BIAPT (British and Irish Association for Practical Theology)
Charity no 1181208 Registered 17/12/2018
TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD 1/1/2021 TO 31/12/2021
TRUSTEES
Prof. Nicola Slee (Chair Until July 2021) Revd Mark Bennet (Treasurer) Revd Jayson Rhodes Prof. Elaine Graham Revd Owen Griffiths (Chair from July 2021) Revd Dr Sarah Brush Dr Sanjee Perera Revd Dr Daniel Nuzum (Until July 2021) Prof. Anthony Reddie Dr David R. Muir Revd Dr Gillian Henwood (From July 2021) Chrissie Thwaites
The trustees are grateful to be able to present their annual report together with the independently examined accounts for the year ending 31st December 2021.
Preamble
Having experienced yet another year in which the coronavirus pandemic has severely impacted the health of many of our members and has limited the freedoms of us all we are grateful for the blessing of the hope given by the production of effective vaccines that hold the promise of the flourishing of life once again. We grieve family and members and friends we have lost during this time. We grieve the loss of freedom, the isolation and the alienation that has been so damaging to the mental wellbeing of so many. We grieve the economic hardship that has overtaken many households and communities. And we grieve the damage inflicted on the education of our children and young people. Hope, however, directs our vision beyond a present grief and towards a future joy.
1. Objectives and Activities
- 1.1. Summary of the purposes of the charity as set out in its governing document
The objects of the CIO are for the public benefit, the advancement of education in the subject of practical theology and the promotion of practical theology within the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland and throughout the world by:
-
advancing practice, teaching, learning and research in practical theology;
-
promoting contact and exchange between the various contexts of practical theology, education and training;
-
organising events and consultations appropriate to the above;
-
fostering international links and activities;
-
encouraging interchange between the worlds of practical theology, other disciplines, and local and national faith communities.
1.2. Summary of Activities
Our vision is to foster and promote a wide engagement with the field of practical theology within and without the academy and across all cultural and religious divides. In pursuit of this our activities over the past year, which can be divided into three areas: conferences, financial support and publications, have included:
-
Organising and running Summer and Autumn online conferences
-
Organising other events relevant to particular regions of the country and to special interests within the field of practical theology
-
Supplying our members with the Practical Theology Journal
-
Maintaining a website disseminating information about the charity and its activities and news relevant to the subject of practical theology
The trustees are grateful to all who have helped to make these activities possible and to realise the BIAPT”s goals.
2. Main Achievements
For the first time in its history the membership of BIAPT reached 500, peaking at 506 by the end of 2021. The international nature of BIAPT’s membership continues to highlight the significance of BIAPT in the advancement of the field of practical theology globally.
2.1. Conferences
2.1.1. Annual Conference
Although we had hoped to hold our Annual Conference on the subject Practical Theology as Ecotheology at Glasgow Caledonian University, the restrictions imposed by the UK government to manage in response to the pandemic forced us to hold the event online. The switch to a virtual conference gave us some additional opportunities that we could not have exploited had the conference been held in a physical space. We were, for example, able to hold the conference over five days rather than the usual three. We also had no limit on the number of delegates we could welcome and this resulted in the largest ever attendance at a BIAPT conference, with 206 people from all over the world. As the theme of the conference was focussed on ecology and climate change it seemed fitting for people to attend and so not to burn the large amounts of fossil fuels in order to attend in person. We had three keynote sessions. Dr Hilary Marlow, a biblical scholar and freelance researcher and writer on faith and the environment, explored humanity's role within creation from biblical perspectives. Revd James Bhagwan is the general secretary of the Pacific Conference of Churches and in his talk, Climate Change, Faith and Theology in the Pacific, brought the perspective of a practical theology living and working in a country that is already suffering greatly from the effects of climate change. Our third keynote session was a panel of climate change activists and artists convened by Dr Anna Fisk, lecturer in theology and religious studies at the University of Glasgow and member of Extinction Rebellion Scotland. Joining Dr Fisk was layla-roxanne hill, a writer/curator-artist/organiser who has been involved in investigative journalism and many other avenues of socio-political action. Zarina Ahmad was the third panel member. Zarina combines concerns around climate change with an equalities agenda, raising a sometimes neglected voice from Ethnic Minorities to address issues of faith and climate justice. Through his poetic reflection the conference poet in residence, Dr Samuel Tongue, brought a different perspective to the climate crisis which enabled delegates to reflect on the emergency in a
different way. A combination of a subject of great importance and urgency and the virtual nature of the conference attracted the largest ever submissions for short papers, with thirty six being selected to be presented at the conference. Being online we were also able to host our first ever Conference Art exhibition using a virtual gallery platform. A total of twenty-six artworks were displayed in the gallery, which included musical pieces, paintings, sculptures and textiles. The proceedings of the conference will be published in the Practical Theology journal in 2022.
2.1.2. Doctoral Student’s Day conference
It was a joy to be able to host the doctoral students day conference once again after a two year pandemic-enforced break. Our speaker at this virtual event was Professor Pete Ward of Durham University and eighteen doctoral students had the opportunity to present their work at the conference, which represents a significant increase on previous conferences. This growth can be attributed to numerous factors such as a growth in interest in the field in practical theology, the convenience of attending a virtual event and also the hard work of our Doctoral Student Secretary Chrissie Thwaties, to whom the trustees wish to express their deep appreciation and gratitude.
2.1.3. BIAPT Ireland and Scotland Day Conference
We were also delighted to be able to hold a conference for our members in Ireland and Scotland. The theme of the the event was “Othering” and we hope that it will be and a regular feature of the BIAPT Callander in the future.
2.1.4. Dismantling Whiteness
On the same day as the Doctoral Student Day Conference BIAPT was also able to partner with Regents College Oxford and others in the hosting of the first ever dismantling whiteness conference. This was a popular event, attracting over one hundred delegates and many of the papers presented will be published in a special edition of the Practical Theology Journal in 2022.
2.1.5. CMEAC Annual Conference
We believe that the formation of partnerships will be crucial to BIAPT’s fulfilment of its charitable objects and its aim of increasing the diversity of its membership. To this end we were delighted to be able to collaborate with CMEAC, the Church of England’s Committee for Minority Ethnic Anglican Concerns in organising their annual conference, Staying Awake in Gethsemane. It was an ambitious and important event that attempted to persuade delegates of the importance black liberation theology to the life and flourishing of Anglicanism. It brought together celebrated academics such as Professor Anthony Reddie, Professor Mario Aguilar, Rev. Canon Professor Kelly Brown Douglas, Professor Kwok Piu Lan and many other contributors from the academy and the Church of England. The event was opened by an address from Archbishop Stephen Cottrell. Many of the lectures given during the day will be collated into a book published by SCM press in 2022. We are profoundly grateful to BIAPT trustee Canon Dr. Sanjee Perera for her vision and hard work in organising this conference and in making it a success and we look forward to working even more closely with CMEAC in the future.
2.2. Financial Support
We did not award any conference bursaries this year as we received no applications for either the conference bursary or the BAME bursary. It could be that the £50 conference fee was deemed to be affordable by those who might have applied for a bursary had it been an in-person conference with a fee of around £400. More likely, however, is that this represents the large amount of work that faces BIAPT if it is to attract more working class and black members. We are committed to
accepting the reality of the demographic of BIAPT’s membership and facing up to the task of transforming BIAPT into a more inclusive and welcoming community.
2.3. Publications
2.3.1. Practical Theology
We have been pleased to continue to work very closely with the Contact Pastoral Trust and Taylor and Francis to publish and distribute the Practical Theology Journal to all our members. As trustees we remain very pleased and proud to be able to furnish our Charity members with such a high quality journal. Following a discussion at our 2021 Annual General Meeting we are currently exploring ways of making the journal more accessible to BIAPT members in emerging regions of the Global South.
2.3.2. Websites
BIAPT has continued to maintain an active website throughout the year, keeping members and others informed of developments and news in the field of practical theology. The 2021 Annual General Meeting decided to create a new article-based website that would serve as a conduit for knowledge to flow between the academy and all other contexts where practical theology is being practiced. It is hoped that this website would enable BIAPT to better fulfil its charitable object of promoting practical theology and to broaden BIAPT’s reach beyond its current demographic. Following this instruction from the Annual General Meeting the trustees have formed a working group which is working hard to realise this vision. It is hoped that the new website will be ready to launch by the next Annual Conference.
3. Governance
All trustee and sub-committee meetings continued to be held online in response to the coronavirus pandemic and its consequent social restrictions.
3.1 Chair
At our Annual General Meeting our chair for the past two years, Nicola Slee, stepped down. We are immensely grateful to Nicola for the wisdom and grace that characterised her leadership of BIAPT. The two years during which Nicola was chair were made immensely difficult by the COVID-19 pandemic, but throughout this unprecedented time in BIAPT’s history Nicola led the charity with great ability and a deep pastoral care. The trustees recognise the debt of gratitude BIAPT owes to Nicola. As Nicola stepped down, we welcomed Owen Griffiths as our new chair and look forward to working with him as BIAPT continues to grow and evolve and as it adapts to the post-lockdown world the UK and Ireland will, hopefully, enter in 2022.
3.2 Conference Secretary
This year we also said goodbye to Daniel Nuzum who had served as trustee and Conference Secretary for four years. The skill and energy that Daniel brought to these roles meant that he was a real blessing to BIAPT and we are hugely grateful to him for all that he achieved on BIAPT’s behalf. We are delighted to welcome Gillian Henwood as our new Conference Secretary. Gill has shadowed Daniel for the past two years and we look forward to working closely with her as she takes on this critical role.
4. Policies
The trustees continued to review BIAPT’s safeguarding policy and also worked on updating BIAPT’s data protection policy. During the past year we also launched a complete review of our financial controls with the aim of not only ensuring the security of BIAPT’s finances but also of managing our finances more effectively as the charity continues to grow and its operations continue to multiply.
5. Financial Review
5.1 Overview
The charity’s income for the year ending 31st December 2020 was £29,701.54 (2020: £19,340.92). Of this £19,706.00 was received through membership subscriptions (2020: £17,048.00), £8,767.92 was received through conference and event bookings (2020: £1,799.00), £11.40 was donated (2020: £50.61) and £5.22 was earned as interest (2020: £23.31). Our expenditure for the year totalled £20,352.31 (2020: £9,280.05). The largest items of expenditure were £9,518.08 spent on the Practical Theology journal(2020: Nil), £4,486.58 spent on conference expenses (2020: £1,941.51) and £2,275.20 spent on administration and expenses (2020: £3,650.73). Other expenditures included £2,880.00 spent on website costs (2020: £1,940.00) and £442.44 worth of transaction charges (2020: £267.81).
5.2 Reserves Policy
Having adopted a reserves policy this year that sets the desired level of BIAPT's financial reserves at approximately 50% the cost of an in-person conference it is clear that more work is to be done to build on the £13,500 reserves achieved this year. It is to be noted, however, that this represents a welcome increase on the £7,000 reported as the reserves figure for 2020.
BIAPT (BRITISH AND IRISH ASSOCIATION FOR PRACTICAL THEOLOGY)
(A Charitable Incorporated Organisation)
Accounts
to 31 December 2021
Charity no: 1181208 Registered: 17 December 2018
BIAPT Accounts 2021
OBJECTS
The objects of BIAPT are for the public benefit,
The advancement of education in the subject of Practical Theology and the promotion of Practical Theology within the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland and throughout the world by:
-
(i) Advancing practice, teaching, learning and research in Practical Theology;
-
(ii) Promoting contact and exchange between the various contexts of Practical Theology, education and training
-
(iii) Organising events and consultations appropriate to the above
-
(iv) Encouraging interchange between the worlds of Practical Theology, other disciplines, and local and national faith communities
TRUSTEES
Revd Mark Bennet (Treasurer)
Revd Dr Sarah Brush
Prof. Elaine Graham Rev Owen Griffiths (chair from July
2021) Dr Gill Henwood Dr R David Muir Revd Dr Daniel Nuzum Sanjee Perera Prof. Anthony Reddie Revd Jayson Rhodes
Prof. Nicola Slee (Chair to July 2021) Chrissie Thwaites Saiyyidah Zaidi
Page 2 of 6
BIAPT Accounts 2021
Income and Expenditure
Year to 31 December
| Year | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| to 31 Dec 2021 | to 31 Dec 2020 | |
| £ | £ | |
| INCOME | ||
| Subscriptions | 19,706.00 | 17,048.00 |
| Conference income | 8,480.00 | 1,121.00 |
| Event income | 287.92 | 678.00 |
| Summer School income | 1,220.00 | 420.00 |
| Donations | 11.40 | 50.61 |
| Interest | 5.22 | 23.31 |
| Total | 29,710.54 | 19,340.92 |
| EXPENDITURE | ||
| Practical Theology | 9,518.08 | - |
| Conference expenses | 4,457.81 | 1,143.21 |
| Summer School | 350.00 | 1,500.00 |
| Other events | 28.78 | 798.30 |
| Prizes and bursaries | ||
| Committee and administration expenses | 2,675.20 | 3,650.73 |
| Website | 2,880.00 | 1,940.00 |
| Transaction charges | 442.44 | 267.81 |
| Total | 20,352.31 | 9,280.05 |
| Surplus/ (deficit) for period | 9,358.23 | 10,060.87 |
| Funds carried forward from previous year | 17,001.41 | 6,940.54 |
| Funds carried forward | 26,359.64 | 17,001.41 |
Page 3 of 6
BIAPT Accounts 2021
BALANCE SHEET
| BALANCE SHEET | ||
|---|---|---|
| 31 Dec 2021 | 31 Dec 2020 | |
| ASSETS | ||
| Cash and bank | 26,359.64 | 17,001.41 |
| REPRESENTING | ||
| General funds | 24,964.65 | 16,476.42 |
| Mission studies fund | 297.00 | 297.00 |
| Summer school balance | 1,097.99 | 227.99 |
| Total | 26,359.64 | 17,001.41 |
Mark Bennet Treasurer 5 October 2022
Page 4 of 6
BIAPT Accounts 2021
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF
BIAPT (British and Irish Association for Practical Theology)
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the BIAPT (British and Irish Association for Practical Theology) for the year ended 31 December 2021.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (the Act).
I report in respect of my examination of the accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner's statement
In connection with my examination, I confirm that no matters have come to my attention giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
-
The requirements to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act have not been met; or 2. The accounts do not accord with the accounting records; or
-
The accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Mrs Monika Tabatabaian ATT MAAT Tax Avenue Turnfields Gate, Turnfields Thatcham, Berkshire RG19 4PT
5 October 2022
Page 5 of 6
BIAPT Accounts 2021
Notes and Treasurer’s report
-
BIAPT became a charity on 17 December 2018 and now operates with its new constitution under the umbrella of a CIO.
-
The accounts have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis.
-
Reserves at the end of 2021 stood at approximately £13,500 (2020 was £7,000) taking into account the £11,375 bill for the year’s editions of Practical Theology which was received in early 2022. The Practical Theology bill is issued once the final journal of the year has been delivered, and the last 2021 edition was sent out in early January 2022. The substantial increase in the bill for Practical Theology represents a continued increase in membership, which is also reflected in the subscription increase.
-
The committee has set a target for reserves in the medium term of £25,000, being approximately half the likely cost of a physical conference.
-
Over 500 subscriptions were received during the year.
-
The 2021 online conference made a welcome surplus of some £5,200. Costs include a Whova subscription to cover the 2022 conference.
-
Last year’s admin cost included the cost of a physical meeting. It also imperfectly allocates Eve’s time between membership/committee admin and admin relating to the conference.
-
Given the position on admin, we do need to make sure that our other activities are at least self-financing. We also have to bear in mind our commitment to bursaries and prizes. We have a small surplus this year, but limited increase to reserves. It may be necessary to review subscription levels next year (for 2023).
Mark Bennet
5 October 2022
Page 6 of 6
BIAPT (BRITISH AND IRISH ASSOCIATION FOR PRACTICAL THEOLOGY)
(A Charitable Incorporated Organisation)
Accounts
to 31 December 2021
Charity no: 1181208 Registered: 17 December 2018
BIAPT Accounts 2021
OBJECTS
The objects of BIAPT are for the public benefit,
The advancement of education in the subject of Practical Theology and the promotion of Practical Theology within the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland and throughout the world by:
-
(i) Advancing practice, teaching, learning and research in Practical Theology;
-
(ii) Promoting contact and exchange between the various contexts of Practical Theology, education and training
-
(iii) Organising events and consultations appropriate to the above
-
(iv) Encouraging interchange between the worlds of Practical Theology, other disciplines, and local and national faith communities
TRUSTEES
Revd Mark Bennet (Treasurer)
Revd Dr Sarah Brush
Prof. Elaine Graham Rev Owen Griffiths (chair from July
2021) Dr Gill Henwood Dr R David Muir Revd Dr Daniel Nuzum Sanjee Perera Prof. Anthony Reddie Revd Jayson Rhodes
Prof. Nicola Slee (Chair to July 2021) Chrissie Thwaites Saiyyidah Zaidi
Page 2 of 6
BIAPT Accounts 2021
Income and Expenditure
Year to 31 December
| Year | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| to 31 Dec 2021 | to 31 Dec 2020 | |
| £ | £ | |
| INCOME | ||
| Subscriptions | 19,706.00 | 17,048.00 |
| Conference income | 8,480.00 | 1,121.00 |
| Event income | 287.92 | 678.00 |
| Summer School income | 1,220.00 | 420.00 |
| Donations | 11.40 | 50.61 |
| Interest | 5.22 | 23.31 |
| Total | 29,710.54 | 19,340.92 |
| EXPENDITURE | ||
| Practical Theology | 9,518.08 | - |
| Conference expenses | 4,457.81 | 1,143.21 |
| Summer School | 350.00 | 1,500.00 |
| Other events | 28.78 | 798.30 |
| Prizes and bursaries | ||
| Committee and administration expenses | 2,675.20 | 3,650.73 |
| Website | 2,880.00 | 1,940.00 |
| Transaction charges | 442.44 | 267.81 |
| Total | 20,352.31 | 9,280.05 |
| Surplus/ (deficit) for period | 9,358.23 | 10,060.87 |
| Funds carried forward from previous year | 17,001.41 | 6,940.54 |
| Funds carried forward | 26,359.64 | 17,001.41 |
Page 3 of 6
BIAPT Accounts 2021
BALANCE SHEET
| BALANCE SHEET | ||
|---|---|---|
| 31 Dec 2021 | 31 Dec 2020 | |
| ASSETS | ||
| Cash and bank | 26,359.64 | 17,001.41 |
| REPRESENTING | ||
| General funds | 24,964.65 | 16,476.42 |
| Mission studies fund | 297.00 | 297.00 |
| Summer school balance | 1,097.99 | 227.99 |
| Total | 26,359.64 | 17,001.41 |
Mark Bennet Treasurer 5 October 2022
Page 4 of 6
BIAPT Accounts 2021
INDEPENDENT EXAMINER'S REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF
BIAPT (British and Irish Association for Practical Theology)
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the BIAPT (British and Irish Association for Practical Theology) for the year ended 31 December 2021.
Responsibilities and basis of report
As the charity trustees you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (the Act).
I report in respect of my examination of the accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent examiner's statement
In connection with my examination, I confirm that no matters have come to my attention giving me cause to believe that in any material respect:
-
The requirements to keep accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the 2011 Act have not been met; or 2. The accounts do not accord with the accounting records; or
-
The accounts do not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a true and fair view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination.
I have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Mrs Monika Tabatabaian ATT MAAT Tax Avenue Turnfields Gate, Turnfields Thatcham, Berkshire RG19 4PT
5 October 2022
Page 5 of 6
BIAPT Accounts 2021
Notes and Treasurer’s report
-
BIAPT became a charity on 17 December 2018 and now operates with its new constitution under the umbrella of a CIO.
-
The accounts have been prepared on a receipts and payments basis.
-
Reserves at the end of 2021 stood at approximately £13,500 (2020 was £7,000) taking into account the £11,375 bill for the year’s editions of Practical Theology which was received in early 2022. The Practical Theology bill is issued once the final journal of the year has been delivered, and the last 2021 edition was sent out in early January 2022. The substantial increase in the bill for Practical Theology represents a continued increase in membership, which is also reflected in the subscription increase.
-
The committee has set a target for reserves in the medium term of £25,000, being approximately half the likely cost of a physical conference.
-
Over 500 subscriptions were received during the year.
-
The 2021 online conference made a welcome surplus of some £5,200. Costs include a Whova subscription to cover the 2022 conference.
-
Last year’s admin cost included the cost of a physical meeting. It also imperfectly allocates Eve’s time between membership/committee admin and admin relating to the conference.
-
Given the position on admin, we do need to make sure that our other activities are at least self-financing. We also have to bear in mind our commitment to bursaries and prizes. We have a small surplus this year, but limited increase to reserves. It may be necessary to review subscription levels next year (for 2023).
Mark Bennet
5 October 2022
Page 6 of 6