The Apostolic Project
PHASE 5 — UK CHARITY & LEGALITY

🔥VISION

To establish Kerygma Apostolic Ministry / Kerygma Church as a legally recognized UK charity that:                                                                                                                                                                 

• Is fully compliant with Charity Commission and UK law

• Protects children and vulnerable adults with robust safeguarding standards

• Upholds New Testament holiness and leadership standards for anyone in ministry, employment, or governance

• Is structurally strong enough to support church, schools, missions, inner healing and deliverance for decades.                                                                                                                              

This phase is about building a legal framework that cannot be easily shaken by cultural pressures, while staying within the law and keeping a clear biblical conscience.  

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📖BIBLICAL FOUNDATION

• 1 Timothy 3:1–13; Titus 1:5–9 – Moral qualifications of elders and deacons: faithful in marriage, self-controlled, not greedy, above reproach, good reputation with outsiders.

• 1 Peter 2:12 – “Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honourable…” – integrity before the watching world.

• Romans 13:1–4 – Submission to governing authorities as servants of God for order and justice.

• 1 Corinthians 5:1–13 – Clear church discipline regarding sexual immorality and public sin.

• Acts 6:1–6 – Selection of leaders with good reputation, full of the Spirit and wisdom.                          

These passages justify:

High internal standards for leaders and workers. Clear separation from ongoing sexual immorality and scandal and seriousness about reputation and safeguarding inside and outside the church.

 

                                               

🎯OBJECTIVES

1. Register Kerygma as a UK charity                                                                          (likely “advancement of religion” as main charitable purpose).                                                                  

2. Create legally compliant policies for:

   • Safeguarding children and adults at risk

   • Safer recruitment and DBS checks

   • Complaints and whistleblowing

   • Data protection and governance.                                                                                                              

3. Develop an internal Code of Conduct that sets out NT standards on:

   • Sexual behaviour (adultery, fornication, pornography, same-sex practice, abuse)

   • Integrity (financial honesty, abuse of power, manipulation, spiritual abuse)

   • Confidentiality and pastoral care.                                                                                                        

4. Define clear disqualification criteria for trustees, staff and ministry leaders, aligned with:

   • Automatic disqualification rules for trustees and senior managers

   • DBS and safeguarding guidance                                                                                                              

5. Ensure full safeguarding compliance for all children’s and youth work.                               

6. Build a governance structure (trustees, constitution, minutes, risk register) that can withstand scrutiny from:

   • Charity Commission

   • Local authorities

   • Insurance and safeguarding bodies.                                                                                                         

7. Align policies with the Equality Act 2010, using the legitimate religious/charity exemptions where appropriate and lawful, while avoiding illegal discrimination.

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🤝REQUIREMENTS

A. LEGAL & GOVERNANCE                                                                                                             

• Charitable purpose clearly stated (e.g. “Advancement of the Christian faith…”).

• Governing document (constitution / trust deed / CIO constitution) setting out:

  • Objects

  • Trustee roles

  • Membership

  • Decision-making and discipline.

• Trustee body – minimum 3 (better 5+), none automatically disqualified.

• Risk register including:

  • Safeguarding

  • Financial controls

  • Reputational risk

  • Legal risk around employment and equality law.                                                                                                                                                                                                   

B. SAFEGUARDING (CHILDREN & ADULTS AT RISK)                                                               

• A written safeguarding policy compliant with Charity Commission guidance, covering:

  • Children (under 18)

  • Adults at risk

• A Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and deputy.

• Safer recruitment procedures: references, interviews, DBS checks.

• Clear reporting and escalation procedures for allegations and concerns, following Charity Commission and statutory guidance.                                                                                                                                     

C. CRIMINAL RECORDS & TRUSTEE ELIGIBILITY

• Follow automatic disqualification rules for trustees and certain senior manager roles. Certain offences (e.g. dishonesty, terrorism, money laundering, some sexual offences) lead to automatic disqualification unless a waiver is granted.

• People on the sex offenders register are disqualified from trusteeship and senior positions.

• For staff and non-trustee volunteers, use:

  • DBS checks

  • Written risk assessments

  • Role-by-role decisions, particularly for anyone with past convictions related to abuse, violence or exploitation.

Your instinct (“no-one under police surveillance or with court record in key positions”) needs to be translated into something that respects the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act and Charity Commission guidance: you can be very strict for trustees, senior staff and all children’s / vulnerable adults roles, but you must be proportionate, documented, and non-discriminatory in law.                                                                                                                                                                            

D. EQUALITY & INTERNAL CODE OF CONDUCT

• UK law protects characteristics like sex, sexual orientation, religion/belief under the Equality Act 2010.

• Charities and religious organisations have some specific exemptions that allow them to:

  • Restrict certain benefits or roles to those who share the faith or certain characteristics if this is in their governing document and objectively justified, or to correct a disadvantage.

  • In some employment situations, define a genuine occupational requirement that a role be filled by someone living in accordance with the organisation’s beliefs (this must be framed carefully and legally).

• However, you cannot simply ignore the Equality Act; and if you deliver services under contract for a public authority, you normally cannot discriminate on sexual orientation in providing those services. So:

• You can create an internal Biblical Lifestyle & Leadership Standard for leaders, workers and teachers, including sexual ethics, but the wording must be legally reviewed so it:

  • Focuses on behaviours, not hatred of groups

  • Applies consistently

  • Uses permissible religious exemptions and occupational requirements.                                                                                                                                                                                          

🛠️KEY ACTIONS

5.1. CHARITY STRUCTURE & REGISTRATION

1. Clarify legal form: e.g. Charitable Incorporated Organization (CIO) – typical for churches.

2. Draft a governing document (constitution) including:

   • Objects (advancement of the Christian faith etc.)

   • Doctrinal basis

   • Membership, discipline, leadership.

3. Identify initial trustees and check:

   • Automatic disqualification

   • Eligibility and conflict of interest.

4. Prepare and submit Charity Commission application with:

   • Governing document

   • Activities description

   • Public benefit statement

   • Financial projections.                                                                                                                               

5.2. SAFEGUARDING & CHILD POLICY

1. Draft a Child Safeguarding Policy (you can adapt a church template such as URC, CofE or NSPCC-linked models).

2. Draft an Adults at Risk Safeguarding Policy (can be combined or separate).

3. Appoint a Safeguarding Lead and deputy; provide them with formal training (NSPCC / local authority / Christian safeguarding training).

4. Implement safer recruitment:

   • Role descriptions

   • Application forms

   • Two references

   • Enhanced DBS where needed

   • Written agreements for volunteers.                                                                                                       

5.3. INTERNAL POLICY & HOLINESS

1. Draft a Leadership & Worker Code of Conduct, including:

   • Sexual ethics (adultery, fornication, exploitation, abuse, coercion, pornography)

   • Boundaries in pastoral relationships

   • Social media and online conduct

   • Financial integrity and conflict of interest.

2. Include clear discipline and removal procedures for leaders / staff who:

   • Persist in serious sin

   • Breach safeguarding

   • Bring the charity into disrepute.

3. Obtain legal review of:

   • Code of Conduct

   • Recruitment criteria for staff and volunteers

   • Any faith-based behaviour expectations linked to employment and leadership.                                   

5.4. CRIMINAL RECORDS & HIGH-RISK CASES

1. Implement a policy on recruiting people with criminal records, aligned with:

   • Automatic disqualification (trustees / senior managers)

   • DBS guidance and risk assessments for any work with children or adults at risk.

2. Explicitly prohibit:

   • Anyone on the sex offenders register from any leadership, trustee, or children/vulnerable-adult-facing role.                                                                                                                                       

5.5. TRAINING & CULTURE

1. Run annual safeguarding training for:

   • Trustees

   • Staff

   • Volunteers.

2. Develop a Culture of Reporting:

   • Clear route for raising concerns

   • Whistleblowing protection

   • Commitment to report serious incidents to the Charity Commission where required.                                                                                                                                                                                  

⏳TIMELINE

Start target: January 2027

Estimated duration: 9–18 months (depends on speed of drafting, trustees,

and Charity Commission response).                                                                                                                   

Jan–March 2027

• Confirm legal structure (CIO etc.)

• Draft governing document & doctrinal basis

• Identify trustees; check eligibility and conflicts

• Start drafting safeguarding & conduct policies.                                                                                           

April–June 2027

• Finalize:

  • Safeguarding policies

  • Code of Conduct

  • Criminal records / DBS policy.

• Begin safeguarding training for trustees and key volunteers.

• Prepare financial projections and activity descriptions.                                                                                 

July–December 2027

• Submit Charity Commission registration.

• Respond to any questions or clarifications from the Commission.

• Fully implement:

  • Safeguarding procedures

  • Reporting lines

  • Safer recruitment.

Realistically, safeguarding and governance must be working even before registration is approved – the Commission is increasingly strict about this.

 

                                                                                                                                                 

✔️EXPECTED OUTCOMES

1. Kerygma Church / Kerygma Apostolic Ministry registered as a UK charity, with clear charitable purposes and public benefit.

2. A trusted legal framework: constitution, trustees, policies and procedures that satisfy Charity Commission expectations.

3. Robust safeguarding culture, with:

   • Child and adult policies

   • Named safeguarding leads

   • Regular training and DBS checks.

4. A Biblical Lifestyle & Leadership Standard in force, making it crystal-clear who can and cannot lead, teach, or represent the ministry.

5. Clear processes for dealing with sin, abuse, and serious misconduct – protecting the flock and the name of Christ.

6. A structure that:

   • Honours New Testament standards,

   • Obeys UK law, and

   • Is resilient against future cultural and legal pressure.

7. A legal platform ready for Phase 6 – Apostolic Centre / property and expansion, with credibility before banks, donors, authorities and the wider church.

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