SO YOU WANNA BE A CHURCH LEADER?

I've started the research for setting up my church. Boy it's complicated. Where's the Emperor Constantine when you need him?

On-line I found the process for setting up a registered charitable trust (or church).

The following steps outline the process for setting up a registered charitable trust. This information supplements Charitable Trusts of the Community Resource Kit.


Your group has decided to set up a registered charitable trust...
1. Meet and:
decide whether it will be society-or trust-based
decide on a name
decide who will be the trustees or board members and how the trust or society will operate
draft a trust deed or constitution that includes your aims, powers and rules of the trust or board.
2. Go to Societies and Trusts Online website (http://www.societies.govt.nz) and:
check the name is available
review rules of other charitable trusts
download application form or ring 0508 762 438 for forms to be posted out.
3. Call a meeting of the trust board. At this meeting your board or trustees need to:
approve the trust deed (trust-based) or rules (society-based)
approve the application for incorporation documents, including the registered office and statutory declaration
elect a secretary, treasurer and management committee (for a society)
4. Send the completed documents back to the Companies Office.
5. The Companies Office informs your group that it is now a registered charitable trust and sends you a certificate.
6. To maintain your registration you will need to file the following documents with the Registrar of Incorporated Societies:
rule changes (including name changes)
address changes.

If you are registered with Charities Services, you will need to notify changes and file an annual return (including annual accounts) with Charities Services.

Quite frankly I can't be bothered with all that so, and please keep this quiet, I'll start up my church 'under the counter' without going through all that bureaucratic hobbly-de-do.  Yes there might be a risk involved but, like all good church organisations I'll ensure that the members carry the can leaving me to get away Scot-free (Macbeth Act 2, scene 3). It's only fair after all as I AM Blessed.