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FabricMinistries

Stewardship

How we are governed and funded.

It is required of stewards that they be found faithful (1 Corinthians 4:2). So we wrote our guardrails into our founding documents, and we publish them, aiming at what is honourable in the sight of God and of man (2 Corinthians 8:21).

“Shepherd the flock of God that is among you… not for shameful gain, but eagerly.”
(1 Peter 5:2)

A board that guards the mission

  • A small board of seven directors, not a parliament of churches (Exodus 18:21)
  • Directors serve the mission, not their own church, a donor or a sponsor (Matthew 6:24)
  • Most, and ideally all, directors serve without pay (1 Peter 5:2)
  • Conflicts of interest disclosed and governed by written policy (Proverbs 11:3)
  • No church earns a seat through volunteers, money, facilities or prestige (James 2:1)
  • No donor receives governing authority by making a gift (Acts 8:20)
  • Every director signs the Statement of Faith on appointment and reaffirms it every year (2 Timothy 1:13–14)

The board renews itself: vacancies are filled by the remaining directors after prayer, careful examination and doctrinal agreement, with six of seven required to elect (Acts 6:3; 1 Timothy 3:10). Changing the Statement of Faith requires unanimity (Galatians 1:8).

(1 Timothy 3:1–7; Titus 1:5–9)

Held to the character of an overseer

  • Above reproach
  • Sober-minded
  • Self-controlled
  • Respectable
  • Hospitable
  • Able to teach
  • Not quarrelsome
  • Not a lover of money
  • Managing his household well
  • Of good reputation
  • Upright
  • Holding firm to sound doctrine

Our directors are not church elders, but they must meet the biblical qualifications for one. Following those passages, governing spiritual authority on our board is held by qualified men (1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:6). We state this openly and accept what it costs us.

Guarding against drift

Seven things we will never become.

Mission drift is easier to prevent than to cure. Do not be conformed to this world (Romans 12:2).

Money buys no spiritual authority here.

“You could not obtain the gift of God with money” (Acts 8:20).

  • A broad base of individual givers (2 Corinthians 9:7)
  • Church gifts welcome, without membership or control (Philippians 4:15–16)
  • Grants only when their conditions leave doctrine and mission untouched (Matthew 6:24)
  • Government funding approached with caution, and declined if it would compromise us (Acts 5:29)
  • No prosperity promises, no paying for prayer, no manipulative appeals (1 Timothy 6:5; Acts 8:20)
  • Restricted gifts accepted only when we can truly honour them (Matthew 5:37)
  • Paid staff where full-time skill and accountability are needed, for the labourer deserves his wages (1 Timothy 5:18)

What we count

Not income, headcount or size, but fruit (Matthew 7:16; John 15:8):

  1. 1People actually served
  2. 2Active, trained volunteers
  3. 3Volunteer hours in direct ministry
  4. 4Previously absent ministries established
  5. 5Ministry leaders trained
  6. 6People receiving sustained support
  7. 7Successful referrals to specialists
  8. 8Ministries reproduced elsewhere
  9. 9Cost per person meaningfully served
  10. 10Share of spending on direct ministry

Published documents

Read our founding documents.

Every policy, every tournament and every year’s spending, in public. For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest (Luke 8:17).

Fabric Ministries is a California nonprofit public benefit corporation, recognised as tax-exempt under Internal Revenue Code §501(c)(3) and registered with the California Attorney General’s Registry of Charities and Fundraisers. We honour the laws of the land (Romans 13:1, 7).

“Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.”
(1 Corinthians 4:2)

Give gladly.

(2 Corinthians 9:7)

Every gift is receipted, every year is publicly reported, and no gift ever buys influence (2 Corinthians 8:20–21).

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