Faith Charities in Focus (FCIF) is a conference that brings together senior leaders and trustees from churches and faith charities to explore effective governance, shared leadership, and working together in unity.
Organised by Burton Sweet’s Charities and Civil Society Team and hosted by Woodlands Church in Bristol, the event creates an opportunity to reflect on the relationship between spiritual leadership and charity trusteeship, share experiences, and discover practical ways to make the most of the people and resources entrusted to faith organisations.
What is Faith Charities in Focus?
Faith Charities in Focus is an event that explores the governance and leadership challenges facing churches and faith-based charities.
Churches and faith charities often rely on the close working relationship between spiritual leaders, trustees, staff and volunteers. Each has an important role to play in supporting the organisation’s mission, stewarding its resources and ensuring it operates effectively.
Understanding how these responsibilities fit together is essential. When leaders and trustees understand and respect their respective roles, they can work more effectively towards their shared purpose, make informed decisions, and navigate challenges constructively.
FCIF provides a space to explore these issues openly, learn from experienced speakers and exchange ideas with others working in the faith charity sector.
Who is Faith Charities in Focus for?
Faith Charities in Focus is particularly relevant to people responsible for the leadership, governance and effective running of churches and faith charities, including:
- Church and faith charity trustees, including chairs and vice-chairs of trustee boards
- Senior spiritual leaders and church leaders
- Chief executives and senior staff team leaders within faith charities
Whether you are a trustee seeking to strengthen governance or a senior leader looking to develop a more effective working relationship with your trustees, the event offers an opportunity to learn from others facing similar responsibilities and challenges.
Faith Charities in Focus in 2027
The theme for Faith Charities in Focus 2027 is Keeping Unity – Exploring the Partnership of Leaders and Trustees.
Drawing on Romans 12:1–5 and its vision of a unified body with many different parts, the event will explore how senior spiritual leaders and charity trustees can work together while recognising their distinct responsibilities.
Topics include:
- Understanding the respective roles of trustees and senior spiritual leaders
- Managing the shared leadership space, including decisions about money, people, volunteers and buildings
- Clarifying the boundaries and areas of overlap between spiritual and legal authority
- Building effective leadership teams grounded in trust, integrity and a shared purpose
- Handling disagreement constructively and strengthening governance in practice
Through contributions from experienced speakers, representatives from the charity sector and its regulator, and an open panel discussion, delegates will gain practical insights, explore relevant resources, and reflect on their own experiences.
The Next FCIF Conference
The next Faith Charities in Focus event takes place on Saturday 30 January 2027, at Woodlands Church in Clifton, Bristol.
The morning conference will feature experienced speakers, practical guidance, reflections on charity governance and leadership, and a panel discussion giving delegates the opportunity to ask questions and share perspectives.
- Date: Saturday 30 January 2027
- Time: 9 am–1.30 pm, with registration from 8.30 am
- Venue: Woodlands Church, Belgrave Road, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 2AA
- Registration: £10 in advance or £20 on the door, subject to availability
For the full programme, registration information and practical details, visit the Faith Charities in Focus 2027 event page.
Speakers at Faith Charities in Focus
FCIF brings together people with experience in charity governance, church leadership and the practical challenges facing faith organisations. Their contributions aim to equip delegates with knowledge, resources and perspectives they can take back to their own organisations.
Discover the speakers and learn more about their experience and areas of expertise on the dedicated speakers’ page.
Organised by Burton Sweet
Faith Charities in Focus is organised by Burton Sweet’s Charities and Civil Society Team and hosted by Woodlands Church.
This event brings together people with a shared interest in supporting well-governed, effective churches and faith charities, helping leaders and trustees work together to steward their organisations’ people, resources, and responsibilities.
Faith Charities in Focus: Gallery
