New guidance which could affect the charitable status of Christian groups is being consulted on by the Charity Commission.
The Charities Act 2006 removed the presumption that faith-based groups are for the 'public benefit'. From early 2008 onwards such groups, including existing charities, must justify their 'public benefit' to obtain or maintain their charitable status.
The Charity Commission guidance will be crucial in administering this new law. We are very concerned about how 'public benefit' will be interpreted - particularly where a charity is concerned with promoting contentious moral beliefs or cross-cultural evangelism.
A draft of this guidance has now been published for consultation, which runs until 6 June. The Christian Institute will publish its response in early May. In the meantime you may wish to download a copy of the consultation document here.
Alternatively, a free hard copy can be ordered by telephoning the Charity Commission on 0845 300 0218.
Responses to the consultation are to be returned by 6 June 2007.
For more information about why religious groups are concerned about the Charities Act and for details of the Parliamentary debate, please click here.
