Trustees: Appointment, powers, duties and responsibilities

Trustees have extensive powers over how a church or Christian charity operates. But with power comes responsibility and expectations. This paper - which forms part of a series on trustees - looks at the appointment, powers, duties and responsibilities of trustees, drawing heavily on the Charity Governance Code and Charity Commission guidance CC3 - the essential trustee.

Topics covered include:

• the appointment and length of appointment of trustees
• the legal definition of a trustee
• trustees and collective decision making
• the Charity Governance Code
• the seven duties of trustees as set out by the Charity Commission in its guidance CC3, 'The Essential Trustee'

Updated August 2024