British Groups Produce Model Governance Documents for Independent Churches

In Britain, the government's Charity Commission has been attempting to improve governance standards of religious charities. Now, together with the Evangelical Alliance, the completion of three model governance documents for independent churches has been announced :

The documents set out the proper checks and balances required to allow paid church leaders to take appropriate leadership responsibilities as church charity trustees, manage any potential conflicts of interest, and offer churches a legal structure to help govern their charity....

A revised Model Trust Deed ... offers independent churches with a non-voting membership a legal structure to help govern their charity.

Also now available are a Model Constitution - designed for situations where the wider membership of the church is involved in its governance and decision-making processes - and a Model Memorandum and Articles of Association designed for situations where a corporate structure is considered important. Guideline documents are also accessible for further assistance.

The full text of all the documents and accompanying guidelines are available from the Evangelical Alliance website.