endobj endobj endobj Where there is concern about a specific issue, the trustees may wish to consider taking independent advice from a suitably qualified person. Trustees personal liability isnt limited. This includes supervising and maintaining both the physical property of the congregation and gifts made to the congregation so that the ministries of the congregation can be effective and all legal requirements related to the property are satisfied. What does a trustee of a church do? - House of prayer Following the good practice specified in this guidance will help you to run your charity effectively, avoid difficulties and comply with your legal duties. You and your co-trustees must make sure that everything your charity does helps (or is intended to help) to achieve the purposes for which it is set up, and no other purpose. Most charities must obtain permission from the Commission before changing their objects. For example, all trustees share responsibility for finances (not just the treasurer). Read more about legal powers to remove and appoint trustees. From The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church - 2016. Talk with the nominating committee, the pastor, and others to understand their hopes and dreams for the way that trustees can advance the congregations vision for ministry. See section 7 of this guidance for more detail. Charities: due diligence checks and monitoring end use of funds. Every trustee should have an up to date copy of their charitys governing document and regularly refer to it. 11 0 obj 33 /XHeight 519 /StemH 84 /AvgWidth 441 /MaxWidth 2000 /FontFile2 18 0 R >> Trustees need to hold one another accountable to the mission and vision of the church. Used by permission. A majority of the members of the board of trustees shall constitute a quorum. In some cases, the charity or its trustees can become liable for offences committed by the charitys staff (for example, under the Bribery Act or corporate manslaughter law). The congregations committee on nominations and leadership development may establish specific standards for this position. Its important to know your charitys legal structure (eg trust, association, CIO, company) because it affects whether: An incorporated charity is one thats set up in a legal form which makes the charity itself a legal entity. 2525. You should consider taking appropriate advice about any changes. These include the charitys objects and, usually, how it must be administered. You may find it helpful to review your charitys compliance and good practice using: Read about public trust and confidence in charities. The church by-laws simply state that: The board of Trustees shall consist of at least three (3) Trustees elected by the church for an indefinite period of time. If they do not have a copy, the Commission can usually provide one (if your charity is a registered charity). Ensuring compliance PCC Members must ensure that their charity complies with charity law and with church The Chicago Tribune recently reported that the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability ousted a Chicago megachurch from its membership because the church's board failed to exercise appropriate control and oversight of the church's finances, resulting in over a million dollars being spent inappropriately. A trading subsidiary is a separate company controlled by the charity. PDF LOCAL CHURCH BOARD OF TRUSTEES - iaumc.org