| The InterChurch Bureau (ICB) is an ecumenical group that monitors taxation, finance, risk management, and property issues of common concern to all member churches. | ICB aims to facilitate:Engagement between churches on areas of common interest, particularly in relation to changes in government policy, legislation, regulation or common law that may have a compliance focus or affect the business operations of the churches.Advocate to central and local Government on behalf of churches, to ensure that the needs of churches are taken into account.ICB works to:Assess the impact of proposed changes and communicate these to members;Obtain legal advice and opinions where necessary;Influence the policy work programme by engaging with government departments, when current or proposed legislation is likely to limit the mission of church;Influence officials by engaging at the policy level, through providing feedback on discussion papers released by government departments, submissions on Bills, appearance at Select Committee Hearings;Monitor Court decisions and communicate impact;Share ways that Churches are responding to law changes, e.g. implementation of changes to Financial Reporting requirements.Activities include:
Monitoring of Parliamentary Bulletins, Bills, Acts, Regulations, Officials papers, Law Commission reports, Rulings and Tax cases and assessing the consequent economic benefits and/or disadvantages;Engagement with relevant government departments or Crown Entities, such as but not limited to:IRD;MBIE;XRB;Reserve Bank;Financial Markets Authority;Internal Affairs (especially Charities Services);Heritage NZ;Local Authorities. |
