Canberra-based New Connection Church has charity status revoked

The New Connection Church in Canberra's north has had its charity status revoked by the national charities regulator.

The church is a Bible-believing congregation funded by donations with a small following of about 40 people, according to its pastor Glenn Maloney.

But as a registered charity it is entitled it to a range of tax concessions, and the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission has today revoked its registration.

Murray Baird from the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission said the church had failed to provide an annual report required by law.

"If an organisation is reluctant to provide that report and transparency we really don't know if they are a genuine charity, whether they're carrying out their work and most particularly whether the money is getting through," he said.

Pastor Maloney said the New Connection Church was based in Belconnen, but was currently between premises.

He said the church worked with people in need, including drug addicts and prostitutes.

Mr Maloney said the organisation was currently working with its accountant to provide the commission with the documents it needed.

"We need to look at tightening up our paperwork," he said.

The church is the fourth organisation to have its charity status revoked by the ACNC, Mr Baird said.

"Each for different reasons, but mostly to do with public trust and confidence in the register," he said.

"So if we really don't know what's going on and we can't get any information of what's going on, we think it's appropriate that organisations should not be on our register."