Contrary to some readers' impressions, Christianity Today staffas versatile as we may bedo not actually conduct the survey. Best Christian Workplaces Institute, a human-resources consulting firm, does.
After the institute solicited self-nominations from Christian workplaces, employees in each organization filled out a confidential online survey. Administrators provided details of human-resources practices from workplaces that have a Christian mission statement.
To avoid the unfairness that goes with, say, comparing an 18-employee public-relations firm with an 80-employee nonprofit, the participants were broken up into 11 categories. The survey polled more than 8,403 employees from 84 organizations. After independent judges weighed the data in a "blind" process, the list of 40 emerged. (The names of the nonfinalists are confidential.) Because some categories were larger than others, the list names the number of finalists proportionate to the size of each group.
The panel of judges included Olan Hendrix, ceo, Leadership Resource Group; John Pearson, ceo, Christian Management Association; Ken Smitherman, ceo, Association of Christian Schools International; and Helen Lee, who approached Christianity Today several years ago with the idea of conducting the survey and later cofounded the Best Christian Workplaces Institute.
The 2005 Survey Winners
Products and Services (90 or more employees) 1Alliance Defense Fund Scottsdale, Arizona 2 Evangelical Christian Credit Union Brea, California
Products and Services (89 or fewer employees) 1DeMoss Group, Inc. Duluth, Georgia 2 MPower Systems Plano, Texas 3 Christianity.com (now Silas Partners) Alexandria, Virginia 4 Partners International Spokane, Washington
Higher Education (300 or more employees) 1Bethel University Saint Paul, Minnesota 2 Cedarville University Cedarville, Ohio 3 Olivet Nazarene University Bourbonnais, Illinois 4 Columbia International University Columbia, South Carolina
Higher Education (150 through 299 employees) 1Evangel University Springfield, Missouri 2 California Baptist University Riverside, California 3 The Master's College Santa Clarita, California
Higher Education (149 or fewer employees) 1Phoenix Seminary Scottsdale, Arizona 2 The Master's Seminary Sun Valley, California
Private Schools, K-12 (70 and more employees) 1Evangelical Christian School Cordova, Tennessee 1Scottsdale Christian Academy Phoenix, Arizona 2 Briarcrest Christian School System Memphis, Tennessee 3 Fredericksburg Christian Schools Fredericksburg, Virginia 4 Indian Rocks Christian Schools Largo, Florida 5 Friends Christian School Yorba Linda, California
Private Schools, K-12 (69 or fewer employees) 1Stoneybrooke Christian Schools San Juan Capistrano, California 2 Desert Christian Schools Tucson, Arizona 3 Wheaton Academy West Chicago, Illinois 4 Covenant Life School Gaithersburg, Maryland
Media (150 or more employees) 1Zondervan Grand Rapids, Michigan
Media (149 or fewer employees) 1Howard Publishing, Inc. West Monroe, Louisiana 2 Xulon Press, Inc. Fairfax, Virginia 3 InterVarsity Press Downers Grove, Illinois
Churches, Parachurches, and Missions (120 or more employees) 1Coalition for Christian Outreach Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 2 Kensington Community Church Troy, Michigan 3 Church Resource Ministries Anaheim, California
Churches, Parachurches, and Missions (50 through 119 employees) 1Medical Ambassadors International Modesto, California 2 Christian Cultural Center Brooklyn, New York 3 Pioneers Orlando, Florida 4 CityTeam Ministries San Jose, California
Churches, Parachurches, and Missions (49 or fewer employees) 1Apartment Life Euless, Texas 2 New Mission Systems International Fort Myers, Florida 3 Church Extension Plan Salem, Oregon 4 Amor Ministries San Diego, California
Best Christian Places to Work: Freedom and Grace | Covenant Christian High School teachers and staff are encouraged to be creative, lead classes in innovative ways, and take initiative. (March 06, 2003)
Best Christian Places to Work: Lives in Balance | At Evangelical Christian Credit Union, professional development is not just a nice bonus but also a spiritual responsibility. (March 07, 2003)