However, I would suggest that in a society that needs to see charities as trustworthy, the work of the Charity Commission is vital. In a society that needs to see love in action, the Church is indispensable. The two can work together and each can benefit from the other.
There is no doubt that a change in the law concerning charities is desperately needed. The current charity law dates back to 1601, but in the 21st century we need clearer guidelines, stronger accountability and better legislation, especially since there are more than
half a million organisations in the not-for-profit sector.
The Alliance (Evangelical Alliance UK) has been communicating directly with government because of concerns we have about whether or not they are able to assess charitable organisations in a clear and unbiased way. Public benefit is not simply measurable in economic or social terms; it is also defined in spiritual terms and as a sense of belonging, safety and community that no government can discern solely on statistics and figures.
Without a doubt good governance is an obligation to the Church. I am mystified as to how a Christian organisation could question or disagree with the aims of the Charity Commission - namely, to register charities in England and Wales and to provide the best possible regulation in order to increase charities’ effectiveness and public confidence and trust.
Good governance is an opportunity for the church in five key areas:
1) Stewardship (Matthew 25) is about being careful with that which the Lord has entrusted to us. The money, the buildings, the time, the talents - all are the Lord’s, and we should see the Charity Commission as a body that helps us remember that principle.
2) Accountability (1 Peter 3.15) is being ready to give an answer for what we believe with gentleness and respect. The Church is accountable to God, but that does not in any way rule out accountability, in the right context, to government.
