EGN NEWS DESK
There are stories of inner turmoil at Barnabas Aid after the suspension of its founder Patrick Sookhdeo, his spouse Rosemarie and two trustees, Caroline Kerslake and Dr Prasad Phillips.
Barnabas Aid is without doubt one of the largest Christian charities within the UK and helps persecuted believers all over the world.
Premier Christian News stories that the suspension of senior figures within the organisation follows allegations of monetary mismanagement and fostering a poisonous work atmosphere.
After complaints had been made by whistleblowers, trustees of the charity’s worldwide board commissioned an impartial investigation into the administration of the charity and the way donations have been spent.
The investigation is being carried out by London regulation agency Crowell & Moring and its ultimate report is due out within the autumn.
Barnabas Aid stated in an announcement to Premier that it had “recognized examples of significant and repeated contraventions of inner insurance policies; insurance policies that had been established to make sure the right distribution of charitable donations”.
“It additional seems that the founders, and others, are recognized within the interim report as having didn’t adjust to these insurance policies. Moreover, objectively the founders created a poisonous work atmosphere which resulted in employees feeling solely unable to routinely voice considerations,” it states.
“In addition, we have now additionally recognized vital funds made to the founders (and to others near them – together with some Board Members/Trustees) which can’t be readily defined. Ample alternative has been supplied to the founders to elucidate these transactions however sadly they’ve refused to cooperate.
“We have let our supporters down, we have now let the Lord down and we have now let the struggling and persecuted Church down.”
The 4 suspended leaders have denied the allegations and Kerslake stated they’re refusing to take part within the impartial investigation as a result of they disagree with the appointment of Crowell & Moring to guide it.
“In order to make sure that the investigation is impartial, and could be seen to be so, we imagine that one other agency ought to conduct the investigation, no less than as far as it pertains to Barnabas Aid,” stated Kerslake.
The Charity Commission stated it’s presently assessing considerations raised about operations at Barnabas Aid and what, if any, motion it’s going to take.
Barnabas Aid trustee Andrew Carey admitted in an announcement to Premier that the organisation was in “chaos” and “disaster” however insisted donations had been getting used to help Christians in want.
“We do have nice employees, and we’re partnering with some great church buildings and communities all through the world in a few of the locations on the earth the place Christians are persecuted are actually struggling,” he stated.
“So I’d prefer to guarantee supporters that although there are issues we have to put proper, our good employees are ensuring that the funds they have been entrusted with are being spent within the service of the struggling and persecuted Church.”
