New Charity Commission will consider 'spiritual' benefit

Evangelical Alliance Northern Ireland delighted by Committee's decision to recognise intangible benefits of faith

04 June 2008

Evangelical Alliance Northern Ireland was this week delighted to learn that the proposed Charity Commission for Northern Ireland will be encouraged to acknowledge the value of intangible or spiritual benefits when deciding whether to grant an organisation charitable status.

There was concern that a public benefit test for charities and churches, due to be implemented by the Commission, would only grant charitable status to organisations and churches which could prove tangible outcomes that could be measured.

Karen Jardine and the Rev Norman Hamilton, representing the Evangelical Alliance, argued strongly for the Social Development Committee, at the Northern Ireland Assembly, to recognise the importance of spiritual benefit to people of all faiths.

Ms Jardine, Public Affairs and Development Officer for Evangelical Alliance Northern Ireland, commented, “Churches and religious organisations provide many intangible benefits that are hard to quantify. We are therefore delighted that the Committee has agreed that ‘the need for benefits that are not tangible or measurable, such as spiritual benefits, should be recognised in determining whether or not a charitable purpose is for public benefit’.”

The proposed Commission forms part of the Charities Bill currently being debated in the Northern Ireland Assembly. The introduction of the new Bill will mean greater controls of public charity collections and will bring Northern Ireland into line with charity regulation in the rest of Great Britain.

Rev Hamilton made the point to the Committee that in addressing an issue, such as the high suicide rate in north Belfast, it is not enough to create a suicide prevention strategy, but it is also important to look at how families and communities can be cared for in a holistic way.

Ms Jardine added, “We are also pleased that our suggestion - that the much more easily understood word ‘detriment’ should be substituted for ‘disbenefit’, when assessing public benefit - has also been accepted. It is our contention that the word ‘disbenefit’ is vague and has never been tested in law.

“I believe the new Charity Commission will strengthen the charitable sector and protect it from abuse and we look forward to working with its representatives in the future.”