Former Ford Motor Corporate Executive and Pastor Ken Behr, ECFA President, Backs Sen. Grassley's Call for Cooperation in Investigation of Six Televangelist Ministries

Contact: Alex Coffin, 704-364-2049, ACoffin@InChristCommunications.com

MEDIA ADVISORY, Jan. 8 /Christian Newswire/ -- The allegations of lavishing spending at donors' expense against six major televangelism ministries and against the president of Oral Roberts University have made the issue of financial integrity for religious organizations a much-discussed topic in the national and local news.

U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) today urged cooperation from the six prominent televangelist ministries under investigation for possible financial misconduct.

If you are seeking a highly qualified subject matter expert in the field of financial integrity and accountability for faith-based, nonprofit organizations – churches, ministries, mission organizations – Ken Behr, president of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA), is the most qualified person in the United States to discuss these issues.

"ECFA continues to encourage those ministries to be completely forthcoming in the inquiry. We have found that transparency is really key in long-term financial accountability. I hope these ministries will comply and make the necessary changes to ensure long-term integrity," Behr said.

Established in 1979 amid growing public/government concern over increases in questionable fund-raising practices in the nonprofit sector, ECFA (www.ECFA.org) is an oversight and accreditation organization with more than 2,000 Christian nonprofit member-organizations across the country.

ECFA provides accreditation to ministries, churches and educational institutions that faithfully demonstrate compliance with established standards for financial accountability, fund-raising and board governance. Charter members include the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, Compassion International, and World Vision.

Behr himself spent 23 years as a finance executive on assignments on three continents with Ford Motor Co. He is an ordained minister and came to ECFA after serving on the pastoral team at the 3,500-member North Way Christian Community church in Pittsburgh, Pa. He also has served as a visiting scholar and adjunct professor, teaching international business, entrepreneurship and finance at Geneva College and Florida Atlantic University.

Behr has a strong vision and passion for financial integrity, accountability and governance among Christian ministries, churches and schools. He can speak on a number of topics, including:

• The current televangelist ministries and Oral Roberts University issues
• Church pastor and ministry leader salaries/compensation; board governance
• ECFA Standards & Best Practices; Internal Revenue Service regulations for nonprofits
• "Guidelines to Responsible Giving"
• ECFA's new Church Division and new Affiliate Membership for smaller ministries and churches

For more information about ECFA and Mr. Behr, or to schedule an interview or guest appearance, contact Alex Coffin at 704-64-2049 or ACoffin@InChristCommunications.com

View Behr video at http://ecfa.org/Content.aspx?PageName=MessageFromThePresident