Patrick Sookhdeo, founder of the Barnabas Aid charity, which supports persecuted Christians in the majority world, has been suspended along with other executives.
“In the first part of 2024, a series of whistleblower allegations were made against a series of senior figures at Barnabas Aid, namely Patrick Sookhdeo (International Director), Caroline Kerslake (International Director of Projects), Prased Phillips (Deputy International Director) and Noel Frost (then CEO)” according to a note to Barnabas donors issued by the current international CEO Colin Bloom.
Premier Christian Radio in Britain reports the first three have been suspended. But in a repeat of earlier developments at Barnabas Aid, Premier also reports that “the Chair of Barnabas Aid UK, in a letter to supporters has claimed that Bloom’s appointment has not been approved by the Barnabas Aid UK board of trustees.”
Duelling boards were a feature of Sookhdeo’s earlier suspension following his conviction on a charge of sexual assault in 2015. The Other Cheek understands that at this time, the boards in the US, UK and Australia wanted Sookhdeo to go. But there was pushback from other parts of Barnabas, and Sookhdeo was restored to his leadership position. A number of resignations from the Australian board followed.
It is significant that the recent suspension of Sookhdeo was called for from those Anglosphere countries. The donor note reads, ” On 12th August the four chairs of Barnabas Aid from Australia, new Zealand, the USA and the UK wrote to Patrick and Rosemary Sookdeo, Caroline Kerslake and Prased Phillips requiring them to resign from Barnabas Aid.”
Frost had already been dismissed by the time the donor note was issued. At this stage, Sookhdeo and the other three key personnel have been suspended rather than resigned. A London law firm is investigating the use of Barnabas’ charity funds.
Allegations against these leaders are contained in a statement to Premier from Barnabas Aid “Sadly, we have identified examples of serious and repeated contraventions of internal policies; policies that were established to ensure the proper distribution of charitable donations.
“It further appears that the founders, and others, are identified in the interim report as having failed to comply with those policies. Moreover, objectively the founders created a toxic work environment which resulted in staff feeling entirely unable to routinely voice concerns.” The Other Cheek is reporting that these allegations have been made but is not confirming them.
Patrick Sookhdeo has survived a previous determined effort to get rid of him from the charity he founded. Some of the same divisions may be being replicated once more – competing visions from the West and the majority world components of Barnabas Aid.