Archived: Common Life: mini-charity review

Mini-charity review of Common Life, an organisation that has a board member, Jame Lewis, who is a director of the charity responsible for the CMA Standards C0uncil, a ‘major new initiative, accrediting Christian organisations against a set of standards of good governance, financial oversight, and fundraising ethics.’

Is it responsive to feedback?

• When sent a draft of this review, on 27 March, they…did not respond.

Is it registered?

• Yes, as a charity.
  • Not to be confused with the website http://thecommonlife.com.au/c/.
• Not incorporated.
• One of the directors, Jame Lewis, is the holder of the business name Common Life.
• No information was found to indicate that Common Life raises funds from the public.

What does Common Life do?

• Per their last Annual Information Statement (AIS 2015):
  • Providing support to others in their Christian faith.
• Per their constitution:
  • Common Life is an independent, ecumenical foundation dedicated to developing alternative expressions of Christian life and mission.

Do they share the Gospel?

• It appears not.

What impact are they having?

• No information found.

Can you get a tax deduction?

• No

Is their online giving secure?

• NA – none offered.

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

• NA

Is their reporting up-to-date?

• No. Their AIS is over two months overdue.

Does their reporting comply with the regulator’s requirements?

• No.  Their AIS is over two months overdue.
• Their last submission:
  • Annual Information Statement 2015 (AIS 2015): Not quite – no outcomes are reported.
  • Financial Report 2015: Yes.
    • Common Life’s status as a ‘Basic Religious Charity’ means that not only does it not need to submit a Financial Report, but nor does it have to complete the ‘Financial Information’ section of the AIS.
    • There is no requirement in its constitution for financial statements.

What financial situation was shown in that Report?

• NA

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

• No information is available.

What did the auditor say about the last financial statements?

• There is no evidence that Common Life produces financial statements.

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

• ‘Phone’ is blank (but this information is optional) [Parenthetical information added 14.04.17].
  • ‘Website’ is blank, but they don’t have a website.
  • ‘Email’ is blank but the Street Address is an acceptable alternative to the ACNC (but this information is optional) [Correction plus parenthetical information added 14.04.17].

Who are the people controlling the organisation?

• Per the ACNC Register (under ‘Responsible Persons’):
  • Peter Angelovski
  • Peter Chapman
  • Wayne Gardiner
  • Helen Rowe
  • Donald Stewart
  • Jame Lewis
    • Jame is a director of Christian Management Advancement Ltd, an organisation that believes that
      • Christian organisations should be the standard-setters in terms of impeccable corporate behaviour.
        • The mission of their committee, the CMA Standards Council, is to ‘help build faith and trust in Christian organisations’, including by allowing organisations who are compliant with a set of standards, formed by the Council, to display the Council’s seal of approval.

To whom is Common Life accountable?

• Only to the ACNC.