Nazarene Church Joins ECFA

The recent focus on responsible church spending brings merit to the accreditation of the Church of the Nazarene by the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA).

The Church of the Nazarene has gained membership into the ECFA listing of 2,000 financially and ethically responsible organizations, ChristianNewsWire reported Wednesday.

ECFA maintains seven standards of accuracy and honesty that an organization must meet to gain and retain accreditation.

"Being part of this broader faith community can only enhance the existing standards by which we operate as God's people, who comprise the Church of the Nazarene," said David P. Wilson, general secretary of the Kansas City, Mo.-based organization.

The media spotlight has shown on church finances since November, when the New York Times reported that Sen. Chuck Grassley, R.-Iowa, asked for several prominent, non-denominational ministries to turn over their records.

The Church of the Nazarene has approximately 1.6 million members throughout the United States.