New rules which came into force on 1 August 2018 have widened the automatic disqualification regime for charities to include more grounds for disqualification and to cover senior managers as well as charity trustees.
Billy Graham once said that a person’s wallet was the truest statement of their theology. Even if only partially true, what churches say and do about money is always an important sign of what is valued.
My role in Stewardship is an interesting, but sometimes, a sad one. I am involved with churches (leaders, trustees and treasurers), with regulators (HMRC and the Charity Commission) and sometimes with the media.
Why can this be sad?
Before we can answer that question we have to agree on one key biblical principle: God owns it all. King David acknowledges this after he and his people have given generously for the building of the temple, “But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you and we have given you only what comes from your hand.” 1 Chronicles 29:14.
Apparently, my neighbour thought I was a vandal when she heard me rooting around in our gated bin alley. I don’t know if she was reassured that I was entirely sane when I popped out of a rubbish bin with a cheery smile to say ‘Hello! Just doing a little cleaning!’
I know someone who frequently says, ‘Oh, if only I could win the Lottery, then I would give it all away!’ For the record, I know for a fact that this person doesn’t even buy a ticket, so the generous sentiment will never be put to the test. But the thinking is common enough: With half a million, think of the good we could do! The projects we could fund! The mouths we could feed! We assume that, if we are to be generous, we need a full pot to be generous from. It makes sense, doesn’t it?
Although “stewardship” sounds like a bible word, it isn’t. But it is a bible concept. The concept is twofold – there’s stewardship of what’s been given particularly to you and there’s stewardship of everything else. Stewardship is the way we look after things – not the way we own things. We are stewards, or trustees, or custodians – of something that belongs to someone else but which has been put into our charge. Stewards are not owners, they are guardians.
Gift Aid is a long established scheme and generally well understood and used by churches. Here is a list of 10 do’s and don’ts to help make sure you are operating the scheme well.
Stewardship today announced the appointment of its new CEO, Stewart McCulloch.
Stewart will take over the position on 1st August from current CEO Michael O’Neill, who is returning to his native America in August after nine years leading the organisation.
Close your eyes. Now conjure up the image of your perfect supporter. Piece together the identikit of that person.
Let’s start with age: similar to you? Or perhaps older (but not too old).
Background: again similar; helps if they get your cultural references surely?
Next, circumstances: probably on a reasonable to good salary with a steady job.
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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