In an attempt to provide more information about the impending Non-Profit Organization (NPO) Act, the Registrar of the Department of Cooperatives and Friendly Societies (DCFS) hosted a meeting with churches last week Wednesday at the Open Bible Church on Washington Boulevard in Kingston and simultaneously online via Zoom. These were some of the feedback from those online:
Paul
This government seems to be trying to regulate the church and make it legal to prosecute the church if they are unable to comply with their new law that they want to use on the church.
Peter
We are clashing against a fundamental misperception of the Church. The church’s rights are constitutional rights embedded in the right to religion and religious assembly. They are treating the Church as a “non profit organization” or “charity.”
George
It would really be good to hear. The flyer indicated that the session will be hybrid. It means therefore that all efforts for clarity should be made possible. Presently you cannot qualify those online as part of your.audience as we are not hearing clearly.
Andrene
Respectfully, to all the unbelieving and the all the reprobates in this meeting trying to fight against the Church which Jesus Christ profoundly said belongs to Him in Matthew 16:18, you will NEVER win against it because Jesus Christ already warned that the gates of hell WILL NEVER prevail against it in Psalm 24:7-10. The church is a non profit organization and should remain same. If you fight against the church, you are therefore fighting against Jesus Christ. We MUST be careful how we try to make legislations that exempt the body of Christ from what Jesus Christ required then as Acts 5:39 says, you will NEVER win against it. They used legislations to oppress Daniel and then threw him in the lions den and in the end they themselves were thrown in this den. We MUST be respectful to the Body of Christ and join with it and not fight against it.
Crystal
The Church is called out for the [purpose] of the saving of souls, the deliverance of mankind from damnation. We are not just a non-profit organisation; we do not raise funds for charitable purposes, but for the spreading of the gospel of Jesus Christ and our finances is solely from gifts known as tithes and offerings. There should be separate rules and regulations for the church separate from just a mere NPO.
Gillian
Jamaica has been classified as low risk for AML [anti- money laundering] and TF [financial terrorism], why take on these burdensome regulations targeting entities who are doing good works?
Crystal
The tithes and offering collected is given from monies that are already taxed and this money collected will not be making profit. Therefore the government needs to revisit this. We are not refusing to pay taxes, we are already paying taxes from our income.
Howard
I think taxes are paid based on income; then if an organization is not profitable ( based on income and expenditure) no tax, registration and accountability is still in order. we will give account to God , but here we also give account to men if we are collecting money which was made by men ( Ceasar)
Anthony
If it is found out that there are terrorist activities in the region, what do we have in place to combat it? How will this registration help?
