Oct 29, 2007
CHARITY WATCHDOG TO REVIEW 7 BODIES
5 religious groups got $130m last
year
Worshippers say checks will reassure public that things are done
properly
By Theresa Tan & Arlina Arshad
GOD and giving go together. And five of the richest religious
groups here collected about $130 million in donations last
year.
Leading the pack is the independent New Creation Church, with an
income of $42.8 million for its financial year that ended in
March.
Besides the New Creation Church, six other religious groups made
the news last week when the Commissioner of Charities (COC)
announced that he is sending auditors to check on them.
The seven - all with annual incomes of over $10 million - were
chosen for the COC's first 'governance review' as they had the
largest income among the charities under the COC's direct
purview.
The COC said the review, which is expected to be completed by June
next year, is part of an ongoing effort to regularly assess
charities and improve the way they are run.
The move is significant because this is the first time the COC is
focusing such attention on religious groups.
The seven are: Campus Crusade Asia Limited, City Harvest Church,
Faith Community Baptist Church, Kong Meng San Phor Kark See
Monastery, Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple, New Creation Church and
Trinity Christian Centre.
Of the seven groups, only the Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery
at Bright Hill Road did not reply to The Straits Times'
queries.
The Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple at Waterloo Street declined to
reveal its income, but said it has 'extensive' security measures to
guard donations.
On Thursday, when The Straits Times visited the temple, there were
at least four security guards watching over donation boxes at the
temple.
The temple also stands out as it donates at least 80 per cent of
its income to charitable causes, such as funding bursaries.
One of its trustees, Mr Anand Karthigesu, told The Straits Times
that the temple's expenses form 'a very small fraction' of
income.
Meanwhile, money collected by the churches interviewed goes to
funding church activities and operations.
Some of these churches have over 100 staff. For instance, the
Trinity Christian Centre has about 160 staff.
Believers such as Mr Ian Tham, who attends the New Creation Church,
welcome the review.
He said: 'Such reviews would give the
public and church members confidence that things are done properly.
If there are any lapses or blind-spots, we can fix
them.'
Some churches recently urged the Charity Council, which advises the
COC, to let them be governed separately from secular
charities.
In particular, they were concerned about a new draft code of
governance that asks them to separate their board and management
staff.
These churches also argued that offerings by members were not
equivalent to public donations.
Separately, the Education Ministry is also conducting a similar
review on educational groups under its charge.
It has hired Ernst & Young Associates to look into the internal
controls, among other areas, at the Singapore Institute of
Management and the Management Development Institute of
Singapore.
[email protected]
[email protected]
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UNDER REVIEW
KWAN IM THONG HOOD CHO TEMPLE
Location: Waterloo Street.
History: Opened in 1884 and was re-built in 1895.
Led by: Dr Tan Choon Kim, a 64-year-old retired university
professor, who leads a 10-member board of trustees.
Income: The temple declined to reveal this.
Income source: Public donations.
NEW CREATION CHURCH
Location: Worships at the Rock Auditorium in Suntec City
Mall.
History: Founded in 1984 by a small group of young believers who
wanted an independent, non-denominational church. From 25 members,
the congregation has grown to 16,000 now.
Led by: Senior Pastor Joseph Prince, a Singaporean in his
40s.
Income: $42.8 million for its financial year ended this
March.
Income source: Tithes and offerings, sales of goods, income from
interest
Business arm: Rock Productions has invested about $280 million in a
tie-up with property giant CapitaLand to develop a $660 million
lifestyle hub in Buona Vista. In 2001, Rock Productions bought
Marine Cove, a cluster of food and beverage outlets in East Coast
Park, for about $10 million.
