We could add to this list the abuses that have been suffered by children at the hands of church leaders. We could note the high rate of paedophiles who try to enter churches and become volunteers, seeing congregations as a picking ground for their victims. For the sake of the weak, the vulnerable and the poor, we should see our work with the Charity Commission as an obligation. We have a biblical responsibility to defend the weak, to look after the widow and to care for the orphan. And it is clear that we are not always good at that.
Working with the Charity Commission is a way of saying, in humility, that we want to get it right, and that we know that we get it wrong too often.
Christian organisations also get it right
Across the UK there are denominations, organisations and community groups getting it right every day. We applaud their efforts, we celebrate their successes and we point the Charity Commission to them as examples of professionalism, good practice and delivery.
- There are 48844 Christian churches in the UK
- Evangelicals give 5% of income, non-evangelicals on average 2%
- 29% of Christians volunteer
These are people and projects to be celebrated. And they are working tirelessly across a vast array of activities and foci. They are one of the reasons that we can see working with the charity commission as an opportunity, as well as an obligation.
Good governance is an opportunity for the church in five key areas:
Stewardship
Matthew 25 shows us clearly that we are to be careful with that which the Lord has entrusted to us. To be a good steward means that we take seriously the requirements to look after and develop and nurture that which the Lord has given to us. It springs from a deep conviction that we own nothing in and of ourselves. The money, the buildings, the time, the talents - all are the Lords. We should see the Charity Commission as a body that helps us remember that principle. Imagine what would happen if every Church and Charity adopted the principle that they would only do what would have a beneficial effect on their community? That would transform our budgets, our staff lists and our use of time and buildings. I suggest to you that it would also transform the way people understood us and what we did.
Stewardship is not an add on in the activity of the church it should be a core responsibility that we do not shirk or avoid. It is an opportunity to show that we are not afraid of working with others and using our resources wisely – and that leads me to the second area where working with the Charity Commission can help us:
Accountability
1 Peter 3:15 calls us always to be ready to give an answer to people for what we believe – but to be able to do so with gentleness and respect. This primarily deals with what we say in relation to salvation – but it does not rule out what we do and how we do it. The New Testament is littered with examples of accountability. The Disciples to Jesus, the Apostles to one another, and the fledgling church to its founders.
It is also littered with examples of what happens when accountability breaks down. Israel follows a path of rebellion, the church falls into heresy, and people end up lying about what they have and how they should use their resources, such as the terrifying example of Ananias and Sapphira.
The church is accountable to God. But that does not in any way rule out accountability, in the right context, to government – but we will come to that in a moment.
Witness
The third key area of opportunity for the church in working with the charity commission is witness. We should be able to be honouring to Christ, in all things, in the words and phrases of Philippians 1:27. I preach in churches, conventions, conferences all the time. In small groups and large groups. I am passionate about sharing the love and the grace of God. I am in love with the Lord Jesus Christ.
But if what I say and what I do do not match then I have a credibility gap that no amount of words will hide. The church’s witness is so often negative. We hide, we are defensive, we think we need not answer to anyone or anything. But is this the mind or the attitude of Christ? The Bible tells us to conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of him. Jesus urges us to let our lights shine before men so that they will see our good deeds and glorify our father in heaven. James tells us that we show people what we believe by what we do.
Surely the church has an opportunity to show a good witness, a positive message or cooperation and robust partnership through its openness to the Charity Commission. We want to welcome an examination of our books and our activities because it will show our love for God and our love for people.
