Charity Commission and Fundraising Standards Board Find No Regulatory Concerns Over Universal Church of the Kingdom of God’s Fundraising Practices

The Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG), an international Christian organization founded in Brazil in 1977, has been the subject of public complaints regarding its fundraising practices. The Charity Commission and the Fundraising Standards Board (FRSB) met with the UCKG after receiving these complaints but concluded there were no regulatory concerns.

The UCKG, which operates in more than 100 countries and has over 5,000 churches in Brazil, is registered as a charity in the UK with an income of £13.7 million in the year ending 28 February 2013. Its primary objective is the advancement of the Christian religion, alongside offering counseling, life coaching, training, and other services.

In January, the FRSB requested a meeting with the UCKG to discuss 10 complaints made to the Charity Commission between 2009 and 2012. These complaints alleged that fundraisers were unable to explain how funds would be used and that fundraising methods were misleading. The Charity Commission confirmed the complaints but found no regulatory issues after meeting with the UCKG representatives.

An operational compliance report published by the Charity Commission this week revealed that while the charity had been informed of the complaints, no regulatory concerns were identified. However, the commission discovered that the charity had not legally finalized paperwork for a 2004 constitutional change regarding payments to spouses of trustees. This oversight led to payments of tens of thousands of pounds to two individuals, violating the charity’s constitution.

The UCKG stated it was unaware of the constitutional violation and is working with legal counsel to resolve the matter. Paul Hill, the charity’s head of communications, expressed confidence in its compliance and fundraising policies, noting the complaints were ill-founded. He also appreciated the regulatory bodies’ reassurance.

Alistair McLean, chief executive of the FRSB, confirmed that the organization met with the UCKG in January following a December complaint. Despite the meeting, no issues were found, though the FRSB will conduct a regulatory audit of the charity this year. McLean emphasized the importance of ongoing monitoring to ensure continued compliance.

Source: Read the original report