Hard times at Huntley Street

Allegations taint hosts of flagship Christian talk show

By Doug Koop  |  Editorial Director

A mysterious mercy is helping the 100 Huntley Street television show stay on the air even though its most visible personalities have been forced by their board to "step down from their duties" until their names are cleared. Ron and Reynold Mainse, sons of founder David Mainse, invested money with Gordon Driver, who is accused of running a $14 million "affinity fraud" (Ponzi scheme). The board insists no ministry funds are involved, but the brothers could be in legal hot water if the courts determine they used their influence to attract more investors.

How is this a mercy? It could be much, much worse. The show is still running with guest hosts (familiar faces) and relatively little immediate backlash. ChristianWeek didn't even hear about it until three weeks after it was first reported in the Hamilton Spectator in late May. Since then it has attracted scarcely any further public attention. How unlike earlier situations when any hint of televangelist malfeasance was fodder for enormous public ridicule and donors disappeared faster than dollars in a VLT.

That day may yet come. The ministry has not been very forthcoming with news, and any hint of a cover-up normally draws newshounds like bees to a flower. A couple of blog sites, notably www.benedictionblogson.com, have been ferreting out bits and pieces of the story with a keen interest to establish the facts and consider the impact of the allegations. Maranatha News carried an interview with Crossroads Christian Communications Inc. CEO Doug McKenzie, who asked people to pray for this situation "without judgment and without ceasing."

Why report?

Over the next few weeks ChristianWeek will conduct its own interviews and explore the situation further. Why do we consider it important for the Christian community to know more about a ministry when it's experiencing difficulties?

One major reason in this case is the high profile nature of 100 Huntley Street, which bills itself as "Canada's longest running daily talk show," "authentic," "trusted by Canadians for over 40 years" and "broadcast live across Canada Monday through Friday, reaching nearly every home in Canada." Prominence is a key factor in continuing coverage.

A second reason is that much of the funding for the program comes from donors, who have every right to question a ministry whose most visible faces are suspected of using their connections to instill confidence in a scheme now seen to be fraudulent (at worst), or of simply being duped (at best). Either way, their judgment is in question and people within their circle of influence have lost homes and retirement savings. Bridgeway Foundation president Mark Petersen has written a helpful blogpost) outlining the situation and offering good advice to donors. His first two points: "Don't pull funding...yet," and "request clarity."

What's next?

As 100 Huntley Street gears for the summer and a legal investigation winds its lengthy course, questions continue to swirl. Did the board do the right thing when it removed the Mainse brothers from their positions at Crossroads? Why did they wait until the Hamilton Spectator story appeared before they took public action? Is there more housecleaning yet to come? How will donations be affected? What other changes are likely? Will the organization continue as a member in good standing with the Canadian Council of Christian Charities? So far, there is no public evidence the ministry was involved in any wrongdoing. May it so remain.

Meanwhile, the mysterious mercy means that most of the reporting has been conducted by people sympathetic to the Christian message.

And people like Mark Petersen can even envision some possible positive outcomes. "If anything, I am hoping for an organization which is transparent, accessible, and though fallible, authentic. I want to hear the full story, the humbling story—not one coated with religious mumbo-jumbo where image is more valued than substance. That's where this story began; it doesn't need to end there."

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