Archived: Christian Women Communicating International: charity review

This is a charity review of Christian Women Communicating International (CWCI), an organisation that has an internet invitation to give, and is an Associate member of Missions Interlink. (Including the answers to the questions that the Australian charity regulator, the ACNC, suggests that you ask.)

For last year’s review, see here.

Are they responsive to feedback?

• I sent them a draft of this review. Like last year, they did not respond.

Is CWCI registered?

• Yes, as a charity.
  • Not to be confused with the charity Christian Women Communicating Intl in Aust. (There’s also CWCI International Aust Inc Halls Gap Committee.)
• The name they are using, CWCI International, is still not registered. (They don’t hold any business names.)
• CWCI operates, per the ACNC Register, all over Australia. It has no State fundraising licences. Even if it doesn’t require any because its physical fundraising doesn’t qualify, what about its internet invitation?

What does CWCI do?

• See here.
  • Not to be confused with http://www.knowyourbible.com.au, the Christadelphians.
• Donations are for ‘the current translation projects’.

Do they share the Gospel?^[1]

• Not their mission.

What impact are they having?

• The only information is what is in the AIS2016: ‘This [Bible studies] advances the Christian religion.

What do they spend outside the costs directly incurred in delivering the above impact, that is, on administration?

• No financial information is available.

Do they pay their board members?

• There’s nothing against this in the constitution.
• There’s no financial statements to check for such a payment.

Can you get a tax deduction?

• No

Is their online giving secure?

• It’s broken. When working, it’s via PayPal, so yes, it is secure.

What choices do you have in how your donation is used?

• None

Is their reporting up-to-date?

• Yes (on the last day, six months after their year-end, the same time as last year).

Does their reporting comply with the regulator’s requirements?

• AIS 2016: Yes
• Financial Report 2016: NA
  • As a Basic Religious Charity they exempt, an exemption that extends to completing ‘Section D Financial Information’ of the AIS.
  • However, their Associate membership of Missions Interlink requires them to “have available for [their] members and supporters a clear and appropriate financial statement which has been approved by its auditor.” So just ask.

What financial situation was shown in that Report?

• NA

What did the auditor say about the last financial statements?

• No audit report has been made public.

If a charity, is their page on the ACNC Register complete/correct?

• Except for their phone number, yes. (This, however, is not compulsory.)

Where were your (net) donations sent?

• No financial statements to check. Nothing on the website.

Who are the people controlling the organisation?

• No names on the website.
• From ‘Responsible Persons’ on the ACNC Register:
  • Margaret Gardner
  • Heather Jackson
  • Kaye Shooter
  • Lyn Taylor
  • Lisa Watson
  • The board is, compared to the constitution, short one member.
  • The name ‘Margaret Gardner’ appears on the register for 10 charities. And the register only covers charities, not all not-for-profits, and of course doesn’t include for-profit organisations.  If after eliminating the charities for which CWCI’s Margaret Gardner is not a director, you are left with the total being near this number, it would be legitimate for you to question whether her ability to discharge her fiduciary responsibilities is threatened.

To whom is CWCI accountable?

• As a charity, to the ACNC.
• Membership of Missions Interlink claimed. Confirmed.
  • Missions Interlink has a set of standards that must be followed.
    • For one opinion on the strength of that accountability, see the section Activities in this review.

1. “Good living and social concern are important [to the cause of evangelism], but they are not uniquely Christian graces…I’ve met a lot of fine Hindus, Muslims and atheists. Just living the life is not going to bring someone to Christ. There is much more to it than that. We must help people, certainly, but we must also share with them why we are motivated to do so. We must stand against injustice, poverty and need, but we must at the same time point to the One who brings justice and who can meet the deepest need. Until they know our reasons, how can they come to know our Lord?” [Dan Armstrong, the Fifth Gospel: The Gospel According to You, Anzea Books, pp. 13-14. ↑