Trustees: Faithful Stewards

Most people don’t come to church thinking about insurance policies, maintenance budgets, or employment procedures, and they shouldn’t have to. That’s exactly why God raises up wise, steady leaders to think about those things on behalf of the body. Their faithfulness in these often unseen areas helps ensure that the visible ministries of the church can thrive.

At First Free, much of this quiet but vital work is carried out by our Trustee Board: spiritually grounded, practically gifted men and women who steward the church’s temporal affairs with diligence, wisdom, and deep care for Christ’s mission.

Their work may not be in the spotlight, but it supports everything that is, from staff to sanctuary, Sunday school to global missions.

A Biblical Vision for Faithful Stewardship

While the office of trustee is not directly named in Scripture, the calling it represents—faithful stewardship—is deeply biblical. From Genesis to Revelation, God entrusts His people with resources and responsibilities, and He calls them to manage those things not as owners but as caretakers (1 Corinthians 4:1–2; Luke 16:10–12).

In the early church, we see this principle in action when the apostles appoint qualified individuals to handle the daily distribution of food so that the Word of God can continue to spread without neglecting practical needs (Acts 6). Later, the apostle Paul emphasizes the importance of administrative and support roles in the body of Christ, describing them as gifts empowered by the Spirit for the common good (1 Corinthians 12:28; Romans 12:6–8).

Far from being peripheral, good stewardship is central to the mission of the church. It ensures that gospel ministry is supported, protected, and positioned to flourish.

What Trustees Actually Do

At First Free, the Trustee Board is legally and biblically responsible for the church’s temporal affairs - that is, everything that supports and safeguards our ministry life together. These responsibilities are wide-ranging and essential. They include:

• Managing church finances, including offerings, budgets, and accounts
• Overseeing facilities, repairs, equipment, and future planning for property needs
• Reviewing and updating employment policies and staff compensation
• Coordinating with the Elder Board on evaluations, job descriptions, and personnel matters
• Ensuring legal and constitutional compliance, including reporting to the congregation
• Safeguarding confidential information, including donor records
• Preparing for and approving major financial or property decisions, with appropriate congregational input

In short, Trustees make sure the house is in order—financially, operationally, and legally—so that ministry can move forward with confidence and clarity.

Why This Matters for the Church

Trustees protect the church from avoidable risk. They ensure that money is handled with integrity, that people are treated with fairness, that staff are supported with clarity, and that facilities remain a blessing and not a burden.

Without this kind of intentional, godly oversight, churches often find themselves hindered by confusion, exposed to legal or financial vulnerabilities, or divided over issues that could have been prevented. But when Trustees serve well (prayerfully, thoughtfully, humbly), the church is freed to focus on its mission.

Trustees serve the church not in place of ministry, but for the sake of ministry.

Who Can Serve?

Serving on the Trustee Board requires more than practical skill. It requires spiritual steadiness. Though not an office of spiritual authority like that of elder, trustees must nevertheless be people of tested character, doctrinal agreement, and trustworthy judgment.

At First Free, we look for men and women who:

• Demonstrate humility, discretion, and maturity
• Have a heart for the church and its mission
• Possess competence or experience in relevant areas (finance, law, HR, property management, etc.)
• Are able to listen well, make careful decisions, and maintain appropriate confidentiality
• Work in harmony with the Elder Board and Lead Pastor

The New Testament’s qualifications for deacons (1 Timothy 3:8–13) serve as a helpful guide for evaluating trustee candidates, even if the roles differ. This is a ministry of trust, and those who hold it must be worthy of that trust.

A Word to the Church

The Trustee Board may not be a teaching office, but it teaches something profound: that everything in the church belongs to Christ and should be handled in a way that honors Him.

Their labor enables others to preach, disciple, care, and worship without unnecessary distraction. Their decisions shape the day-to-day realities of church life and the long-term fruitfulness of our mission.

So let’s thank them. Let’s pray for them. Let’s support them by honoring their work and partnering in it through faithful giving, thoughtful participation, and shared trust.

And if you know someone who embodies this kind of wisdom, humility, and care, perhaps God is shaping them for this role. Perhaps He’s shaping you.

A Final Word

The gospel is not just about souls. It’s about the whole of life. And the church is not just a spiritual body, but a living community with real needs, real resources, and real people called to serve wisely.

Trustees remind us that Christ’s lordship extends to budgets and blueprints, policies and personnel. They bear witness to a God who cares about details, who loves His church, and who entrusts His people with meaningful work for the good of others.

Let’s thank God for this ministry. Let’s support it. And let’s steward whatever He has placed in our hands—faithfully, prayerfully, and with open hearts.

If you’d like to pray for our current Trustees, here are their names:

Sam Coccia
Marcus Costanza
Jesse Fawcett
Roy Laux - Chairman
Buzz Saxon

We will discuss the related roles of our Financial Secretary, Treasurer, Recording Secretary, and Head Usher in future posts.

This post is part of an ongoing series designed to deepen our understanding of the biblical roles within Christ’s church. May it stir your prayers, affirm your gratitude, and help us all serve one another in love.