Few search for wisdom and integrity from God's unfathomable reserves to establish who they are. Franklin Graham, President of Samaritan's Purse and The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, examines three questions on integrity: Who has integrity? How does one obtain integrity? What does integrity exhibit?

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A look at two aspects of accountability: submitting to accountability and holding others accountable

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Facing an insatiable desire for transparency, trusted ministries find the balance between being appropriately transparent while measuring privacy concerns and administrative burdens.

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Today's cultural landscape is rife with potential landmines for your organization.

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When ministries lack trust, the issue that created the lack of trust is on center stage and Christ shifts to the wings.

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Trusted governance starts with spiritual leaders who deeply know God,
seek to find God’s will, and delight to obey God.

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A captain who would rather stay in port than go to sea does not engender trust.

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Independent Sector has just declared there are 33 principles for good governance and ethical practice. The short version is available free as a two-page PDF.  The 86-page reference edition, Principles for Good Governance and Ethical Practice: A Guide for Charities and Foundations, is sold online.


 

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Ever get tired and want to quit? 

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Recommends principles and guidelines to consider when evaluating potential marketing programs for a ministry

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Wayne Pederson shares valuable reminders to leaders of Christ-centered organizations.  He shares the wonderful quote from A.W. Tozer: “A true and safe leader has no desire to lead but is forced into a position by inward pressure of the Holy Spirit and the press of circumstances.”

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This article examines various levels of consultants from “local heroes” to “major league professionals.” It offers practical advice on how to find the expertise you need. One can eliminate most of the risk with a few simple safeguards. Essentially, take time to find the right fit with the right person and get it in writing.

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How a ministry fulfills a giver’s intent regarding specified gifts sends a strong message about whether a ministry can be trusted.

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Assessing your board’s performance is the first step to improving it.

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Information Systems

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Keeping your congregants' and donors' personal information secure is more than a matter of integrity; it's a legal matter as well.

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No one could have imagined as we began the new year the challenges we would be facing in our ministries, in our relationships, our finances, and our personal lives caused by the “invisible enemy”—Covid-19.  However, all the news is not bad news. There is a silver lining in the midst of all of the confusion and anxiety in our culture.

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Tough financial times generally require tough decisions

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There's a lot of confusion surrounding accountability.

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Looking forward, the current financial crisis and economic downturn could have a very positive effect on Christian organizations.

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Remember MBWA? We’ve seen plenty of management fads in the past few decades. This article highlights 25 of them. Beneath the hype, each is usually based on something that works and offers enduring management wisdom.

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ECFA Advisory Opinion on ministry activities on the Internet

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A spiritual core—a call to connect with God to discover what he is wanting you to do.

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Five fundamental opportunities for Christ-centered ministries desiring to model leadership

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Trusted ministries recognize that some potential gift transactions are fraught with significant complexities and must be treated with appropriate caution.

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Trusted ministries build and maintain their relationships with givers through truthfulness, transparency, and clarity.

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Trusted ministries use compensation-setting practices that model integrity.

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Conflict is a thief. Each year it robs ministries of valuable staff and thousands of dollars in wasted time, turnover, and legal expenses.

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Trusted ministries inspire positive perceptions, creating the power of a rolling ocean wave—building a tsunami of trust—and, more importantly, give the right impression of Christ our Savior!

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Trusted ministry leaders understand the importance of never giving up.

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Trusted ministries understand risk-taking and risk management.

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Just as individuals need a personal rule of life, so trusted ministries need biblical rules, guideposts, or railings to ensure consistent practices which glorify God.

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Trusted ministries serve boldly following the invitation and command of Jesus, who set the ultimate example.

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Seven trends in leadership succession

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Trusted governance involves leaders relying on the subtle dynamics of the Holy Spirit.

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Trusted ministries are not in a race with other ministries to see who can be the greatest.
Conversely, servants keep getting bigger and bigger in God’s eyes.

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In an age of filtered photos and “fake news,” people are desperate for authenticity. Even so-called reality TV is not real (no shocker there!).

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What is the trap? It’s putting your staff through team-building sessions that don’t produce any lasting results. Teams are not built by off-site retreats, but by men and women committed to each other and to accomplishing a lofty goal. The article explores the dynamics of forming and leading high-performing teams.

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A ministry’s tone of trust is based on the tone at the top and throughout the team.

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Our actions impact the ministry decades or even centuries in the future. The ultimate tests of leadership include maintaining mission integrity, assuring visionary flexibility, building a cohesive climate, facilitating communal morale, insisting on financial discipline, encouraging institutional loyalty, and investing in organizational momentum.

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Trusted ministries do not borrow trouble with related-party transactions.
These transactions are minimized to avoid even the slightest appearance of impropriety.

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God is a truth-teller. We must be truth-tellers.

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Trusted ministries acknowledge the challenges of understanding nonprofit finances.

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The biblical pattern for Christ-centered ministries and their leaders is based on verifiable accountability.

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Prospective donors occasionally ask ECFA which member organization is the "best" one to support. Our response is that ECFA does not compare, rate, or rank member organizations, but rather measures each against an independently established benchmark—the ECFA Seven Standards of Responsible StewardshipTM. Attaining and maintaining ECFA membership means an organization measures up to all of ECFA’s Standards.

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