Churches have traditionally been trusted to manage their own affairs with minimal supervision from the civil authorities. This self-regulation is, however, being called increasingly into question, as social attitudes change, as abuses committed in the name of religion come to light, and as public bodies such as the Charity Commission take a closer interest in the financial arrangements of all charities. We must be sensitive to the new climate of opinion and accept social expectations which require of us a new openness to scrutiny by outside agencies. So long as our standards of corporate integrity, as well as of personal probity, remain of the highest order we shall have nothing to fear from public interest in our financial arrangements.
See also 20.54-20.66 on personal conduct in financial affairs
Next: 14.20
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