Do Baptist churches need to register as charities?

Churches in the Baptist Union of Great Britain with an income of £100,000 or less are excepted from registering until 31 March 2031. Larger churches must register.

Can we keep copies of DBS certificates?

No. Government guidance says not to. Record the date, type and number of the certificate, the role and your decision instead, which is what our safeguarding area does.

Can members update their own details?

Yes, if you turn on the member area. Members sign in with a link sent to their email, and changes can wait for the church office to approve.

Membership Software for Baptist Churches

Keep your membership, giving and safeguarding records in one place, so your deacons, treasurer and church secretary can each do their part.

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Your members’ roll
Safeguarding records kept safe
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Built around the church meeting

Members and the church meeting: Keep a clear membership list, with the date each person joined. The roll review takes you through its regular review, person by person.
Deacons and officers: Your deacons, treasurer and church secretary each get their own sign-in, seeing only what their role needs.
Safeguarding and DBS: Record DBS checks the way your safeguarding policy asks: who, which role, the date and the decision, with no copies of certificates.
Keeping in touch: Email the whole church or one group, with news only going to people who’ve agreed to receive it.

A members’ list you can rely on

Each person has one record with their household, contact details and membership. Saved lists give you members, birthdays or anyone you need, in a couple of clicks.

The Lists page with five saved lists: aged 75 and over with 20 people, birthdays this month with 7, new in the last 30 days, parents of primary school children and visitors and enquirers. — Open a larger view (opens in a new tab)

DBS records only the right people see

The safeguarding area records what DBS guidance allows, with no place to upload certificates. Only administrators and your named safeguarding leads can open it, and you’re reminded before checks are due.

The Safeguarding page listing three DBS checks with their roles, types, issue and renewal dates, one marked Renewal due soon, and a form to record a new check. — Open a larger view (opens in a new tab)

Giving and Gift Aid in order

Record envelopes, standing orders and plate cash, then make your Gift Aid claim on HMRC’s own spreadsheet. Givers can see their giving in the member area.

The Giving page. It shows £13,687.83 given this tax year by 28 named givers, totals by fund and by method, and a list of batches such as Sunday collections and bank statements. — Open a larger view (opens in a new tab)

What it doesn’t do

It doesn’t carry out DBS checks. Baptists Together runs those through its DBS provider, with your church’s verifier, and you record the result here.

It doesn’t fill in your annual Church Update return, though it helps you count members and attendance.

Questions churches ask

Do Baptist churches need to register as charities?: Churches in the Baptist Union of Great Britain with an income of £100,000 or less are excepted from registering until 31 March 2031. Larger churches must register.
Can we keep copies of DBS certificates?: No. Government guidance says not to. Record the date, type and number of the certificate, the role and your decision instead, which is what our safeguarding area does.
Can members update their own details?: Yes, if you turn on the member area. Members sign in with a link sent to their email, and changes can wait for the church office to approve.

Sources

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