Accountability
What we're committed to.
For over a hundred years Futures Church has built its practice around clear commitments: child safety, financial accountability, and transparent governance.
01
Child safety
We follow clear child-protection practices in line with the relevant standards in each country we operate. Every adult serving with children or young people is screened, trained, and held accountable to our written safeguarding framework, which is reviewed annually.
If you have a concern, you can speak with your campus pastor, email info@futures.church, or report it directly to the relevant authority in your jurisdiction.
02
Financial accountability
Futures Church has practised strong financial accountability across a century of ministry, and is independently audited each year in the USA and Australia.
For finance questions, email info@futures.church.
03
Governance
Futures Church is over a century old, but our current governance is fifty-five years young. In 1971 we restructured to reflect the pattern the New Testament teaches: led by an apostolic team, protected by elders, served by deacons. We have grown every year since.
How Futures is led.
Three tiers, in scripture's order — leadership, eldership, service. Each tier answers to the next. None replaces the others.
I
Apostolic team
They lead.
Futures is led by an apostolic team — a circle of leaders walking in the fivefold ministry gifts: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers. Their job is to set direction, equip the family, and pioneer what comes next. The team carries the vision, and the vision carries us.
“And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith…”— Ephesians 4:11–13
See also: 1 Corinthians 12:28; Acts 13:1–3.
II
Elders
They protect.
Beneath the apostolic team, the elders watch over the flock. Their job is not to run the company — it's to make sure the people are being pastored, prayed for, and protected. Elders are appointed at every level of Futures: globally, regionally, and at each hub.
“Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.”— 1 Peter 5:1–4
See also: Acts 14:23; 1 Timothy 3:1–7; Titus 1:5–9; James 5:14; Hebrews 13:17.
III
Deacons
They serve. They execute.
In the early church the apostles refused to be pulled away from prayer and the word to handle finances and logistics — so seven deacons were appointed to serve. That same model still holds. Our boards of directors are deacons in the New Testament sense: they execute the vision the apostolic team sets, with stewardship of the financial and operational resources entrusted to the family.
“It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”— Acts 6:2–4
See also: 1 Timothy 3:8–13; Philippians 1:1.
The same pattern, three levels deep.
The model doesn't only sit at the top. It scales — globally, regionally, locally. Every campus has the same shape as the whole.
Global
Apostolic team — Ashley & Jane Evans + the global apostolic circle. Global elders — see below. Global board — registered governance bodies in each operating jurisdiction.
Region
Regional Lead Pastors carry the apostolic gift at the regional level (Australia: Josh & Sjhana Greenwood; Venezuela & Spanish-speaking campuses: Alexis & Susana Principal; United States and Indonesia: TBD). Regional elders. Regional board of directors (registered governing body per country).
Hub
Campus pastor + a campus leadership team. Local elders or pastoral oversight where established. Where required by jurisdiction, local board.
Our global elders.
The elders who watch over the wider Futures family — appointed for character, history, and care.
- — Ashley Evans
- — Jane Evans
- — Josh Greenwood
- — Alexis Principal
- — Philip Farlam
- — Mark Evans
Questions: info@futures.church
From the Safeguarding team
The specifics — country by country.
Background-check cycles, framework review cadence, whistleblower channels, and the crisis hotlines we publish per operating country.
Background checks
Renewal cycle per country.
Every staff member at Futures holds a current Working with Children Check, as required by Australian law. All volunteers and leaders working with anyone under 18 are required to hold the same. Working with Children Checks are renewed every five years and remain a live document throughout that period. As a church within ACC (Australian Christian Churches), we operate under the ACC's Child Protection Policies and Procedures. All staff and anyone working with children complete Safer Churches training every three years. The ACC maintains a code of conduct and grievance policies covering allegations of misconduct. Futures also has an eldership team responsible for receiving and overseeing grievances and allegations of misconduct of any kind.
Framework review
Annual review cadence.
Our child protection policies are reviewed nationally by Australian Christian Churches every two years. Futures Church then formally endorses those policies and any updates at a local level. All related policies, procedures, and training are reviewed by our board and eldership on the same cycle.
How to report
Whistleblower channel per country.
If you have a concern about a leader or someone in your direct line of authority, you do not have to report it through that same chain. Every country Futures Church operates in has a designated reporting channel that sits outside normal line management. In Australia, you can contact the ACC (Australian Christian Churches) National Office directly through their formal complaints and grievance process. Australian staff and volunteers are also legally protected from any reprisal for a disclosure made in good faith under the Corporations Act 2001 (Pt 9.4AAA). In New Zealand and other countries where we operate, the relevant national or statutory channel applies. Where none exists, the same internal process below applies. This channel is available to any paid staff member, casual worker, volunteer, ministry leader, or contractor. It covers safeguarding concerns, financial misconduct, governance failures, bullying by leadership, or any matter you reasonably believe the normal line would not handle impartially. Reports are received by two nominated elder-level contacts who are independent of campus staff. Your identity is kept confidential to those two contacts only, unless you consent to disclosure, disclosure is required by law, or it is not possible to investigate effectively without identifying you — in which case you will be informed first. Anonymous reports are accepted, though our ability to investigate or provide feedback may be limited without any identifying information. If your concern involves an immediate risk to a child or vulnerable person, please contact the police or your relevant statutory authority first. This reporting channel runs alongside those obligations — it does not replace them. To receive the direct contact details for this channel, please speak with your onboarding contact or request them through our Safeguarding Team.
Domestic violence
Crisis hotlines per country.
**Domestic Violence Support Lines** If you or someone you know needs help, please reach out to a service in your country. These lines are confidential and available around the clock. --- **Australia** 1800RESPECT — 1800 737 732 Text: 0458 737 732 Chat: 1800respect.org.au 24/7 **United States** National Domestic Violence Hotline — 1-800-799-7233 TTY: 1-800-787-3224 Text START to 88788 Chat: thehotline.org 24/7 **Indonesia** SAPA 129 (Sahabat Perempuan dan Anak) Call: 129 WhatsApp: 08111-129-129 Operated by the Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection (KemenPPPA) 24/7 **Brazil** Ligue 180 — Central de Atendimento à Mulher Call: 180 Free, nationwide, operated by the Ministério das Mulheres Emergency services: 190 24/7 **Venezuela** 0800 MUJERES — 0800 685 37 37 Also: *112 (free from Movilnet mobile network) Civil society support: AVESA — +58 0424 166 22 20 (call or WhatsApp) 24/7 (published hours; if a line is unreachable, please try AVESA or contact your local Futures team for further help) --- These services provide crisis support and referrals. They are not legal advice lines, and they do not cover all crisis types. If a child is at risk, separate reporting channels apply — please speak with your campus team.
Mental-health crisis
Crisis lines per country.
**Mental Health Crisis Lines** If you or someone you know is in crisis, please reach out to a professional support line in your country. These services are free and confidential. --- **Australia** Lifeline — 13 11 14 Text: 0477 13 11 14 Chat: lifeline.org.au Available 24/7 --- **United States** 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — call or text 988 Chat: 988lifeline.org Available 24/7 --- **Indonesia** 119 ext. 8 (SEJIWA — Kementerian Kesehatan / Indonesian Ministry of Health) Dial 119, then press 8 for the counselling extension. Available 24/7 BISA Helpline — bisahelpline.org Available in Indonesian and English. Free. Covers mental health, suicide prevention, and addiction support. --- **Brazil** CVV (Centro de Valorização da Vida) — call 188 Chat and email: cvv.org.br Available 24/7. Free from any phone, including mobile. For acute psychiatric emergencies requiring medical response: SAMU — 192 --- **Venezuela** 0800-VENEZUELA — 0800 836 328 64 (Ministry of Health) Hours and availability may vary. If this line is not reachable, an alternative community-based option is available below. Línea PsicoApoyo Por Nosotras — 0424-1659742 (call or WhatsApp) NGO-run emotional support line. --- If someone is in immediate physical danger, call local emergency services first: Australia 000 — USA 911 — Indonesia 112 — Brazil 192 — Venezuela 171. These lines are for people in emotional or psychological crisis. They are not a substitute for emergency medical services, and they are not ongoing counselling or therapy services.