The Christian Institute is set to launch a Charity Roadshow to help reassure churches and charities of their rights and freedoms within new charity guidelines.
Colin Hart, the Director of The Christian Institute, said: “Recent court cases have highlighted the importance of Christians knowing their rights and being willing to stand up for them.”
He added: “The secular spotlight is also being turned upon churches and Christian organisations.”
Between January and May, at ten separate venues, a panel of experts will provide help on keeping the law and understanding freedoms.
Free places are available at Roadshow events for those in leadership of churches and charities.
The full-day events include workshops on the Charity Commission’s new “public benefit requirement”.
There will also be workshops on the church as an employer, best practices, financial issues and public evangelism.
This is the Christian Institute’s first Charity Roadshow. It comes at a time when a Christian couple have been taken to a criminal court for merely having a discussion about religion.
Colin Hart said: “The Charity Roadshow will provide practical information that reassures Christian leaders. We want to dispel some of the myths about what the law does and does not require.”
The Roadshow is aimed at minsters, elders, deacons and other church leaders, as well as trustees and senior staff of charities.
The Charity Roadshow 2010 covers eight full-day events (10am-3.30pm) with workshops and a complimentary lunch:
23 JanLeicester03 FebCardiff13 FebBristol20 MarLiverpool27 MarChessington08 MayCambridge13 MayBirmingham15 MayLondon
It will be possible to choose two out of the following six workshops:
“Running churches and charities”Your legal responsibilities as a church leader and/or trustee.
“Meeting the Charity Commission’s requirements”Practical advice on what the Charity Commission requires from your charity.
“The church as an employer”How the law may impact your decisions as an employer, including in the discrimination field.
“Health and safety myths”Responsibilities and good practice as well as common misconceptions.
“Public evangelism and the law”Does the law stop me preaching on certain topics?
“Current financial issues”For charity trustees, treasurers and administrators.
There will also be two shorter seminars without workshops:
02 FebDarlington (10-11.45am)04 FebRochdale (7.30pm-9.15pm)