Meet the Church Council (Trustees)

Church Council (Trustees)

At Bethel Witham, we are both a church and a registered charity. The Church Council serves as the trustees of the charity and is responsible for the governance, compliance and financial stewardship of the church.

The role of the Church Council is not spiritual oversight or pastoral leadership. Instead, it exists to ensure the church is well governed, legally compliant and financially responsible, providing a strong and stable foundation that enables the spiritual life and mission of the church to flourish.

What does the Church Council do?

The Church Council is responsible for:

• Charity governance and trusteeship

• Financial oversight, budgeting and stewardship

• Compliance with charity and employment law

• Oversight of buildings, property and insurance

• Ensuring appropriate policies and procedures are in place and followed

By carrying these responsibilities, the Church Council helps protect the church, its people and its resources, allowing ministry and mission to grow in a healthy and sustainable way.

How the Church Council fits with other leadership

Leadership at Bethel Witham is shared across distinct but complementary roles.

The elders are responsible for the spiritual oversight of the church, offering prayer, discernment, pastoral care and safeguarding biblical teaching.

The pastor provides day-to-day spiritual leadership, preaching and pastoral oversight, working closely with the elders in leading the life and direction of the church.

The Church Council serves as the trustees of the charity, overseeing governance, finance and compliance, and ensuring the church operates responsibly and in line with charity law.

Together, these roles support the spiritual health, integrity and long-term sustainability of the church.

Our Trustees

Members of the Church Council are drawn from the church family and bring a range of skills, experience and perspectives. Trustees serve voluntarily and give their time to support the church in fulfilling its charitable purposes.

The current members of the Church Council are:

• Chris Taylor – Chair

• Chris Cottrell – Treasurer

• Scott  Jay

• Andrew Brett

• Musole Gurnett

• David Cameron

• Dann Smith

• Miriam Goodall
  
  

Why this matters

Good governance matters. It provides accountability, protects the church and helps ensure that decisions are made wisely and responsibly.

The Church Council plays a vital role in enabling Bethel Witham to pursue its mission with integrity, clarity and confidence, supporting the spiritual leadership of the elders and pastor while stewarding the practical and legal responsibilities of the church.