later by the rest of the board. Christina: Last month, nearly half (43%) of the delegates to the SBC’s annual meeting voted to shut the ERLC down — the fourth attempt to defund or disband the agency in recent years. Warren: The ERLC has become controversial during the Trump era. While Leatherwood, like past ERLC leaders, was a vocal critic of abortion and same-sex marriage and held conservative views on most social issues, he and the agency supported immigration reform rather than mass deportations, in large part because the SBC has for years passed resolutions calling for such reforms. He, like Southern Baptists in the past, also supported refugee resettlement — which also put him and the ERLC at odds with the MAGA movement. Christina: Our next story involves the Giving Pledge. A new study says this initiative is not all it was promised to be. Warren: The Giving Pledge was founded by Bill Gates and Warren Buffett in 2010 to encourage giving from billionaires, and 57 individuals, couples, and families signed in the first year. Members pledge to give away over half their wealth, either while living or upon death. Of all the original signers still living, only one couple has fulfilled their commitment. “The short story is that the vast majority of Giving Pledgers are not on track to fulfill their Pledges,” according to a recent report from the Institute for Policy Studies, a progressive think tank. Christina: Chuck Collins directs initiatives for the Institute for Policy Studies and helped author the report. Warren: He told The Chronicle of Philanthropy he doesn’t think the effort should end. Instead, he thinks officials of the initiative should examine the effort and how it can live up to its potential, particularly considering how much wealthier billionaires are today than they were in 2010. There are 32 original signees who still have a living family member and are still billionaires. The study found that there are now nearly 200 signers from the United States, and over 250 total. Twenty-two Giving Pledge signers have died. Of those, eight gave away 50% or more of their fortunes to charity either while living or in their estates. The study found that if all living 2010 signers who are still billionaires fulfilled their pledges today, $370 billion would go to charity. Christina: And there’s been a somewhat unusual corporate transaction in the Christian philanthropy world. Warren: Gloo, a technology platform that describes itself as helping “build a more connected ministry”, acquired Masterworks, the marketing and fundraising company that works with ministry nonprofits. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Masterworks will operate as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gloo. Scott Beck, co-founder and CEO at Gloo, and Brad Hill, president of Gloo Media Network, will join Masterworks’ board of directors. Steve Woodworth will transition to the role of executive chairman of the board from chief executive officer at Masterworks. Bryan Brown, current president of Masterworks, will succeed him as CEO. Gloo serves more than 100,000 faith, ministry and nonprofit leaders and is based in Boulder, Colorado. Christina: And each week, at about this time in the podcast, we talk about Ministries Making a Difference. Warren: We do, but since this is your column, why don’t you take this one. Christina: I will. Last week, the Army Chaplains Corps celebrated 250 years of ministering to U.S. soldiers. In 1776, Gen. George Washington himself requested that chaplains be added to the army to “meet soldiers’ religious and spiritual needs, and to support good morals and morale.” Now, chaplains serve in every branch of the U.S. military, as well as throughout a variety of government and private institutions. That’s why, this week, we’re dedicating this column to chaplains and the difference they make. Warren: So who’s up first? Christina: Assemblies of God 461 Response Chaplains traveled to Texas last month to minister to first responders after the devastating floods swept through the Texas hill country. Stemming from Psalm 46:1, the disaster response chaplains keep water coolers filled and mingle with responders as they process tragedy, trauma and exhaustion, offering a listening ear and prayer. Corporate Chaplains of America—the nation’s largest full-time chaplaincy agency—supports businesses by providing dedicated care for employees. It is fulfilling its mission to “build caring relationships with the hope of gaining permission to share the life-changing Good News of Jesus Christ in a non-threatening manner” by serving 1,000,000 employees and their family members through nearly 2,600 company locations, according to CCA. Warren: I’ve used Corporate Chaplains myself, with a company I owned in the early 2000s, and they did great work for my employees. Corporate Chaplains of America has 4 stars and an A transparency grade in the MinistryWatch database, and a high donor confidence score of 97. But they’re not alone in this space, are they? Christina: Marketplace Chaplains USA is another chaplaincy agency that works with companies and their employees. The ministry, started in 1984, provides emotional and spiritual guidance to employees through times of crisis, stress, and change, such as layoffs, restructuring or family strain. Some companies Marketplace Chaplains works with include Christian Brothers Automotive, David Weekley Homes, and Gordon Food Service. Warren: Marketplace Chaplains has 5 stars and a C transparency grade in the MinistryWatch database, and a high donor confidence score of 97. Christina, we don’t have time to highlight everyone you profiled in your column, but I wanted to mention that you also included chaplains with the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team. They are often one of the first on the scene after a tragedy or natural disaster. And you also feature the work of the Assemblies of God chaplains in this week’s column. Christina: Warren, any final thoughts before we go? Warren: Warren Ad-Lib AUGUST Donor Premium. Like, share on podcast app and social media. Webinar yesterday. Christina: The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. We get database and other technical support from Stephen DuBarry, Rod Pitzer, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today’s program include Kim Roberts, Kathryn Post, Daniel Ritchie, Bob Smietana, Katie Ruth Bowes, and Isaac Wood. A special thanks to the Biblical Recorder and The NonProfit Times for contributing material for this week’s podcast. I’m Christina Darnell, in for Natasha Cowden, coming to you from Mooresville, North Carolina. Warren: And I’m Warren Smith, also in Charlotte, North Carolina. Christina: You’ve been listening to the MinistryWatch podcast.  Until next time, may God bless you.

If you are a regular reader of MinistryWatch, and you appreciate our approach to the news, you should know about Bob Case. In fact, if you read WORLD Magazine, or Christianity Today, or The Dispatch, or any of dozens of other news outlets, you have – whether you know it or not – been influenced by Bob Case. Robert Allen Case II is one of the unsung heroes in the development of Christian news outlets over the past 30 years, in part because of his co-founding and leadership of World Journalism Institute, whose graduates are at all the news outlets I mentioned above, and many more besides. Bob died July 15. He was 81 years old. Today, I share a bit of his life and legacy. The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. Until next time, may God bless you.

On today’s program, conservative leader Jason Yates, who was the former CEO of My Faith Votes, has pleaded guilty to the possession of child sexual abuse material. We’ll have details. President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill…school choice advocates welcome a provision in the bill that includes a private school tax credit…but the impact on Christian education remains uncertain. We’ll take a look. Plus, The King’s College in New York City. After years of financial woes and false restarts, the school has shut down—for good, this time. First, a Texas court says a lawsuit against Bill Gothard and the Institute for Basic Life Principles can move forward. The Texas Supreme Court ruled on June 27 that a lawsuit against the Institute for Basic Life Principles (IBLP) and its founder Bill Gothard could continue, despite the defendants’ petition to dismiss the lawsuit under the First Amendment and the Ecclesiastical Abstention Doctrine. The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. We get database and other technical support from Stephen DuBarry, Rod Pitzer, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today’s program include Isaac Wood, Kim Roberts, Daniel Ritchie, Tony Mator, Kathryn Post, Clemente Lisi, and Christina Darnell. A special thanks to the Religion UnPlugged for contributing material for this week’s podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.

On today’s program, St. Andrew’s Chapel, the church founded by RC Sproul and now led by controversial pastor Burke Parsons, delays its long-awaited vote on leaving the Presbyterian Church in America. We’ll have details. The murders of two women at a Kentucky church this month point to a troubling trend—and churches are seeking help to prevent more violence. We’ll take a look. Plus, two years ago, Child Evangelism Fellowship set a goal of reaching 100 million children a year with the gospel through its ministry initiatives. MinistryWatch reporter Kim Roberts checked in for an update. First, former pastor Brady Boyd is starting a new ministry—just one month after being asked to resign from his Colorado Springs megachurch. The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. We get database and other technical support from Stephen DuBarry, Rod Pitzer, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today’s program include Kim Roberts, Tony Mator, Kathryn Post, Jessica Eturralde, Henry Durand, and Christina Darnell. A special thanks to the Christian Index for contributing material for this week’s podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.   MANUSCRIPT:    FIRST SEGMENT Warren: Hello everybody. I’m Warren Smith, coming to you from Charlotte, North Carolina. Natasha: And I’m Natasha Cowden, coming to you from Denver, Colorado, and we’d like to welcome you to the MinistryWatch podcast. Warren: On today’s program, St. Andrew’s Chapel, the church founded by RC Sproul and now led by controversial pastor Burke Parsons, delays its long-awaited vote on leaving the Presbyterian Church in America. We’ll have details. And, the murders of two women at a Kentucky church this month point to a troubling trend—and churches are seeking help to prevent more violence. We’ll take a look. Plus, two years ago, Child Evangelism Fellowship set a goal of reaching 100 million children a year with the gospel through its ministry initiatives. MinistryWatch reporter Kim Roberts checked in for an update. Natasha: But first, former pastor Brady Boyd is starting a new ministry—just one month after being asked to resign from his Colorado Springs megachurch. Warren: Brady Boyd, who resigned as lead pastor of megachurch New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado, in June, has started a new ministry — Psalm 68 Ministries. Psalm 68 Ministries says its mission is to serve widows, orphans and the forgotten, as well as ministry leaders. Natasha: Boyd had served at Gateway Church, founded by Robert Morris, from 2001 to 2007. He claimed he didn’t know that Morris had allegedly abused Cindy Clemishire when she was 12 years old. Warren: New Life elder Scott Palmer told the congregation on Sunday, June 22, that the elders believed Boyd’s insistence that he didn’t know Clemishire’s age was untrue. It is the primary reason the elders asked Boyd to step down. Natasha: Next, St. Andrew’s Chapel delays vote on leaving PCA. Warren: St. Andrew’s Chapel in Sanford, Florida, was scheduled to vote on leaving the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) on Sunday, July 20. Instead, in something of a surprise move, the congregation referred the matter to the church’s board of elders, also known as its session, to study the situation and return with a recommendation. Natasha: St. Andrew’s was originally formed as an independent congregation in 1997 with Dr. R.C. Sproul as its founding pastor. It then joined the PCA in 2023. Warren: Its pastors are ordained by and members of the Central Florida Presbytery. In June, a judicial commission of the Central Florida Presbytery found St. Andrew’s Senior Pastor Burk Parsons guilty of three charges and indefinitely suspended him from the duties of teaching elder in the PCA. He has appealed the judgment. Parsons is also a teaching fellow with Ligonier Ministries. The St. Andrew’s session is expected to report back about the decision to leave the PCA in January 2026. Natasha: Next, a lawsuit against anti-trafficking figure Tim Ballard has been dismised. Warren: A lawsuit alleging that Tim Ballard, founder of Operation Underground Railroad, assaulted and raped his assistant, Celeste Borys, has been dismissed. Third District Judge Todd Shaugnessy dismissed the lawsuit against Ballard and Operation Underground Railroad because of the way evidence was acquired, not based on the merits of the case. Natasha: Can you give us more context? Warren: The suit claimed Ballard promoted a technique called the “couples ruse” that called for women who worked for OUR to pretend they were married to him and engage in sexual contact in order to ensnare traffickers. In some cases, he flew workers to be with him so they could develop the “sexual chemistry” necessary to pull off the ruse. As his executive assistant, Borys had access to some of Ballard’s email and electronic document accounts, which she then accessed after ending her employment. “The court lawfully cannot excuse Ms. Borys’s conduct even if the court assumes that she is a victim and Mr. Ballard is a predator,” the judge wrote. Natasha: Borys’ attorneys said in a statement they are disappointed in the decision and are considering an appeal. Warren: In a separate case, women filed a federal lawsuit against Ballard in October 2024 accusing him of violating the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA). The lawsuit also names Our Rescue as a defendant and is still ongoing. Our Rescue is the new name of Operation Underground Railroad. In the MinistryWatch 1000 database, Our Rescue earns a 1-star financial efficiency rating, a C transparency grade, and a donor confidence score of 49 out of 100. Natasha: Let’s look at one more story before our break, what do you have? Warren: The Bible Chapel advertises its special-needs ministry as “a place where you can attend church services without worry.” It also boasts that all its staff and volunteers are “rigorously screened, cleared, and trained.” But one family claims the nondenominational megachurch, located in the McMurray suburb of Pittsburgh, negligently enabled a known sexual predator to abuse their 13-year-old son, who has Down syndrome. A June statement from attorneys representing the family says that on Jan. 5, the victim was assaulted in Bible Chapel’s sanctuary during a youth group event. The alleged perpetrator, Daniel Gould, is an adult on the autism spectrum. Both individuals were participants in the special-needs ministry. Natasha: The statement claims. “The abuse lasted more than seven minutes and ended only after other children who witnessed the assault alerted youth group leaders. During that entire time, the abuser, the victim, and the other children had no adult supervision,” “Bible Chapel didn’t tell the child’s father about the abuse until he arrived around 8:30 p.m. to pick up his son.”  Warren: According to the lawsuit, Gould was supposed to be supervised by his father at all times because of previous bad behavior. Allegedly, one of those prior incidents was a sexual assault of another minor at the church. Attorneys claim Bible Chapel was also aware that Gould had been banned from attending a previous church due to “similar misconduct.” However, when the latest incident occurred, Gould’s father was not present. The entire assault was captured on surveillance video, but police declined to file criminal charges, “stating that both individuals involved were special needs,” the attorneys’ statement said. Natasha: In addition to negligence, the family is suing Bible Chapel Ministries—the parent organization that operates multiple church campuses—for violating Pennsylvania’s Child Protective Services Law, which stipulates reporting requirements. Natasha: This incident led our reporter Tony Mator to ask the question: What can churches to do help stop abuse before it occurs? What did he find out? Warren: Lifeway Research recommends abuse prevention guidelines, including background checks for all leaders and anyone with access to minors, and never allowing a child to be alone with just one adult. It also recommends MinistrySafe, a consulting service founded by civil trial attorneys to help churches protect children from sexual abuse. The organization offers legal services, staff training, and tailored policies and procedures. Childhood evangelism and discipleship consultant Cheryl Markland echoed the importance of a “two adult rule” and advocated “clear sightlines into every gathering/teaching space.” However, she warned that good policies, by themselves, are insufficient if they lack teeth. A church that looks good on paper can still be ripe for abuse. While background checks are critical, Markland noted that many abusers have no criminal record. Thus, reference checks and in-person interviews should also be required of anyone seeking to serve with minors. Natasha: Warren, let’s take a quick break. When we return, church violence appears on the rise—prompting church leaders to seek outside security help. I’m Natasha Cowden, along with my co-host Warren Smith, and we’ll have that story and much more, after this short break.   BREAK   SECOND SEGMENT Natasha: Welcome back.  I’m Natasha Cowden, along with my co-host Warren Smith, and you’re listening to the MinistryWatch podcast. Next, the story we promised before the break. Warren: When Beverly Gumm and her daughter, Christina Combs, were fatally shot at a small rural church in Lexington, Kentucky, they became the latest victims of a growing problem that is raising alarm among pastors, advocacy groups, and even the FBI. That problem—a rise in violence targeting houses of worship—has spawned a cottage industry of organizations offering ways to keep churches safe. Natasha: Last Sunday, 47-year-old Guy House fled to Richmond Road Baptist Church after shooting and injuring a Kentucky state trooper at a traffic stop. Witnesses told the Lexington Herald-Leader that House entered the fellowship hall asking for one of Combs’ sisters, who was not present, then opened fire on family members. His rampage not only took the lives of Combs, 32, and her 72-year-old mother, but also wounded both women’s husbands, including Richmond Baptist Pastor Jerry Gumm. Warren: House was then shot and killed by police, leaving the motive for his crime a mystery. The pastor and his son-in-law, Randy Combs, were hospitalized with bullet wounds, and at least one of them was reportedly in critical condition. The wounded trooper, Jude Remilien, was also hospitalized and recovering. Natasha: The Lexington attack comes less than a month after the CrossPointe Community Church shooting in Wayne, Michigan, and less than three months after Arizona pastor William Schonemann was murdered by a man with a hit list of 14 Christian leaders. Warren: In June, CBS News reported that FBI data showed a nearly 100% rise in assaults or attacks against people at houses of worship between 2021 and 2023. Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon told CBS that investigators have intensified their focus on preventing such incidents. The FBI data is corroborated by a Family Research Council analysis of 915 “acts of hostility” against Christian churches between January 2018 and November 2023. These acts included gun-related crimes and bomb threats as well as less serious offenses such as vandalism. Natasha: In a 2023 study by Lifeway Research, found 4 in 5 Protestant pastors reported having some type of security measure in place for services. More recently, WXYZ Detroit reported that many Michigan churches increased security training in the wake of the CrossPointe Community Church shooting, in which a gunman was thwarted by quick-acting security guards and a deacon. Warren: In the face of these events, church security training organizations are growing According to the Center for Violence Prevention and Self Defense Training (CVPSD), the FBSN has gained over 800 members since its 2017 founding. The Christian nonprofit describes its purpose as “enhancing the professionalism and connectivity of ministry security operators along with supporting ministry leaders, law-enforcement, and first responders, plus professional affiliate providers of products and services.” Natasha: Next, an interesting story about a youth trip by a church group in Anniston, Alabama. Warren: Courtney Wingo trusted Leatherwood Baptist Church in Anniston, Alabama, to take her 12-year-old daughter Kamryn on a youth trip in the Houston-area from June 4–7. But she believes the church betrayed her trust and risked her daughter’s safety. When the trip was first promoted in March, it was called a youth camp. The itinerary included the expected activities, including games, worship times, a service project, and a trip to the beach. Warren: But without notifying the parents, the church went to a homeless encampment in Houston, into a dangerous part of one of the most dangerous cities in the country. Natasha: Kamryn was not given any evangelism training, Wingo said, nor were any safety instructions provided, other than “stay close.” Warren: On June 6, many from the group returned to the tent city, but this time students were given the option to stay at the lodge. Kamryn chose to stay behind. Warren: After a service describing the mission trip, Wingo confronted Leatherwood Senior Pastor Phil Winningham about the trip’s dangers and lack of supervision. A quick google search lists guidance that ministries should take for mission trip protocols, including appropriate risk management, capable and accountable leadership, biblical and timely training, and post-trip evaluation. Leatherwood Baptist Church did not respond to multiple requests for their safety protocols, trip plans, post-trip review, or other lessons learned. Natasha: Next, news from ACNA Warren: The long-awaited church trial of Bishop Stewart Ruch, a leader in the Anglican Church in North America, is facing a crisis in the wake of the sudden resignation of a lawyer who represented the denomination in the proceedings. In a resignation letter dated July 19 (Saturday), the lawyer, C. Alan Runyan, wrote that “the trial process had been irreparably tainted.” Archbishop Steve Wood, who heads the denomination. notified ACNA members of the “significant and regrettable development” in an email Sunday evening. He also announced that he would begin the process of appointing a new prosecutor. Natasha: In a second announcement Monday morning, Wood said the resignation was in response to a line of questioning that Runyan said drew on material not within the scope of the trial. Warren: Ruch, whose actions are the focus of the proceedings, is bishop of the ACNA’s Upper Midwest Diocese, which comprises 18 churches from several states, including Illinois and Wisconsin. Ruch has been accused of mishandling multiple abuse allegations in the diocese, failing to prioritize victims in the wake of abuse allegations and knowingly welcoming individuals with histories of predatory behavior into diocesan churches without alerting church members. Abuse survivors first went public with their concerns of Ruch’s handling of abuse allegations in 2021, and since then more than 10 clergy and other lay leaders in the Upper Midwest Diocese have been accused of misconduct. Natasha: The Court for Trial of a Bishop, which includes bishops, priests and lay members, must determine whether Ruch is guilty of four charges: that he habitually neglected the duties of the bishop’s office; that he engaged in conduct “giving just cause for scandal or offense,” including abuse of church power; that he violated his ordination vows; and that he disobeyed or willingly violated church bylaws.  Warren: In his resignation letter, Runyan says that on the fifth day of the trial, a member of the court began questioning the denomination’s expert witness based on materials that were not “in evidence before the Court” and “not properly in the trial record.” That line of questioning, the letter argues, was problematic because it pertained to and “cast suspicion on” the investigative process that preceded the charges before the court. “At that point, all six of the other members of the Court had been exposed to an unwarranted suspicion of provincial investigative bias brought into the trial by a single Court member, contrary to the Court’s duty to determine the outcome based solely on the evidence in the trial record,” Runyan said. His resignation includes a request that the entire trial record and full transcript — all properly redacted — be made available to all ACNA members. The four lay authors of a presentment, or list of charges, that precipitated the trial have also called for the release of the redacted transcript, as has the anti-abuse advocacy group ACNAtoo, which noted today that “the people who suffer the most in this imbroglio are the survivors.” After Runyan announced his intent to resign, Ruch’s team filed a Motion for a Directed Verdict of Not Guilty, which requests a ruling from the court before Ruch’s team presents its case. The court said it will not rule on the motion until the trial resumes on Aug. 11. Natasha: Next, Prolonged legal battles surrounding former Celebration Church pastor Stovall Weems and his wife, Kerri, continue to unfold in the courts, with multiple lawsuits, appeals, and dismissals shaping a complex timeline of events. Warren: The latest in a slew of back-and-forth litigations focuses on an appeal of a suit the couple (along with their affiliated entities) filed against the Association of Related Churches (ARC). Last December, the Middle District of Florida dismissed its lawsuit against the ARC and two of its executives, Chris Hodges (co-founder) and Dino Rizzo (executive director). The Florida court closed the case on grounds of ecclesiastical abstention, concluding that it lacked subject matter jurisdiction. The Weemses filed an appeal the following month. Natasha: There’s been a lot of back and forth of lawsuits and we can’t go through everything here, but you can read all about in our story at MinistryWatch.com. For today, though, my primary question is: Where are things now? Warren: In the latest appellate brief, Stovall and Kerri Weems argue their lawsuit against ARC leaders, including Chris Hodges and Dino Rizzo, centers on alleged interference in their business ventures, not church matters, and should not have been dismissed under the ecclesiastical abstention doctrine. Earlier in the litigation, Celebration Church said it has continued to grow under the leadership of Pastor Tim Timberlake and expressed hope for a peaceful resolution. A section titled “Overcoming Betrayal and Loss” under Stovall’s story on the about page of Stovall Weems Ministries’ website says, “After pouring 24 years into building a thriving church, we experienced a coup that saw everything we built stolen and defiled by false apostles and criminals.” In January 2025, Stovall Weems launched Unspeakable Corruption, a website that “addresses corruption in the church.” Natasha: Warren, we’re going to take another break. When we return, our lightning round of ministry news of the week. I’m Natasha Cowden, with my co-host Warren Smith. More in a moment.   BREAK   THIRD SEGMENT Natasha: Welcome back.  I’m Natasha Cowden, with my co-host Warren Smith and you’re listening to the MinistryWatch Podcast. Warren, we like to use this last segment as a sort of lightning round of shorter news briefs. What’s up first? Warren: Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment (GRACE) held a webinar last week on adult clergy sexual abuse. Panelists included Robert Peters, director of institutional response at GRACE; Amy Stier, an attorney who has worked in the sexual abuse investigation realm for several years; and Emily Petrie, GRACE’s assistant director of institutional response. Adult clergy sexual abuse is often less familiar and less understood than child sexual abuse—the primary issue is often consent, the panelists agreed. Natasha: According to Stier, 20 states criminalize adult clergy sexual abuse in some way. One example is Texas Penal Code §22.011 that states sexual assault is considered nonconsensual if “the actor is a clergyman who causes the other person to submit or participate by exploiting the other person’s emotional dependency on the clergyman in the clergyman’s professional character as spiritual adviser.”  Warren: A lot of great advice came out of that webinar, and we’ve summarized it at MinistryWatch.com. But a key takeaway is this: Churches should have clear policies and procedures in place for keeping both clergy and church members from situations where emotional boundaries are eroded. And clear procedures to protect victims and provide due process for perpetrators of clergy sexual abuse. Natasha: What’s our next story? Natasha: Next, a progress report from Child Evangelism Fellowship Warren: In 2023, Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) announced an ambitious goal of reaching 100 million children each year. According to a recent impact report, the ministry expects to achieve its goal by 2032. Its mission is “to evangelize boys and girls with the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and to establish (disciple) them in the Word of God and in a local church for Christian living.” MinistryWatch checked in with CEF about its progress. From 2022 to 2023, CEF’s face-to-face ministry to children around the world grew by 29%. But growth slowed from 2023 to 2024 — down to 9%. While its 2024 goal was to reach 30 to 32 million children with face-to-face ministry, the actual number ended up being 27.4 million. In the MinistryWatch database, CEF has an “A” transparency grade, a 2-star financial efficiency rating, and a donor confidence score of 75 out of 100, meaning donors can give with confidence. Natasha: Warren, any final thoughts before we go? Warren: Warren Ad-Lib JULY Donor Premium. Like, share on podcast app and social media. Natasha: The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. We get database and other technical support from Stephen DuBarry, Rod Pitzer, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today’s program include Kim Roberts, Tony Mator, Kathryn Post, Jessica Eturralde, Henry Durand, and Christina Darnell. A special thanks to the Christian Index for contributing material for this week’s podcast. I’m Natasha Cowden, coming to you from Denver, Colorado. Warren: And I’m Warren Smith, in Charlotte, North Carolina. Natasha: You’ve been listening to the MinistryWatch podcast.  Until next time, may God bless you.