Universal Church of the Kingdom of God

==Finances==
Reports in 2009 from a Brazilian governmental investigation of [[money laundering]] estimated that the UCKG received [[Brazilian Real|R$]]1.4 billion per year in tithes, collected in 4,500 temples in 1,500 cities in Brazil. From 2003 to 2008, deposits for the church reached R$3.9 billion.<ref name="inquiry">{{cite web|url=http://noticias.terra.com.br/brasil/policia/inqueritos-contra-a-universal-foram-arquivados-diz-advogado,194b4999eed4b310VgnCLD200000bbcceb0aRCRD.html|title= Policia: Inquéritos contra a Universal foram arquivados, diz advogado|language=pt|trans-title=Investigations were filed against Universal, says lawyer|website=Terra|date=11 August 2009|access-date=13 February 2017}}</ref> The church once again was cleared of wrongdoing. {{As of|2015}} UCKG's founder Edir Macedo had a personal fortune estimated at [[US$]]1.1 billion.<ref name=forbes2015/>

A 2011 investigation by ''[[The Times]]'' into the UCKG's British accounts found that donations declared for the financial year 2009-10 were £9,700,000, of which more than £7m was used to purchase [[fixed asset]]s. Over the previous sixteen years it had built up £33,700,000 in fixed assets and had claimed almost [[Pound sterling|£]]8 million in taxpayer subsidies since 2003.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/church-that-coaxes-people-into-debt-gets-public-subsidy-hk8ctllrzwf|url-access=subscription|title=Church that coaxes people into debt gets public subsidy|first=Mark|last=Bridge|date=2 April 2011|access-date=13 September 2018|newspaper=The Times}}</ref> This investigation was not able to prove any wrongdoing by the church or its leaders and ''The Times'' had to issue a retraction and public apology for running the misleading report.{{Citation needed|date=November 2022}}

UCKG reports and financial statements give a picture of the organisation. The accounts from 28 February 2014 of the UK UCKG HelpCentre (registered charity 1043985)<ref>{{cite report|title=The Universal Church for the Kingdom of God, Charity number: 1043985|publisher=Charity Commission for England and Wales|date= 28 February 2014|url=http://apps.charitycommission.gov.uk/Showcharity/RegisterOfCharities/DocumentList.aspx?RegisteredCharityNumber=1043985&SubsidiaryNumber=0&DocType=AccountList }}</ref> give an overview of the organisation's aims, and detailed accounts as submitted to [[Companies House]]. The report says that "the charity exists to advance the Christian faith and for such charitable purposes as the Trustees shall from time to time decide. ... It is committed to helping people to discover their potential and live life to the full as well as working to expand and reach out to as many people as possible with the message of the Gospel. This is done through evangelism, advertising campaigns and the opening of new branches. The charity also provides financial support to its sister churches in developing nations via the issue of loans presented as programme related investments in the balance sheet."

A complete list of charitable activities stated is:
* Provision of Church Services: the charity's primary activity.
* Support for Overseas Churches: loans and donations to our sister churches.
* Training Centre: providing vocational in London.
* Children's Biblical Centre
* Bookshop: run by the charity 
* Delight Cafe: with proceeds going to the work of the HelpCentre.
* Pilgrimage to Israel
* One-off events:

Income: Total voluntary income £14,139,298, of which £12,073,881 from donations from church services, plus £1,646,936 from the government as [[gift aid]] reclaim (taxpayer subsidy). From fundraising and investment about £850,000. Support costs (staff, electricity, etc.) £1,304,695.

Charitable expenditure: total £10,661,372, of which £9,607,636 on provision of church services.

[[Book value]] of [[tangible fixed asset]]s (mainly land and buildings): £40,846,703, similar to the previous year.