Ep. 486: Baylor University, The Church and AI, and How To Help Texas Flood Victims

On today’s program, Baylor University voluntarily rescinded their acceptance of an LGBTQ research grant after receiving pushback. The school’s president says their stance on biblical sexuality has not changed. We’ll have details.

And, is a membership with the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability worth the cost? We talked with current and former members.

Also, the adoption of A-I in church operations is now mainstream…but pastors aren’t ready to use it for everything.

Plus, a guide to giving to ministries helping with relief efforts in central Texas after floods devastated the area.

First, a former member is suing John MacArthur’s megachurch for how it handled church discipline.

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 Bob Smietana, Kim Roberts, Tony Mator, Jim Vertigo, John Seewer, Jessica Eturralde, and Christina Darnell.

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On today’s program, Baylor University voluntarily rescinded their acceptance of an LGBTQ research grant after receiving pushback. The school’s president says their stance on biblical sexuality has not changed. We’ll have details.

And, is a membership with the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability worth the cost? We talked with current and former members.

Also, the adoption of A-I in church operations is now mainstream…but pastors aren’t ready to use it for everything.

Plus, a guide to giving to ministries helping with relief efforts in central Texas after floods devastated the area.

Natasha:

But first, a former member is suing John MacArthur’s megachurch for how it handled church discipline.

Warren:

In a complaint filed Thursday (July 3) in Los Angeles County Superior Court, lawyers for Lorraine Zielinski said she went to leaders at the megachurch in LA’s Sun Valley neighborhood, where MacArthur is the longtime pastor, seeking counseling for her troubled marriage and was told her conversations would be kept confidential.

According to the complaint, she told counselors she was afraid for her safety and the safety of her daughter, alleging that her then-husband was physically abusive. Her lawyers said church leaders pressured Zielinski to drop her request for a legal separation.

When Zielinski tried to resign as a church member, pastors put her under church discipline for failing to follow their counsel, according to the complaint. They also allegedly told her to either come to a meeting with church pastors or details of her counseling would be made public to the congregation.

Natasha:

What happened?

Warren:

According to the complaint. “When Plaintiff did not attend the meeting, GCC made good on its threat and shared information gained through confidential communications relating to her marriage with GCC membership,” “GCC also misrepresented parts of these communications, painting Plaintiff as a bad actor in the marriage and the party at fault for the marital dispute. GCC also omitted Plaintiff’s husband’s desire to remarry and dissolve the marriage.”

Natasha:

Church members were also allegedly asked to pressure Zielenski to submit to church leaders and to reconcile with her husband, according to the complaint.

Warren:

Lawyers for Zielenski said the church violated her right to privacy and her right to free association, disclosed private facts, painted her in a false light, breached confidentiality and intentionally inflicted emotional distress.

Grace Community Church did not reply to a request for comment; nor did lawyers for Zielenski. The lawsuit will likely face legal challenges on First Amendment grounds.

Natasha:

Next, news from Baylor University.

Warren:

Baylor University has reversed course and “voluntarily” agreed to rescind acceptance of a grant by the progressive Eula Mae and John Baugh Foundation to fund research examining the “disenfranchisement and exclusion” of individuals from churches who identify as LGBT.

In a statement on July 9, Baylor President Linda Livingstone announced that faculty with the Baylor School of Social work “voluntarily offered to rescind their acceptance of this grant.”

The university’s primary concerns were not with the research itself, Livingstone said, but with the activities following the research —work that “extended into advocacy for perspectives on human sexuality that are inconsistent with Baylor’s institutional policies, including our Statement on Human Sexuality.”

Natasha:

The Statement on Human Sexuality, last updated in 2009, affirms the biblical understanding of human sexuality and recognizes that homosexuality is a deviation from the norm understood by Christian churches across the ages.

Warren:

She added that the university is committed to “providing a loving and caring community for all — including our LGBTQIA+ students.”

Baylor University is the third largest Christian university in the country by total revenue. In the MinistryWatch 1000 database, it has a C transparency grade, only one out of five stars for financial efficiency, and donor confidence score of 36 out of 100, meaning donors should withhold giving.

Natasha:

Next, the latest from Gateway Church

Warren:

The Dallas-area Gateway megachurch is reducing the number of services at its campuses each weekend.

According to a Gateway spokesperson, it will be cutting Saturday services at all of its campuses, except its flagship Southlake campus.

This comes as part of the continued fallout after allegations sexual abuse surfaced against its founding pastor Robert Morris. Cindy Clemishire says Morris began abusing her in the 1980s when she was just 12 years old. He is currently facing a related indictment in Oklahoma.

Gateway lists nine Texas campuses on its website and one in Wyoming.

Natasha:

In June, MinistryWatch reported that Gateway was planning to lay off some church staff because of financial challenges due to reduced tithing income.

Warren:

In spite of budget challenges, Gateway has named a new executive pastor — Nic Lesmeister — who has been on staff since 2020 and led the church’s Gateway Center for Israel and outreach ministries.

Natasha:

In related news, two more leaders at New Life Church in Colorado Springs have been asked to resign.

Warren:

Lance Coles, the executive pastor of adult discipleship, and Brian Newberg, chief financial officer, both were part of the search committee that hired Brady Boyd to lead the church in 2007.

Boyd resigned his position in June after it became clear he misled the congregation regarding his knowledge of Morris’s alleged abuse of Clemishire when he was on staff at Gateway.

According to the church, no other pastors who currently work at New Life knew about the situation involving Morris, outside of Coles and Newberg.

Natasha:

Next, A federal court is accusing a Charlotte realtor of scamming his own friends and church out of at least $1.7 million.

Warren:

Brian Shane Haigler of Mint Hill accepted a plea deal after being charged in late June with wire fraud.

Federal court filings reviewed by WCNC allege Haigler conducted multiple schemes between February 2019 and December 2021, including one involving a federal Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL).

Natasha:

This fraud might have been prevented if it had followed a simple rule regarding financial accountability.

Warren:

That’s right. Haigler was the sole signatory on the church’s bank account. That’s always a bad idea.

As the sole signatory on the bank accounts of his church, whose identity was not revealed in the filings, Haigler obtained a $311,000 EIDL in the church’s name without the knowledge of church leaders, then kept the money. He received the loan from the Small Business Administration in April 2021, about a year after President Trump expanded the EIDL program as part of the CARES Act to assist small businesses and nonprofits financially harmed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Natasha:

Haigler allegedly confessed his scheme to the pastor in March 2022, leading to one federal charge of wire fraud. But according to court filings, that was not his only crime.

Warren:

Prosecutors said Haigler embezzled the church out of an additional $389,000 between July 2019 and December 2021. Around that same period, he also scammed friends, acquaintances and fellow church members out of more than $1 million through a Ponzi-style scheme, claiming to invest their money in real estate purchases and property improvements. Unable to make good on the “flat 10% return” he promised, Haigler dipped into investors’ funds, as well as money embezzled from the church, to pay the earliest investors. Eventually, the payments dried up and investors began asking questions.

Neither the identities of the alleged victims nor the details of the plea agreement have yet been made public.

Natasha:

Warren, let’s take a quick break. When we return, a Christian girls camp is grieving after 27 campers and counselors died due to devastating floods over the July 4th weekend. In all, over 100 people lost their lives throughout Central Texas because of the floods.

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:

Crews trudged through debris and waded into swollen riverbanks Monday in the search for victims of catastrophic flooding over the July Fourth weekend that killed more 100 people in Texas, including more than two dozen campers and counselors from an all-girls Christian camp.

Operators of Camp Mystic, a century-old summer camp in the Texas Hill Country, said Monday that they lost 27 campers and counselors, confirming their worst fears after a wall of water slammed into cabins built along the edge of the Guadalupe River.

Natasha:

The floods, among the nation’s worst in decades, swept away people sleeping in tents, cabins and homes along the river Friday in the middle of the night.

Warren:

In the Hill Country area, home to several summer camps, searchers have found the bodies of 68 people, including 28 children, Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said.

Ten other deaths were reported in Travis, Burnet, Kendall, Tom Green and Williamson counties, according to local officials.

Natasha:

If you would like to make a donation to a ministry doing work there, MinistryWatch has compiled a list of the ministries we recommend. You can find that list by going to MinistryWatch.com.

Next, a lawsuit against TBN.

Warren:

On the same day it filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy, Dr. Phil McGraw’s company, Merit Street Media, filed a breach of contract suit against Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN). The lawsuit accuses the Christian broadcasting giant of sabotage, failing to fulfill its financial obligations, and thereby placing Merit Street under a $100-million liability burden.

Merit Street officially launched Merit TV in April 2024 with ambitions to become a major player in the cable landscape headlined by Dr. Phil Primetime and a slate of other celebrity-driven programming.

Natasha:

According to its website, the multi-platform media brand extends its reach to over 90 million television homes via cable, satellite, over-the-air broadcasts, and on-demand video and live streaming.

Warren:

Yet, just over a year later, Merit Street says it has no other choice but to seek bankruptcy protection, and TBN is allegedly at fault.

Natasha:

How?

Warren:

According to the lawsuit, McGraw agreed to supply Merit Street with original episodes of his “Dr. Phil Show,” primetime specials, and additional content, while TBN was to handle distribution and production. In what Merit Street claims was the “linchpin of the agreement,” TBN reportedly guaranteed national distribution of Merit Street’s content through its extensive network and local stations’ must-carry rights—and then later failed to distribute, the documents say.

The complaint alleges that TBN’s “failures” were neither unintended nor inadvertent. “They were a conscious, intentional pattern of choices made with full awareness that the consequence of which was to sabotage and seal the fate of a new but already nationally acclaimed network,” it says.

MinistryWatch contacted TBN and Merit Street for comments. We will update the article with any replies.

Natasha:

Next, the former national leader of Chi Alpha, who resigned after sexual abuse allegations arose within the ministry he led, has been commissioned as a missionary to Iceland.

Warren:

In November 2023, Scott Martin resigned as the director of Chi Alpha World Fellowship, a ministry of the Assemblies of God on college campuses.

Chi Alpha and its leadership have faced criticism because of the reported inappropriate actions and alleged sexual abuse by Daniel Savala, a registered sex offender. Savala pleaded guilty to sexual abuse in 2012 in Alaska, but later allegedly served with five Chi Alpha Ministries college chapters.

In September 2023, Savala and fellow Chi Alpha leader Chris Hundl were indicted in McLennan County for indecency with a child and trafficking of persons.

According to the Assemblies of God Office of Public Relations, Martin and his wife were appointed to serve in Iceland with Assemblies of God World Missions, where “they will work to enhance existing ministries in partnership with the Icelandic church.”

Natasha:

The denomination did not respond to MinistryWatch questions about whether an investigation was conducted that might reveal Martin’s knowledge about Savala, Hundl, or any other alleged abusers and whether Martin was subject to any disciplinary or restorative processes.

Warren:

Ronald Bloomingkemper, who started XA and the Lion’s Den — an online forum for survivors of sexual abuse in Chi Alpha — is critical of Martin’s new appointment as a missionary.

Bloomingkemper believes Martin was “not merely a casualty of controversy—he was the architect of Chi Alpha’s toxic culture of control.”

MinistryWatch reached out to Martin with questions about his knowledge about reports involving Savala and any disciplinary or investigative process, but did not receive a reply before the time of publication. We will update the story if we receive a response.

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:

A recently released report on church technology trends reveals a significant rise in embracing artificial intelligence.

According to Pushpay’s 2025 State of Church Tech Report, 45% of church leaders currently use AI, up 80% compared to last year’s findings, reflecting that the use of AI in church operations has moved from early-adopter to mainstream status.

The report provides a comprehensive overview of how digital tools—from AI-powered platforms and live streaming to mobile engagement—continue to transform ministry connection and interaction. About 1,700 church leaders across the country contributed responses to the report.

Natasha:

What are churches using AI for?

Warren:

Only a small minority have ventured into using AI for core ministry work, such as writing sermons, developing devotionals, or creating theological content, the report states.

Yet, churches are “overwhelmingly” using AI to assist with generating and editing emails, social media, and graphics and streamlining basic communication.

Natasha:

What other findings did the report have?

Warren:

The report states that 86% of church leaders believe technology enhances connection within their communities, and churches are four times more likely to say that technology reduces loneliness rather than increases it.

Nearly half of ministry leaders (48%) report that digital innovation has helped deepen faith among congregants, while 70% say technology has contributed to greater generosity in their churches.

Natasha:

Who did Christina feature in her Ministries Making A Difference column this week?

Warren:

Another area grappling with the aftermath of severe flooding is Myanmar, where civil war and a March 7.7-magnitude earthquake have only made the monsoon season more devastating.

Recovery efforts are slow and dangerous as local military teams commandeer the aid being shipped in. A3, who develops Christian leaders around the world, is staying in touch with partners on the ground in Myanmar, who say that victims are responding “very positively” to the gospel. A3 has a donor confidence score of 80 (“Give With Confidence”).

On May 3, alumni from Denton Freedom House’s Women Home shared their transformational testimonies at a Mental Health Conference held at One Community Church in Plano, Texas. The event was from the ministry’s I’ve Been Set Free Tour held throughout Texas in the first half of 2025. Denton Freedom House offers residential programs for men and women ready to overcome addiction and poverty. They also run a community food pantry and a coffee shop that employs program participants. Denton Freedom House Ministries has a donor confidence score of 96 (“Give With Confidence”).

A group of medical volunteers with the Nazarene Medical Brigade (NMB) in Mexico hosted a clinic in May, serving over 130 people in Chiapas. Patients received dental consultations, medicines, and other screenings, as well as clothing and prayers. The Sierra region has struggled to access quality healthcare after local clinics closed down. Nazarene Compassionate Ministries (NCM) launched its NMB in 2017, and has since provided nearly 350 brigades across the country. NCM is one of MinistryWatch’s Shining Light ministries, having earned the highest ratings in each of our three categories—5 stars, an A transparency grade, and a donor confidence score of 100.

Natasha:

Warren, any final thoughts before we go?

Warren:

Warren ad-lib ECFA

Warren Ad-Lib JULY Stewards Not Owners.

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 Bob Smietana, Kim Roberts, Tony Mator, Jim Vertigo, John Seewer, Jessica Eturralde, and Christina Darnell.

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.