The role of a church trustee: Duties, responsibilities & more

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There are many vital roles in a church’s leadership team. One of these is the church trustee. A trustee in the church is someone who helps lead and govern a local church so that it operates effectively and ministers to its community. 

Different denominations and sects of Christianity call their church leaders or church trustees by different names. Some churches call its governing body a “board of elders,” others call it a “church council,” and yet others may refer to it as a “trustee board” akin to the language that a commercial corporation may use for its governing body.

What does the Bible say about church trustees? Well, the Bible doesn’t use that term, technically. However, trustees play an important role in ensuring proper stewardship and governance of their churches.

Let’s take a look at what a trustee is, their qualifications, how to become a trustee, and the responsibilities that come with this important leadership role.

Exploring the role & responsibilities of church trustees

What is a church trustee?

A church trustee responsible for overseeing a specific aspect of the church, specifically finances and the property of the church. They are members of a church elected to oversee the church’s physical, financial, and legal responsibilities. 

Trustees serve as stewards, ensuring that the church's resources, properties, and assets are maintained and used in alignment with the mission and vision of the church. Often, they play a crucial role in ensuring that the church is financially responsible and is legally compliant in its operations.

What does a church trustee do?

Church trustees’ duties and responsibilities vary in different contexts, handling a wide range of duties, including maintaining the church property, managing financial matters, and ensuring compliance with legal and organizational regulations. 

While pastors and elders are responsible for the spiritual health of the church, trustees oversee more business-related items, such as reviewing budgets, authorizing expenditures, and ensuring that facilities are safe and functional for church activities. 

Additionally, trustees often work closely with pastors, leadership teams, and committees to make informed decisions about church operations, large-scale projects, and investments. Their work supports the mission of the church by allowing ministry efforts to thrive within a stable and well-managed environment.

Church trustee responsibilities: A closer look

So what are some of the key responsibilities of a church board of trustees? Let’s dive more deeply into their responsibilities. Here are a few of them with some examples:

1. Financial Stewardship & Budgeting
   • Trustees often sit on the church finance committee that oversees the church's money matters, including the creation and approval of the annual budget. 
   • This involves reviewing income from tithes and offerings, allocating funds to various ministries, managing operational costs, and ensuring the church maintains financial transparency and integrity. They may also approve special financial projects, such as building renovations or outreach programs.
2. Staff Oversight & Hiring
   • They may be involved in hiring church staff, including pastors, staff, and administrative personnel. As leaders, they’re expected to lead these efforts by forming search committees, interviewing candidates, and making final decisions on staffing. 
   • Once staff are hired, trustees often provide oversight and ensure staff are supported, holding them accountable to the church’s mission and vision.
3. Policy Development & Governance
   • Trustees are responsible for establishing and maintaining policies that guide the operation of the church. This can include setting policies for church discipline, creating procedures for conflict resolution, managing membership processes, and defining the structure of church ministries. 
   • They work with the pastor and elders to ensure that these policies are biblically sound and consistently applied to maintain unity and order within the church body.

Those are just a few of the common responsibilities that fall to church boards of trustees.

How to become a church trustee

You might be wondering, “How do I become a church board member?” It’s hard to answer this question definitively because the trustee selection process varies so widely within the Christian tradition. 

As previously stated, some Christian traditions believe the office of elder is exclusive to men according to the Bible. Beyond that, churches may have different beliefs or standards about what makes for a faithful, biblical church trustee or councilmember. 

The process for becoming a church trustee typically involves nomination, evaluation, and approval by church leadership or members. Potential trustees are often nominated by a pastor, church leadership team, or fellow congregation members based on their qualifications, commitment to the church, and demonstrated integrity. 

Nominees often go through an evaluation process, which can include interviews, background checks, and discussions about their faith, business skills and acumen, and willingness to serve. 

In many churches, the final step involves a vote of approval by the church board or congregation during a business meeting. Once approved, trustees may be formally installed during a church service, symbolizing their commitment to their new responsibilities.

Church trustees: Vital to good governance & stewardship

Church board meetings and leadership discussions are often joked about as boring and tedious, but faithful church governance is vital to church health. 

Having solid, trustworthy trustees is essential to the smooth and faithful operation of a local church. Without rock-solid foundational leadership made up of people who look to Christ as the true leader of the church, the ministry of the local church can falter like a house built on sand. 

We hope this information has been insightful and useful. Check out the list of free resources below for more related topics. 

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