Good practice guidelines

This area provides the latest information and advice for churches. Following the Prime Minister’s statement on Sunday 10 May and the release of new guidance, the situation for churches in the UK remains unchanged.  As things currently stand, church buildings are closed for Sunday services and weekday activities. We have added new guidance on the use of church buildings, pastoral practice, the furlough scheme, guidance for independent examination, advice on pre-schools.

As churches are no longer able to meet together in buildings, we want to encourage and help people to pray, both within our own churches and in the wider community.  Please check out our resource section here to find ideas that could be used to lead people to prayer.

 

Coronavirus - essential advice for churches (updated 5 June) The Government has recently updated their advice regarding coronavirus. More ... Guideline Leaflet L18: Covid-19 Coronavirus Legal Issues (updated 4 June) Guidance from our Legal Team on various legal and regulatory issues that have arisen because of the lockdown More ... Advice for ministers – pastoral visiting (1 June) Entering phase 2 of the recovery plan provides an opportunity to review your pastoral visiting practices, while still seeking to reduce the risk to the lowest reasonably practicable level More ... Finance letter to churches We are all aware that we are in extremely unusual times and there is much uncertainty about the future. The closing of our church buildings has had a major impact on our life together and presented challenges to how we operate as a church. More ... Advice for churches regarding the use of buildings The Government has published guidance and a FAQs document to provide information on the Government’s roadmap for how and when the UK will adjust its response to the COVID-19 pandemic. More ... Guidance for weddings, funerals and baptisms (5 May) We have revised our guidelines on weddings, funerals and baptism still further. More ... Covid -19 testing for ministers and other church workers (4 May) Ministers and other church workers who are showing symptoms can now be tested for Covid-19 More ... Pre-schools and Nurseries - 21 April A message from our Treasurer John Levick, for churches which run their own, or let their premises for, pre-school and nursery provision More ... Job Retention Scheme – update on furlough payments Three important updates about the Job Retention Scheme, including the opening of the HMRC portal for making grant claims. More ... Counselling Support (updated 11 May) Information for churches, ministers and their families about counselling which is available to them More ... Empty buildings checklist (7 April) Information for churches which have their own building More ... Coronavirus: A guide for churches as employers (Updated 6 April) New provisions in place to offer employers financial support in relation to employment costs during the coronavirus pandemic More ... Safeguarding: Volunteer Support Services (6 April) Two new guidance notes for churches offering volunteer support services to their local communities More ... Update on DBS ID checks (30 March) New alternatives to face-to-face document checking More ... Coronavirus - advice from Anthony Collins solicitors (updated 26 May) A briefing at this challenging time for churches who will be supporting members of their church and its community More ... Guidance for foodbanks (24 March) We are aware that a number of our churches host foodbanks or other services for vulnerable people. More ... Coronavirus: advice for ministers - pastoral visiting (24 March) Following the Prime Minister’s address to the nation on Monday 23 March, we have revised our guidelines on pastoral visiting. More ... Coronavirus – Using social media with young people (updated 23 March) The National Safeguarding Team have produced a new safeguarding guideline 'Using social media to engage and communicate with young people within the church'. More ... Coronavirus – financial response - delaying payments to HMRC We have received information from our auditor at the Baptist Union regarding the potential to delay payments to HMRC to alleviate cashflow problems from the current unprecedented situations. More ... Church meetings and Covid-19 - updated 20 March A number of churches were intending to have church meetings or an AGM in the next few weeks and we would suggest that where possible, these meetings should be postponed More ... Coronavirus – safeguarding considerations for Baptist churches (updated 25 March) The months ahead bring all sorts of challenges, and it is important that we don’t overlook the specific needs of those who are vulnerable More ... Coronavirus – further financial response - lettings Following my letters last week giving some guidance on how to deal with you finances now we are not meeting in our church buildings it has become clear that we need to update our guidance particularly around Pre-Schools. More ... Coronavirus – financial response for churches The following is a letter being sent to all Baptists Together Churches by Baptist Union Treasurer John Levick More ...