What's Inside
The Canadian Centre for Christian Charities (CCCC) is delighted to launch its new program known as The Studio. In this month's Bulletin, meet Carol Reist, Head of The Studio. The Studio is a guided experience where ministry leaders step back, reflect, and refine their ministry’s organizational foundation. With The Studio, you gain a complete picture of how your organization supports its mission. The more voices involved, the richer the insight and the stronger the results. Connect with Carol today to learn more!
Along the theme of healthy Christian workplaces, we are also pleased to announce our Equipped program, starting in April 2026. Designed to connect in person with our members, our CCCC staff will offer practical expertise and face-to-face training to help you navigate your ministry's operational needs, so you can focus on serving others.
This month, we have several new resources to share in our Knowledge Base. One concerns Canadian Anti-Spam Legislation and the other is focused on Internal Controls. Both topics are vital to ensuring your ministry is in alignment with government regulations while operating with integrity. This month, we also present new resources to build your knowledge and help you face challenges like completing Canadian Revenue Agency forms and making decisions as you endeavour to ensure the health of your organization. Finally, an article on the Christian charitable sector’s history and its place in Canadian society today rounds out the list of new resources available only to our members! In the Charitable Sector Updates section, you can also read about the confirmation of the value that churches provide to communities, justifying tax exemptions. Also, take note that CRA is no longer pre-approving the charitable purposes of organizations.
Finally, be sure to register for the March webinar on "Creating and Managing a Ministry Budget" - another key tool with which to cultivate financial awareness as you seek to maintain the health of your ministry.
We hope that you find this issue useful as you continue to pursue the work to which you have been called for His Kingdom's sake. Please remember that we are praying for you collectively and also individually as you reach out to us!
Carol Reist
Head of The Studio
I am pleased to join CCCC as the Head of The Studio. I come with 16 years of Executive Director experience, giving me first-hand knowledge of the realities of leading a Christian ministry.
The Studio is a new program of CCCC, designed for Christian ministries to assess and strengthen their organizational core in support of a thriving mission. My role is to guide members through The Studio. In particular, debrief calls and follow-up is where I have the privilege of facilitating meaningful conversations for teams as they discern their next steps.
I will be contributing content on organizational leadership through blogs and resources for The Studio.
Two updated topic handbooks: CASL and Internal Controls
This month, we are pleased to share two updated topic handbooks. One concerns Canadian Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL). CASL regulates commercial electronic messages. It requires the sender to obtain express or implied consent from the recipient and to include an unsubscribe mechanism. It applies to most digital communications, including email, SMS, and social media messages. That means CASL applies to charities, although there are some important exemptions for fundraising messages. Check out this updated resource for key information!
We have also updated the topic handbook for Internal Controls, one of the most practical expressions of the faithfulness we desire to exhibit as financial stewards. They are the systems, policies, and habits that protect a ministry’s assets, ensure integrity in financial reporting, and build confidence among those who give and serve. Good controls do not signal mistrust, but they acknowledge that all people are capable of sin and that integrity thrives best when supported by a structure and culture of transparency.
Two new articles: Charitable Status and the Kingdom and Completing and Filing T4A Slips
In addition to updated topic handbooks, we have two brand-new articles (under "related reading" menus) to present. In Charitable Status and the Kingdom, read about the Christian charitable sector's history and its place in Canadian society today. In this thought-provoking article, the Christian church is defined as an integrated blend of organism and institution, one existing as the collective living body of Christ, the other as an organizational structure designed to support the work of the Kingdom. Both aspects are necessary to ensure that Christians fulfill God's mandate to care for all of creation. When an imbalance occurs, problems arise.
On a completely separate topic, we have a new resource in our Finance-Accounting Knowledge Base category to guide our members in the process of Completing and Filing T4A Slips. T4As must be issued where deductions were taken for income tax or where the payment is not included on the exceptions list or under the CRA administrative policy, and the total of all payments in the calendar year was more than $500. We hope this "related reading" is helpful as you seek to comply with CRA requirements.
Judicious Decision-Making
As Christians, we seem to love our acronyms. We use them to teach about the aspects of prayer (ACTS: Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication). We use acronyms to orient our lives (JOY: Jesus, Others, Yourself). Remember the WWJD fad? We use acronyms because mnemonic devices work. In the resources for The Studio, there is a helpful phrase for decision-making. The article “Did I Do It Right?” is about Data Insight Decision Implementation Results. This aligns with the process ministries follow as they journey through The Studio. Read the Judicious Decision-Making Key Indicator article “Did I Do It Right?” by Paul Richardson, President, Bible League Canada, and then visit cccc.org/thestudio.
Healthy Christian Workplaces
CCCC’s end statement is to support all Christian ministries on their journey to becoming ever more exemplary, healthy, effective, and Christian. What does that look like? The Studio model is centred on the 4 pillars of Exemplary, Healthy, Effective, and Christian. This month, we are highlighting Healthy Christian Workplaces. Read our overview article on the Healthy Pillar, which explains how a ministry sustains its mission through long-term organizational well-being.
Read more
Introducing Equipped
Equipped is a new one-day, in-person training series for Christian ministry and charity leaders. Hosted in cities across Canada, Equipped offers practical, focused training on the issues leaders face every day, including governance, HR, legal compliance, risk, accountability, and team health.
Rooted in CCCC’s commitment to strong, healthy, and Christ-centred ministries, each event combines expert teaching, interactive discussion, and open Q&A. You’ll leave with insights you can use right away, plus encouragement from peers who understand your challenges.
2026 dates, locations, and agendas are now available. Visit our website for the calendar of events and register for one near you!
Read more
Saskatchewan Court of Appeal affirms tax exemption for places of public worship
In a good news decision for churches, the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal (Court) affirmed that a local church is entitled to a property tax exemption. The City of Prince Albert (City) denied property tax exemptions to the church because of how it used its property, and specifically because it rented out portions of its building to third parties for one-time uses. The City argued that the rental activity was a commercial purpose and the property was therefore not exempt. The Court disagreed. If a church property or a portion thereof is used for people to assemble for religious, spiritual, or analogous purposes, it is a place of public worship for the purposes of property tax exemptions. The case is important for several reasons. The Court (1) affirmed the public benefit churches provide to the community, (2) rejected the requirement that a church needs to be "exclusively used" for worship to be eligible for tax exemptions, and (3) rejected the notion that earning rental or bake sale revenue means churches should lose tax exemptions. You can read the full decision here.
CRA No Longer Pre-Approving Charitable Purposes
In a recently published update, the Canada Revenue Agency (“CRA”) has indicated that the Charities Directorate will end its practice of pre-approving changes to a charity's purposes or activities. Charities seeking guidance may wish to contact CRA's client service representatives for answers to general questions. For charities that wish to change their objects, it is their responsibility to provide the revised purposes to the CRA.
As the CRA is no longer pre-approving charitable objects, charities have the opportunity to make changes and operate in alignment with those changes. If a charity is audited and the CRA determines that its purposes are not charitable or that its activities do not align with those purposes, there may be compliance risks. To support charities in their ongoing compliance efforts, the CRA has indicated that a new suite of resources will be forthcoming. These resources include updated guidance on charitable purposes, a set of model charitable purposes, and supplementary guidance on drafting charitable purposes.
Quick Picks
CCCC staff are constantly reading news, reports, and other resources to stay on top of developments in the charitable sector. We think you'll find these picks helpful!
- Bill 9 in Quebec Debated in the Assemblée Nationale du Québec
- Supreme Court of Canada to hear English Montreal School Board, et al. v. Attorney General of Quebec, et. al in Spring 2026
- Pathways to Digital and Data Readiness
- Key Digital Tools for Your Small Charity
Events
Creating and Managing a Ministry Budget Webinar
March 18, 2026 | 2:00 pm EST
This webinar will equip participants to prepare a simple ministry budget and manage it faithfully throughout the year.
Other Notable Upcoming Events
Missions Mobilization for Churches | April 15, 2026, 2:00 pm EST (Webinar) - Missions Mobilization for Churches is a panel discussion for church leaders who want to start or strengthen their missions programs. Featuring leaders from well known and tenured missional organizations, this session will explore ideas for churches to effectively mobilize for missions in the context of their own ministry; from short-term trips to long-term impact. Register here.
Equipped Moncton, NB - Register here! | April 23, 2026 (In Person Event)
Equipped Halifax, NS - Register here! | April 24, 2026 (In Person Event)
Congratulations to Our Accredited Members!
We congratulate the following Accredited Member who recently participated in a scheduled accreditation review and demonstrated their ongoing commitment to CCCC Accreditation standards. We are proud to have you as part of our Accredited Member community!
- Evangelical Missionary Church of Canada - The Evangelical Missionary Church of Canada is a family of over 100 churches, leaders, and global workers participating with Jesus in spreading the Gospel and His blessing.
To find out more about CCCC Accreditation and our Accredited members, visit giveconfidently.ca.
PCO Giving – Tax Receipts Without Mailing Addresses
A recent Green Base Camp thread highlighted the challenges of issuing tax receipts without complete mailing addresses in Planning Centre. Members shared practical solutions such as holding back slips with missing information, confirming donors’ full legal names, cleaning up records throughout the year, and even using an online e-transfer profile form to collect required details before the first gift is made. The shared wisdom was clear: proactive data care makes receipting smoother for everyone.
Read moreVacation Pay Paid Out Every Payroll
Is it better to pay vacation pay with every payroll or only when time off is taken? Members in Green Base Camp shared that paying it out each pay period is quite common and can simplify administration, particularly for contractors. At the same time, several leaders emphasized the importance of reviewing provincial employment standards, as some provinces require a written employee agreement and still mandate that vacation time be tracked and taken.
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Donation Receipts for Religious Trips
When a church organizes a religious educational trip, can participants receive donation receipts for the amounts they pay? Members explored this nuanced question, noting that the spiritual purpose of a trip alone does not determine eligibility for receipting.
Read moreServices
A Pro When You Need One
The professionals listed in our Professional Associates Directory provide services to charities and practice in four general areas: law, accounting, insurance, and consulting.
CCCC Benediction
John Pellowe, Chief Executive Officer
May our heavenly Father uphold you as you care for the health of your ministry workplace. As you carry out your daily work, may he provide the right people, resources, and wisdom at the right time to strengthen and sustain your ministry for ever greater mission impact. May you rest in the assurance of his faithful provision, freeing you to devote yourself wholeheartedly to your ministry’s purpose. And may you walk in courage, knowing you are not alone.
Contact Details
Canadian Centre for Christian Charities
PO Box 335 STN Waterloo
Waterloo, ON N2J 4A4
(519) 669-5137
