A PUBLIC COVENANT FOR THE FUTURE

Stewardship &
Governance Plan

Stay at the Table must never become a platform through which one human being, congregation, denomination, donor, or political interest controls a Christian voice. If it grows in influence, its power will be divided, accountable, transparent, and held in trust.

THE FOUNDING COVENANT

“Stay at the Table belongs to no individual, congregation, denomination, political party, donor, or faction. Its leaders are temporary stewards. Jesus Christ is its head.”

Human beings will necessarily perform the organization’s legal and practical work, but none will be treated as its spiritual head. Every leader—including the founder—is accountable to Jesus Christ, Scripture, this public covenant, the Christian community, and one another.

This plan is a present public commitment and a framework for future governing documents. When a legal organization is formed, its bylaws and policies should make these safeguards enforceable rather than leaving them dependent upon goodwill.

WHAT WILL NOT CHANGE

Permanent commitments

DISTRIBUTED RESPONSIBILITY

Five forms of stewardship

No individual may chair more than one of these bodies. Foundational decisions require agreement across more than one body.

01

Governing board

Legal duties, finances, staffing, security, and organizational health.

02

Christian discernment council

Mission, theological integrity, prayerful discernment, and faithfulness to the covenant.

03

Editorial council

Sources, published resources, balance, corrections, and clear distinctions between fact and interpretation.

04

Community assembly

Representative participation, selection of stewards, and consent for foundational changes.

05

Independent ethics panel

Complaints, conflicts of interest, misuse of authority, protection from retaliation, and appeals.

A WIDER CHRISTIAN TABLE

No single faction may quietly define the whole.

Shared leadership should include faithful Christians from several broad traditions and communities, with room for both agreement and openly stated differences on secondary questions.

Selection will not depend solely upon the founder’s personal invitations. A concise Christ-centered affirmation, disclosed conflicts, demonstrated character, and a commitment to this covenant will be required.

Representation is not a claim that truth is decided by a vote. It is a safeguard against allowing one circle of people to speak as though it represents the whole body of Christ.

A TRANSITION THAT DOES NOT DEPEND ON ONE PERSON

Growth automatically brings accountability.

01Now

Founding stewardship

The founder serves as the first steward while this covenant, decision records, editorial standards, finances, access, and operating knowledge are documented. An initial advisory group begins to form. The founder may act decisively during this stage, but the stated destination is shared stewardship—not permanent personal control.

02When influence becomes material

Advisory accountability

A diverse, publicly identified advisory council is required when any one of these occurs: 5,000 verified participants or subscribers; paid staff; $50,000 in annual contributions or revenue; or sustained regional or national public influence. The council reviews major public positions, finances, conflicts, safety, and progress toward independent governance.

03Within 12 months of a threshold

Shared governance

An appropriate nonprofit or public-benefit legal structure is established. Governing, discernment, editorial, community, and ethics responsibilities are separated. No major change to mission, leadership, finances, or public advocacy may be made by one person acting alone.

04After stable shared governance

Independent stewardship

The founder becomes one steward among others, with a voice and one vote but no permanent chair, unilateral veto, ownership claim, or right to select every successor. The organization continues through accountable leaders serving limited terms under the same public covenant.

The stated thresholds are guardrails, not permission to delay. Shared accountability may begin sooner whenever the project’s reach, funding, risk, or public influence makes it wise.

STRUCTURAL SAFEGUARDS

Leadership held in trust

  • Fixed terms, term limits, and required time away from leadership
  • No lifetime seats or inherited offices
  • Supermajority and cross-body consent for foundational decisions
  • Independent financial review and public annual reporting
  • Disclosure of significant donors and conflicts of interest
  • Donation concentration limits and no donor-directed conclusions
  • Published reasons for major decisions and visible corrections
  • Good-faith dissent and whistleblower protection
  • Independent complaints, discipline, removal, and appeal processes
  • Privacy for pastoral matters and vulnerable participants
  • No sale or transfer to a political, denominational, or commercial interest
  • Mission-compatible stewardship of assets if the organization dissolves

OUR STEWARDSHIP COMMITMENT

Accountable stewardship under Christ.

If Stay at the Table grows into a significant Christian institution, the commitment of its founding stewardship is to distribute authority among accountable Christian stewards under this public covenant. That commitment means no permanent founder veto, no unilateral control over every successor, and no claim that one person speaks for all Christians.

The purpose of this work is to help Christians remain at the table with Christ and one another. Daniel shares the welcome and vision with his family’s support; the project’s legal, financial, and safeguarding responsibilities remain with responsible adults.