Governing Authority
Our Faith Ministries exists under the Lordship of Jesus Christ and recognizes Holy Scripture as the governing authority for its mission, conduct, stewardship, relationships, and institutional life. Governance exists not to create an independent source of spiritual authority, but to establish an orderly means by which responsibilities entrusted to the Ministry may be faithfully administered.
“For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace...”1 Corinthians 14:33 (KJV)
Our governance therefore begins with a fundamental principle: authority belongs to God; human beings exercise only entrusted responsibility.
Purpose of Governance
Governance provides the structure through which Our Faith Ministries protects its calling, coordinates its ministries, establishes standards, assigns responsibility, exercises accountability, stewards resources, preserves institutional continuity, and makes decisions consistent with its mission.
Governance is intended to serve the mission rather than become the mission. Organizational structures, offices, policies, procedures, and administrative systems exist because responsible stewardship requires order. They must never become substitutes for spiritual discernment, biblical obedience, or dependence upon God.
“Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”1 Corinthians 4:2 (KJV)
Our Faith Ministries
Our Faith Ministries serves as the governing, coordinating, and administrative head of the ministries established under its authority. It establishes common mission, governing principles, institutional standards, accountability, administrative systems, and stewardship requirements while allowing each ministry to fulfill its particular assignment.
The ministries may differ significantly in function—including formation, fellowship, publishing, training, community development, financial stewardship, resource management, and related services—but they remain united by a common Kingdom purpose and accountable to the governance of Our Faith Ministries.
Delegated Authority
Authority within Our Faith Ministries is delegated according to responsibility.
No office, title, ministry, or individual receives unrestricted institutional authority merely by virtue of position. Responsibilities are defined, authority is granted to accomplish those responsibilities, and appropriate accountability accompanies the exercise of that authority.
The governing principle is:
Responsibility determines authority. Authority requires accountability.
Delegation does not transfer ultimate institutional responsibility away from the governing body. Those who delegate remain responsible for appropriate oversight, while those receiving authority remain accountable for its faithful exercise.
Decision-Making
Decisions should be made at the lowest competent level possessing the responsibility, information, and authority necessary to decide faithfully. Matters should be elevated when they exceed delegated authority, affect multiple ministries, materially alter established policy, involve substantial institutional resources or risk, or concern the mission and governance of Our Faith Ministries itself.
This framework prevents unnecessary centralization while preserving appropriate oversight.
Decision-making should distinguish between spiritual discernment and personal preference. Prayer is essential, but claiming spiritual conviction does not eliminate the responsibility to examine Scripture, facts, consequences, stewardship obligations, governing documents, and appropriate counsel.
“Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.”Proverbs 11:14 (KJV)
Accountability
No person exercising meaningful authority within Our Faith Ministries should function without accountability.
Accountability protects the Ministry, those being served, and the person entrusted with authority. It includes appropriate review of conduct, decisions, stewardship, performance, compliance with governing standards, and continued suitability for assigned responsibility.
Greater authority therefore does not produce greater independence.
Greater authority produces greater accountability.
Stewardship
All resources entrusted to Our Faith Ministries—including finances, property, intellectual property, technology, information, relationships, reputation, organizational authority, and human capability—are to be administered as matters of stewardship.
Resources are not possessed merely because the Ministry controls them. They are entrusted for purposes consistent with the mission.
Accordingly, governance must require appropriate financial controls, records, authorization standards, protection of assets, responsible budgeting, conflict-of-interest safeguards, and periodic review.
“For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required...”Luke 12:48 (KJV)
Ministry Governance
Each ministry operates within the authority granted by Our Faith Ministries while maintaining sufficient operational responsibility to fulfill its particular calling effectively.
Our Faith Ministries establishes the governing framework. Ministry leadership administers the work within that framework.
This relationship permits diversity of function without fragmentation of mission.
International Table Ministries may therefore operate differently from D. Mass Christian Publishers, Bear Foot Construction, or Centrallo & Company because their assignments differ. Their methods need not be identical. Their governing commitments must remain consistent.
Leadership
Leadership within Our Faith Ministries is understood as stewardship and service rather than possession of status.
Those entrusted with leadership are expected to demonstrate spiritual maturity, competence, integrity, teachability, accountability, sound judgment, and faithfulness. Leadership responsibility does not exempt a person from training, correction, review, or established standards.
Jesus established the governing principle:
“Whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant.”Matthew 20:27 (KJV)
Leadership exists to strengthen people and advance the mission—not to build personal constituencies or preserve individual authority.
Governing Documents
Our Faith Ministries maintains an ordered body of governing and administrative documents, including Charters, governance documents, policies and standards, Operational Manuals, Member Handbooks, training requirements, certifications, forms, and related institutional records.
These documents serve different purposes and levels of authority. Administrative procedures must remain subordinate to governing principles, and no lower-level document should contradict a higher governing authority.
Documentation provides continuity so that the Ministry does not become dependent upon the memory, personality, or continued presence of any single individual.
Continuity and Succession
Kingdom stewardship requires preparation for work beyond the tenure or lifetime of present leadership.
Governance must therefore provide for leadership development, succession, preservation of institutional knowledge, orderly transfer of responsibility, protection of mission, and preparation of succeeding generations.
“The same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.”2 Timothy 2:2 (KJV)
The objective is not merely organizational survival. Continuity is valuable only if what continues remains faithful to the purpose for which it was established.
Governing Principle
Our Faith Ministries rejects both disorder and unnecessary institutionalism.
Structure is necessary, but structure must remain a servant.
Authority is necessary, but authority must remain accountable.
Administration is necessary, but administration must remain subordinate to mission.
Leadership is necessary, but leadership must remain under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
Our governance exists to preserve the calling, establish order, protect accountability, steward what God has entrusted to us, coordinate the ministries, and ensure that the work can continue faithfully from one generation to the next.