Beth-El Baptist Church

07/11/2010

Greg Tomlinson


What are church trustees and other official church roles?


There are many denominations and churches who have what they call trustees. Many times no one really states what the trustee is and what he is responsible for. When speaking about churches, most people refer to the offices of pastor/elder/overseer/presbyter and deacon. The scriptures do however state other official roles associated with the church, mostly in the Old Testament.


  1. What is a trustee?

Trustee is a legal term for a holder of property on behalf of a beneficiary. The trustee is has the duty to carry out the expressed terms of the trust, defend the trust, invest trust assets and be impartial with respect to the beneficiaries. It could also be used for those acting as a board of directors. The trustee has the ability to sign legal documents on behalf of the beneficiaries. In a church setting, the beneficiaries are in one sense the people of the local assembly. In another sense, the beneficiary is God.


In a very narrow sense of the word, the trustee of a church is responsible for the legal requirements associated with the operation of the assembly before man. But in its broader sense, they are responsible for the operation of the assembly before God. It is both of these aspects that are of interest.


1 Peter 5:1-4


  1. What does a trustee do?

Acts 2:44-47; 20:27-31 Jude 1:3-4

Acts 17:11 2 Kings 12:4-15

1 Peter 3:15-16 Numbers 7:1-9

1 Chronicles 15:1-3; 23:27-32 2 Chronicles 7:5-6; 8:14; 23:18-19; 29:25-30

Nehemiah 13:4-13


When considering that one of the beneficiaries of the assembly of believers is the spreading of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, then one type of trustee is to ensure that what is being taught is right and biblical. The trustee of the Gospel, the most precious of possessions that must be guarded, is also called to “contend” or defend the truth of the scriptures before others.


In the Old Testament, there were those who were responsible for the care of the tabernacle and the temple. They needed to ensure that the physical facilities were kept in good working order as a sign of respect and service to God. Other trustees type positions were responsible for bringing the praises of God in the assembly of believers. Some were musicians who were entrusted with bringing forth the praises of God in musical form.


  1. Who can be a trustee?

1 Peter 5:1-4 James 3:1

Ephesians 4:1-3 Colossians 1:10-14

1 Thessalonians 2:11-12 1 Peter 2:7-10

Ephesians 5:25-27 Hebrews 11:1-2

2 Corinthians 5:18-20 1 Corinthians 11:1

Philippians 3:17-20 1 Timothy 3:1-7; 3:8-10; 3:12-16

Hebrews 13:17


The first picture of those who are to function as a type of trustee is the pastor/elder/overseer/ presbyter of the assembly. He is called to be an example and is held responsible for those whom God has entrusted to their care. In the final analysis, every believer is to be a trustee of the work and mission given by God through Jesus Christ.