Ecumenical finances
Where church buildings are to be shared with another denomination, a Sharing Agreement is required which is subject to the consent of the Conference Office and Trustees for Methodist church Purposes (TMCP) in order to ensure that agreement complies with Standing Orders.
Model Trust and other Methodist monies may be contributed towards the cost of a building project, if required, on terms to be provided for in the Sharing Agreement. There should always be a Methodist Church Council who will be managing trustees of Methodist money, even when there is no other Methodist property.
Click here for further information on ecumenical resources.
LEP accounts should be presented to Circuit Meeting and Synod by the managing trustees completing The Standard Form of Accounts, or in some instances using the accounts report form of one of the participating Churches, provided that that Church has an accounts report form approved by the Charity Commission. A copy of the accounts themselves may otherwise suffice. The key to good accounting and management for all ecumenical projects is to have a sharing agreement that covers spiritual, property, reporting and management issues well in advance of any accounts having to be produced.
Top tip: having the end of year audit and the financial arrangements clearly laid out in the Sharing Agreement before creating a LEP will reduce confusion and ambiguity when it comes time to complete the annual accounts.
Church Mergers
When churches merge, there are a number of legal, financial and practical aspects that need addressing. Click here for further guidance on mergers and amalgamations.
In addition, when a church building closes, there are a number of financial and legal responsibilities for that church. Further guidance and checklists can be found on the Closed Church Buildings Guidance.