2. Organizational Structure

SARSTM is structured in three interconnected tiers that ensure broad participation, clear oversight, and effective day-to-day leadership.

• President & Chief Executive Officer: The President serves as the Society’s chief executive officer, providing strategic leadership, overseeing operations, representing SARSTM publicly, and working with the Board of Directors to advance the Society’s mission and vision.
• General Assembly – All registered members of SARSTM, forming the highest deliberative and representative body.
• Board of Directors – A selected group of members tasked with strategic oversight, policy formation, and fiduciary responsibility.
• Executive Leadership – The Executive Director and department heads who lead daily operations and implement the mission and strategy.

These three tiers work together so that authority flows from the membership, strategy is shaped at the board level, and implementation is carried by the executive team in close relationship with staff and partners.

3. General Assembly

The General Assembly is composed of all members in good standing. It is the highest representative body of SARSTM and serves as the primary forum where the community as a whole speaks into the direction of the organization.

The General Assembly typically meets on a regular basis (in person or online) to receive reports, reflect on the work of SARSTM, and consider proposals brought by the Board of Directors or the membership.

• Electing leaders – Members elect the Board of Directors and may confirm or endorse key leadership appointments according to the organization’s formal rules.
• Ratifying major decisions – Significant changes, such as mission statements, strategic directions, or major structural adjustments, are brought to the General Assembly for discussion and ratification.
• Providing collective voice – Members can bring forward concerns, insights, and proposals. The General Assembly offers a shared space to discern emerging needs in theology and mission across South Asia.

In this way, the General Assembly ensures that SARSTM remains rooted in its membership and responsive to the wider community it serves.

4. Board of Directors

The Board of Directors is entrusted with the strategic oversight of SARSTM. Board members are drawn from the General Assembly and are expected to bring a mix of theological, missional, organizational, and regional experience.

• Strategic direction – The Board discerns long-term priorities, approves strategic plans, and ensures that programs and partnerships remain aligned with SARSTM’s mission and values.
• Policy and governance – The Board approves organizational policies, governance guidelines, and key frameworks that guide how SARSTM operates.
• Fiduciary responsibility – Board members oversee the responsible use of financial and material resources, including budgets, audits, and risk management.
• Accountability to members – The Board is accountable to the General Assembly. It reports regularly on decisions, finances, and outcomes, and invites feedback and questions from members.

Board members serve within defined terms and are expected to uphold high standards of integrity, confidentiality where appropriate, and openness to learning from the diverse contexts represented within SARSTM.

5. Executive Leadership

Executive Leadership is responsible for turning shared vision into practical action. This team is led by the Executive Director and supported by department heads and senior staff.

• Day-to-day operations – The Executive Director oversees the daily work of SARSTM, including programs, events, partnerships, and staff coordination.
• Implementation of strategy – In close collaboration with the Board, the executive team translates approved strategies and policies into concrete plans, budgets, and activities.
• Staff care and development – Executive leaders are responsible for recruiting, supporting, and developing staff and volunteers, fostering a healthy and inclusive working culture.
• Reporting and communication – The Executive Director provides regular updates to the Board and General Assembly, sharing progress, challenges, and emerging opportunities.

Executive leaders are expected to embody SARSTM’s values in their leadership style, practicing humility, collaboration, and careful attention to the diverse contexts in which SARSTM serves.

6. Accountability

SARSTM believes that healthy accountability protects both the organization and its leaders. It creates space for trust, correction, and growth.

• Clear terms of service – Board members and key leaders serve for defined terms, with expectations for re-appointment, rotation, and opportunities for new leaders to emerge.
• Regular reviews – The performance of the Executive Director and executive team is reviewed by the Board, while the Board’s own effectiveness is periodically evaluated by the General Assembly or a designated committee.
• Board oversight – The Board monitors financial management, major initiatives, and organizational risks, and provides guidance and correction when needed.
• Member feedback and reporting – Members are encouraged to raise concerns, offer suggestions, and request information through defined channels. Reports and reviews are shared back with the membership.

When concerns arise, SARSTM aims to address them with fairness, discretion, and a commitment to restoration wherever possible.

7. Transparency

Transparency is an expression of respect for SARSTM’s members, supporters, and partners. We aim to communicate openly about how decisions are made and how resources are used.

• Financial summaries – SARSTM prepares clear financial summaries and shares them with members, highlighting income sources, major expenses, and reserves.
• Meeting reports – Key decisions from Board and General Assembly meetings are summarized and made available to members in an accessible format.
• Policy and governance documents – Core governance documents, such as the mission statement, strategic priorities, and key policies, are made available to members and, where appropriate, to the public.
• Regular updates – Members receive periodic updates on projects, partnerships, and developments, including both successes and challenges.

By sharing information proactively, SARSTM invites informed participation, constructive feedback, and deeper shared ownership of the mission.

8. Stewardship

Stewardship at SARSTM means handling all that has been entrusted to us with care, humility, and purpose. This includes financial resources, the time and gifts of people, and the trust of churches, institutions, and partners across South Asia and beyond.

• Financial stewardship – Budgets are planned carefully, spending is tracked and reviewed, and external audits or reviews are used where appropriate to strengthen confidence.
• Human and vocational stewardship – Staff, volunteers, and scholars are encouraged to serve within their strengths, supported in their development, and protected from harmful workloads and expectations.
• Relational stewardship – Relationships with churches, seminaries, networks, and communities are nurtured with honesty, clear communication, and mutual respect.

Through wise stewardship, SARSTM seeks to honor God, serve the South Asian church and academy, and ensure that resources are focused on work that truly advances theology and mission in the region.