The Need for a Church Board or Board of Trustees

For years our church has existed without a functioning church board. If we did, it was mostly to fill in some urgent need, like the SEC registration. Most of the time, we had none. One may ask, if the church functioned without it to this day, maybe it is not that important. But no. The fact is, the ministry functions to this day because, even though we did not have a Board for many years, its responsibilities and functions were shouldered by a few. With your pastor not so young anymore, it is time to spread out and delegate the responsibilities that should have been handled by others from the start.

So, let’s clarify this by answering the following questions:

• what is church board/board of trustees?
• what are their areas of responsibility?
• what are the key responsibilities of the Board members?
• how can the church have a functioning Board?

What is a church board?

The church board, sometimes known as a church board of directors or trustees, is a governing body responsible for overseeing the spiritual, administrative, and financial well-being of a religious institution. It’s essentially the backbone of a church, providing guidance, strategic direction, and accountability.

It is a governing body. It is not one-man work. Ideally, it should be composed of 5 to 7 persons, enough to come up with a desirable consensus for a small congregation. A small church can function well enough with just the pastor making all the decisions, but its growth may be limited by the capacity of that one person. This could be one of the reasons why the apostles ordained “elders” in every city. (Titus 1:5)

What are its responsibilities?

The responsibilities of a functioning church board cover the following:

• Financial Oversight: This is a crucial responsibility, involving budgeting, managing church resources, approving expenditures, ensuring financial transparency, and complying with all legal requirements for nonprofit organizations.
• Strategic Planning: Boards are responsible for developing the church’s core mission, vision, and values, and then creating strategies and plans to achieve those goals. 
• Leadership and Accountability: They provide support and accountability for the pastor and other church leaders, ensuring they are fulfilling their roles and adhering to the church’s mission. 
• Legal Compliance: Churches, as nonprofits, must follow various state and federal laws. The board ensures the church operates in compliance with these regulations, including maintaining bylaws and official records. 
• Property Management: Overseeing the maintenance and use of church property and assets.

On a personal note, your pastor has always tried involve the key leaders in our church in planning and making decisions that affect the whole body. But the bulk of responsibilities remained upon me, which is why are strategic planning and course of action remained limited. It is high time for the church to appoint spiritual men, with wisdom from God, who will share with the burdens of the ministry.

What are the key responsibilities of the Board members?

Appointing men to this leadership function require certain qualifications applicable to the tasks. I trust our congregation is wise enough to elect members who possess the following desirable skills and qualities:

• Commitment: Demonstrating a deep personal faith and dedication to the church’s purpose.
• Integrity: Exhibiting honesty and good judgment in all their actions.
• Stewardship: Responsibly managing the church’s resources (financial, property, etc.).
• Collaboration: Working effectively as a team with other board members and church leadership.
• Communication: Possessing strong communication and listening skills.
• Strategic Thinking: Contributing to the long-term vision and goals of the church.

The Board of Trustees shall be composed of men who spiritually mature and possess leadership abilities that can help them perform their assignment for the benefit of the people of God the ministry. It is my prayer that the congregation shall choose wisely and prayerfully, as this will affect how the ministry direction and progress for years to come.