1. This Policy relies on the principles set out in Property Consent – Help and
    Guidance document of the Methodist Church which are as follows:
  • All decisions, particularly those dealing with money or property,
    should be made openly transparently and recorded in writing. This is to
    protect those involved in making these decisions from criticism, either
    when the initial decision is made or if it is reviewed at some time in the
    future.
  • Interests must be declared where a person’s decision-making role places
    them in a position where they could potentially be seen to benefit from
    that decision by way of finance, business interest or personal gain.
  • Situations of potential conflicts of interest must be recognised when
    they arise and steps should be taken to ensure that such decisions were
    clearly not adversely influenced.
  • All circuit meetings will commence with an opportunity for anyone
    attending the meeting to declare any possible ‘conflicts of interest’
    identified in the agenda and such detail will be recorded in the minutes.
  • Awareness of potential conflict of interest should be a high priority at
    all stages of decision-making in the local church and the Circuit.
  • Conflict of interest such be avoided by e.g. ensuring that other people
    are available to enter data on the website, confirm grant payments or
    agree to property proposals.
  • Ministers should not be seen to recommend or authorise any work to
    improve the manse in which they live, or to buy a new one for their
    occupation.
  • Superintendents should not be seen to confirm circuit resources or
    circuit endorsement of projects in churches within their own pastoral
    care.
  • It is often the case that the District Property Secretary is a circuit
    minister and they should not be seen to give Consent on behalf of the
    Consent Giving Body to projects within their own circuit.

Note: It should be noted that the above examples do not mean that post holders
with an interest should not be involved in the making of decisions, where their
knowledge and experience might be invaluable. However, it should fall to
someone else to input the decision on the website so that the
‘interested’ person is not seen as having made the decision, possibly alone.

  1. The above principles shall prevail in the business of local church officers
    and of members of the Circuit Meeting. Members of the Circuit Meeting
    are recognised by the Charity Commission as Trustees of the Circuit as a
    Charity with responsibilities which pertain to such responsibility. [See
    Gov. UK: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-essential-
    trustee-what-you-need-to-know-cc3].
  2. Trustees have a legal duty to act only in the best interests of their charity.
    They must not put themselves in any position where their duties as trustee
    may conflict with any personal interest they may have. Charity law says
    that trustees cannot receive a benefit from their charity, whether directly or
    indirectly, unless they have an adequate legal authority to do so.