Editing Local churches (affiliation) (section)

==Evaluation==
In the first decade of the 2000s, the local churches were the subject of two extensive evaluations. These evaluations were performed against the backdrop of decades of controversy (see [[Local Church controversies]]). The first was conducted by a faculty panel at Fuller Theological Seminary. After a two-year study, the Fuller panel stated, "It is the conclusion of Fuller Theological Seminary that the teachings and practices of the local churches and its members represent the genuine, historical, biblical Christian faith in every essential aspect."<ref>{{Citation |last1=Mouw |first1=Richard J. |author1-link=Richard Mouw |last2=Loewen | first2=Howard J. |last3=Kärkkäinen |first3=Veli-Matti |author3-link=Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen | title=Statement | url=https://an-open-letter.org/PDF/Fuller%20Theological%20Seminary%20Statement%20English.pdf | location=Pasadena, CA | publisher=Fuller Theological Seminary | date=5 January 2006}}</ref> After a six-year study, the [[Christian Research Institute]] published a 2009 special issue of their journal in December 2009 with the words "We Were Wrong" on the cover. In it Hank Hanegraaff, Elliot Miller, and Gretchen Passantino published their findings, which resulted in a complete reversal of earlier criticisms.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Hanegraaff |first1=Hank |author1-link=Hank Hanegraaff |last2=Miller |first2=Elliot |last3=Passantino |first3=Gretchen |author3-link=Robert Passantino |title=We Were Wrong |magazine=[[Christian Research Institute|Christian Research Journal]] |volume=32 |issue=6 |year=2009  |url=https://www.equip.org/localchurch/}}</ref> This retraction was published after [[Ronnie Chan]], a Hong Kong billionaire associated with Local Church leadership, made a substantial donation to the Christian Research Institute through his foundation, the [[5Y Capital|Morningside Foundation]]. <ref>{{cite web |title=Billionaire linked to Chinese Communist Party has given extensively to Americans including to Evangelical Christians |url=https://capstonereport.com/2020/12/16/billionaire-linked-to-chinese-communist-party-has-given-extensively-to-americans-including-to-evangelical-christians/35257/ |website=Capstone Report |access-date=15 May 2025}}</ref>