“Actually, the best thing you could do would be to pray for her...”
As a 7 year old, this was my introduction to the concept of praying for ‘enemies’. I was dealing with another child at school who had been continually nasty for no apparent reason. And as my mum sat comforting me, this had been her suggestion.
Zara and Simon Reynolds* (not their real name) live in the Devon countryside with their two teenage children. For years they’d felt the urge to become foster parents, but it never seemed to be the right time. Then two years ago, at New Wine, they heard a talk by Home For Good, the fostering and adoption charity, and put in their application to become foster parents.
Every year changes are required in the disclosure or format of accruals accounts in order to meet new regulations or to reflect changes in emphasis or best practice. However, as the full impact of the FRS 102 Charity SORP is felt for the first time, this reporting season has seen more changes than usual. For some of our own clients this has required minor changes, for others quite significant ones.
Contrary to the views of some church treasurers and trustees, for most churches the receipts and payments basis of accounting is perfectly acceptable and may save you a lot of stress and time. Here’s why…
“We were in a fairly emotional place when Stewardship came on board.
Our church treasurer had been ill for some time, but sadly he died quite suddenly in December 2013. This left us in a difficult and painful situation."
At the start of this week I knew I wanted to write about radical communities. What I didn’t know was that we’d have witnessed yet another devastating event with another community coming together through hope and generosity in the midst of horror and despair.
This is a story of how one evening spent counting the offering at church changed my perspective on giving forever. It’s a story of generosity at its most beautiful and most heartbreaking. It’s a story to remind you to look for the unexpected in the ordinary and never to be afraid to have your whole worldview altered by one simple act, by someone you would never have associated with, were it not for the church.
This is a story about boiled sweets.
Following the devastating fire at Grenfell Tower in Kensington, London, we have been working to identify organisations working locally that are providing urgent aid to those directly affected, and those with the resources and infrastructure to help in the long term.
In the wake of three terror attacks in as many months, it is inevitable that we are asking some hard questions of our leaders. It is not just the politicians who must search for answers. As Christians living in an age of religion-motivated terror, have our attitudes towards Muslims changed? Are we tempted to back away from them, or do we feel compelled to engage?
The British Red Cross has launched a new UK Solidarity Fund to help the victims of terror anywhere in the UK following Saturday’s attack in London.
Stewardship are pleased to be able to provide a quick and simple way for people to donate to the fund. Click here to make a gift now.
“We just have an independent examination because it’s a legal requirement.” That may be one approach to this annual exercise – but is it the best way to gain value from the process? Let’s take a look at what an independent examination isn’t, then what it is, and see how you might get the most from it.
blogs by the Stewardship team and selected guest writers.
Stewardship is the operating name of Stewardship Services (UKET) Limited. Established in 1906.
Registered charity no. 234714, and a company limited by guarantee, registered in England no. 90305.
Registered office: 1 Lamb's Passage, London EC1Y 8AB
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