This paper explores how reputational risks can arise from issues related to the character of individuals who lead churches and nonprofit ministries. It focuses on understanding these risks from a biblical perspective. The aim is to arrive at a framework for reputational risk management that emphasizes accountability and responsiveness. By focusing on character stewardship, the paper will examine how organizations can proactively guard against reputational damage and reflect Christ-centered values when faced with public scrutiny.

The discussion is organised into three major sections. First, we will look at acknowledging reputational risk, exploring why reputation is essential to the health and witness of churches and ministries, and how leaders can cultivate an intentional approach to managing it. Second, we will turn to assessing reputational risk, identifying both internal and external threats to character that can lead to reputational harm. The entities should then be able to assess the risks applicable to themselves. Thirdly, we will consider managing reputational risk, examining the life of David and how he stewarded his character to earn perhaps the highest repute of being the man after God's own heart. These lessons can be applied by the leadership of churches and ministries in stewarding their own character as the means to managing reputational risk. Finally, we will look at how boards and ministry leaders move towards developing a biblical and practical framework for reputational risk management.