Michael Martin officially took the helm at the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) as its seventh President on May 1. Dan Busby, meanwhile, transitioned to President Emeritus.
“It is an honor to begin serving today as the seventh president of ECFA,” Martin wrote in a letter to ECFA members and friends. “I look forward to continuing to lead under the wisdom of our board and alongside our dedicated staff who each day make ECFA’s mission of Enhancing Trust a reality.”
Martin, who previously served as ECFA’s Executive Vice President, was appointed as the next President this past March following the conclusion of a national search launched in October 2019. His appointment was unanimously confirmed by ECFA’s Board of Directors.
“Michael is experienced, capable and highly educated, and he exudes and exemplifies the mission of ECFA,” said Danny de Armas, ECFA’s immediate past Board Chairman, in a press release. “Over the last decade, we’ve seen Michael demonstrate strong leadership in a perfect balance of confidence and humility. His technical skill and a straightforward communication style allow him to discern and explain complex regulations to those who desire to operate with integrity and transparency in our unique evangelical context. We are confident that under Michael’s leadership ECFA will be well positioned to reach an emerging generation of evangelical leaders.”
Busby, who has served ECFA for 31 years – 10 years as a volunteer, 9 years as a senior staff member, and 12 years as President – will continue to actively assist in advancing the work of ECFA as President Emeritus. Busby had proactively approached ECFA’s Board in early 2018 about his desired retirement and to initiate succession planning.
“The ECFA Board of Directors has graciously asked me to serve under our new President, Michael Martin, in a President Emeritus role,” he wrote in his letter to ECFA members and friends. “This work will include writing, speaking, and more.”
With Busby at the helm, ECFA’s membership grew from 1,260 members to almost 2,500 accredited Christian churches and nonprofit ministries.
In his closing remarks, Busby said, “Michael will be a great President for ECFA, and I could not be more proud to see him assume this role.”
“Please give him the same strong support you have provided to me,” he concluded.
Since joining ECFA staff in 2011, Martin has served as a leader of ECFA’s professional compliance team and supported several key ECFA initiatives, including the Commission on Accountability and Policy for Religious Organizations and the launch of the ECFA.church website and the ChurchEXCEL.org free resource community.
Martin and Busby have co-authored the annual Zondervan Minister’s Tax & Financial Guide and the Zondervan Church and Nonprofit Tax & Financial Guide.
