What is the role of a church trustee?

from the old testament

• The Old Testament does not directly mention the modern concept of a church trustee, a layperson overseeing property and finance. However, several Old Testament passages establish foundational truths that inform and shape the role of a trustee. Psalm 24:1 tells us that “The earth is the LORD’s, and the fullness thereof.” Any property or resources held by a church are ultimately God’s, not the church’s or the individual trustee’s. A trustee, therefore, serves not as owner, but as caretaker.
• God calls us to steward resources faithfully. For example, the skilled craftsmen who built the tabernacle were responsible to use their gifts and materials for God’s purpose (Exodus 36:2–7). A trustee should manage resources with competence, care, and integrity.
• Numerous scriptures emphasize that leaders must act justly and reliably (e.g., Proverbs 10:9). While not tied specifically to trustees, the principle applies: those who oversee resources must be trustworthy because a trustee’s character matters as much as their duties.

from the new testament

• In the early church, seven men were selected to oversee particular needs within the church (Acts 6:1–7), so the apostles could focus on teaching and prayer. Deacons were later added to local churches as official servants who handled certain areas of church ministry. While deacons generally deal with the needs of people within the church, the role of a church trustee has developed in recent generations to serve the needs related to finance and property issues.
• As trustees, each individual must also be willing and able to work together as a team. First Corinthians 12 notes that each person is important, yet they must also work together to operate effectively.
• First Peter 4:10 also comments about fitting the roles of church members with their abilities: "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace."

implications for today

Since the role of the trustee is not defined in the Bible, a church can choose to use trustees in a variety of ways. This role is not required in Scripture, though some U.S. states legally require trustees for organizational purposes. Certainly, those who serve as trustees should be people of high character and have abilities in appropriate areas, such as skills in finance, construction, or building maintenance.

In some churches, trustees also serve on the official board of directors of the church as a non-profit organization. In these cases, those serving should be people with organizational and leadership abilities, able to successfully conduct the business of the church according to biblical principles. Accountability should also be set up and provided, as trustees will likely oversee church finances and spending.

Many churches with trustees also include the responsibility of risk management and liability issues. In these cases, involving trustees with knowledge of insurance, liability, and legal issues related to non-profit organizations would be of tremendous assistance.

Still other trustees are involved in long-range congregational planning and church vision. While this planning should also include the church's other leaders, such as elders and deacons, these combined efforts can greatly assist a church to best navigate future plans and communicate them effectively with church members.