It is not surprising that given its importance and widespread impact, COVID-19 will feature in church and charity accounts for the foreseeable future. Whilst it is important, we do believe that this issue should not dominate the accounts, and neither should it overshadow the positive work and impact that churches are having in their local communities, perhaps even as a result of the pandemic.
The Charity Commission has issued a statement which says that during the coronavirus pandemic, it will be as flexible and pragmatic as possible in its approach to regulation. Whilst still asking charities to file accounts on time if at all possible, the Commission has said that where an imminent filing deadline can’t be met they can be contacted with a view to arranging an extension.
I didn’t plan to be there. Some unseen force had propelled me forward. I took the old dinner plate, lifted it high above my head and brought it down with such speed and force, smashing it into thousands of pieces. A word erupted from within me with such velocity that it burned from my stomach, through my chest, throat and out of my mouth… ”FEAR!”
UK Church leaders are being urged to show a two-minute video in church this Sunday (13th Sept), highlighting the impact of Covid-19 on the world’s poorest nations, and explaining why now is the time for the Church to be generous givers to those most vulnerable to the virus.
Seasonal giving is the norm, whoever you are and however much you have to give. People are automatically moved to give more at Christmas, whether they know the person or not. Yet Covid-19 has taught me that generosity has to exist all year round – no exceptions.
“People avoided me and things were difficult with my family because of my drug taking. Donald and June treated me like a normal person, and their willingness to sit down with me and get me whatever I needed showed me what transformational generosity looked like.”
Fresh from our success of raising and distributing nearly £5 million in just 100 days to Christian charities and churches serving people most affected by Covid-19 in the UK, we are now launching a Global Rapid Response Campaign.
The Global Rapid Response Campaign (GRRC) is an international response to Stewardship’s recent Rapid Response Fund, which raised and distributed almost £5 million to 88 UK churches and charities within 100 days of lockdown. Lockdown may be easing here in the UK, but the rest of the globe is still feeling the pain of the pandemic.
In the wake of George Floyd’s murder, cries for racism, inequality and abuse of power in our societies to be acknowledged and combatted continue to ring out around the globe. The gut-wrenching image of George Floyd’s lifeless body pinned to the ground has been etched into many of our minds, and sadly, it joins a collection of disturbing images featuring violence against black people.
In mid-July, around two weeks after lockdown was first eased, my elderly, much loved uncle was admitted to hospital as a day patient for a routine operation. He was expected home at 2pm. But at 2pm he was still in theatre, with surgeons dealing with a serious and unexpected turn of events. My uncle was rushed to ICU. The prognosis was bleak – we were told ‘to hope for the best but prepare for the worst’.
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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