I’d quite forgotten that a new Charities Act is underway until I was reminded by a question that arrived recently. The bill is still in committee stage and will be a while before it becomes an act. It’s a considered attempt by the government to make life simpler for charities by removing some of the... Continue Reading →
What Does the Year Ahead Hold for Church
What a year it’s been! Rather than spend time in analysis let’s look to see what 2022 might hold. More of the same you might think, given our excitement at seeing new variants emerge. So what might we expect? What might churches expect this year?A big reset is underway. Right now, not in a few... Continue Reading →
Autumn
My last blog was all about how trees talk to each other, cooperating, sharing nutrients, even warning of danger. Mother trees in particular play a significant part in the life of the forest, reaching out and caring for its younger neighbours. Just now I came across this short reflection by John Birch which I share... Continue Reading →
In Your Own Time, Millie
"In your own time Millie." This is now a stock phrase when we go on our daily walks. I was holding a gate open for her. She carefully sniffed the gateposts, then retreated, deciding she needed to poo. Getting the right spot takes a while, then I have to bag it up. Eventually we made... Continue Reading →
How to Confront
Sometimes I have to write difficult e-mails. Millie had me up at 5.30am today, when she’s gotta go, she’s gotta go; she makes this abundantly clear. Climbing back into bed I decided it was time to tackle that tricky e-mail that had been keeping me awake into the small hours. So, firing up my laptop... Continue Reading →
Listening to my Life – Learning to say No
Many years ago, I was part of a church leadewrship team in Essex, In the office we had a young lady who worked hard and took care of much of the admin. What I never forgot was her tactic of how she would deal with any request from one of us to take on a... Continue Reading →
Listening to my Life: My Anti-Mentor, the Horrible Manager
In my early years working in an office I had the misfortune to work for a manager who was everything you didn't want him to be. He was dull, petty, spiteful; if he picked you up on a mistake, and in my case, that was all too often, he'd lecture you at length, making it... Continue Reading →
Trustees in Trouble
Some years ago I did some work with a Baptist minister who had got himself rather tucked up. The church ran a pre-school. It was growing quickly and a decision was made to spin it off into an independent charity. At that stage they should have got advice, which would have pointed them to a... Continue Reading →
Thoughts on Life and Times in 2021
If we're involved in running a charity or a church or anything at all we have to see everything as a start up; we have to take it all apart and put it back together again. Yesterday I joined a live service from a big church in Surrey that I've worked with. I don't know... Continue Reading →
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