Nashville First Baptist Church entrusts a body of lay leaders, called trustees, to collaborate with the members, pastors, staff, deacons, and standing committees to oversee the work of the church.
There are 9 trustees serving staggered terms of 3 years. Trustees are eligible for a renewal term of 3 years. After serving a renewal term, however, an individual must take a 1-year sabbatical and is not eligible to serve.
The following trustees have terms expiring on December 31, 2025: David Clay, Brad Dunn, and Joy Harris. Each of these trustees has already served a renewal term and is not eligible to serve as a trustee in 2026.
According to the church bylaws, the trustee selection process occurs in the fourth quarter of each year. The selection process is conducted by an ad hoc Trustee Selection Committee formed by the current trustee chair. The Trustee Selection Committee must consist of two trustees, the deacon chair, and two additional members. The 2025 Trustee Selection Committee consists of David Clay and Linda Tullock (as trustee representatives), Andy Matthews (as current deacon chair), and John Galloway and Don King (as additional church members selected by the trustee chair).
The first step in the selection process is for the congregation to prayerfully recommend church members to serve as trustees. This process will begin on October 13. A link will be posted on the church website, reminders will be included in the weekly emails, and mentioned during services. If you prefer a paper form, please contact Kim Hester in the church office. To make a recommendation, you must be a church member and provide a brief explanation for your recommendation. The period to make recommendations will end on October 27.
The Trustee Selection Committee will consider all recommendations and develop a slate of nominees to present to the church membership for approval or disapproval of each nominee. To be selected, a nominee must receive at least 2/3rds approval from the members voting.
Qualifications (set forth in Article VIII(c) of church bylaws)
- Member of the church for a minimum of 3 years
- No church staff member may serve as a trustee. Deacons may serve as trustees, but a trustee may not serve as a deacon officer or a member of the finance, personnel, property management, or missions committees at the same time as serving as a trustee.
- Demonstrated spiritual maturity, godly wisdom, leadership, and a committed faith that gives evidence of the lordship of Jesus.
- Demonstrated a consistency in stewardship by tithing to the church as a minimum level of giving.
- Be an active participant in the church and demonstrate a commitment to the mission, objectives, and values of the church.
- Be willing to follow scriptural principles for conflict resolution, maintain confidentiality, and make decisions objectively without bias to particular areas of ministry or other matters.
- Demonstrated a high standard of Christ-like life and be free of behavior that would negatively affect the ministry of the church.
- Agree with the Articles of Faith and beliefs of the church as set forth in the charter and bylaws.
- Demonstrated the fruit of the Spirit described in Galatians 5.
The other trustees currently serving hold the following terms:
- Expiring December 31, 2026: Andrew Cotten, Andrea Overby, and Wes Turner
- Expiring December 31, 2027: Wes Turner, Linda Tullock, and Jason Shull