What does an accountable church look like?
10 May 2008
Lyn writes… we’ve been having a little bit of a discussion on my blog recently about accountability within the context of emerging church plants.
Accountability is a good thing; we all need a degree of it within all areas of our lives. However, accountability can also be used in a controlling way, which can result in manipulation, abuse and so forth. Many of us probably know people have left the church bitter and hurt because of this “abuse of authority”, or indeed we have experienced it ourselves. This control and manipulation has therefore left some to “go solo” and seek no counsel for Christian gatherings that they go on to set up.
There are many forms of “alternative church” springing up. Some, like the Anglican Church’s Fresh Expressions within the UK, are plants from a church, and thus have a degree of accountability in place. There are many successful gatherings that are not affiliated to a particular denomination or church. Some plants, house churches etc. want rid of the control and manipulation they have experienced within accountability received from the church. Being completely autonomous isn’t best though. Some set ups are being reactive rather than proactive. Accountability doesn’t mean being attached to hierarchy.
Personally, I see it as seeking guidance from fellow Christians who will honestly tell you what they think, if you are, or are not, off the wall, without a hidden agenda. Accountability and tradition are friends that can go hand in hand to help us learn the best of lessons from the past. Why they don’t guarantee we won’t make mistakes, we let go of their wisdom at our peril.
The shape of the global church is defined by people who have felt led to step out from their accountability structures and ask, “Is it really meant to be like this?” Does this come about because we naturally put up religious structures to support our faith, yet what is supportive to one may seem restrictive to another, even if good intentions motivate both opinions?
How is a comfortable middle ground found? Indeed is there a middle ground? What are your experiences?
Is our human nature such that any time we are guided in a direction we do not like or agree with, we are bound to consider it control rather than wise counsel? What are we to do if we feel sure that God is calling us to do something yet others disagree?
Tagged: accountability
4 comments
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Comment by David Alexander
1.37 pm on 10 May 2008
What are we to do if we feel sure that God is calling us to do something yet others disagree?
In my opinion, establishing healthy accountable relationships can only happen when we act according to the belief that God speaks to us through others. If I don’t trust that God not only speaks, but affirms what is speaking through the community of faith, I think we’re missing something really critical.
Comment by Kate
6.45 pm on 12 May 2008
I agree that churches, no matter how small or where they meet, need some sort of accountability. I don’t think this needs to come from a hierarchy like most churches, especially when a church is very small, and even a house church. However, the leaders of that group/church should be held accountable to the people who are attending that church. Without them being accountable to someone, the leaders can go unchecked which can result in dishonest actions or miscommunication and/or wrong assumptions about what is being taught or done in the church/group. No one likes being controlled, but when people are leaders, they need others to make sure they are doing what God is calling them to, they are fulfilling their vision, as well as just have someone/people there to lean on. It doesn’t have to be a big group of people, it could even be one or two people, just as long as someone is there to speak up for the church. And not having others to lean on and hold you accountable can be a lonely place. If you’re up there on the top, even of a small church or group, it can still be isolating without having anyone else involved in the process of the church– especially no one holding them accountable because then the sense of complete freedom can get freightening and isolating as well.
Having accountability isn’t a bad thing. As you said, it can be used to manipulate and control, but if used in a healthy and appropriate way, it can help people grow as individuals as well as a group because they are confronting each other, processing issues, and being open about what is going on in their lives and in the church. The middle ground is that the leaders ask to be held accountable, and they ask trusted members to be the ones to do so. That way, it isn’t used to control and both parties understand their roles in the situation. And if that is a trusted relationship, then it will do nothing but grow the relationship, not harm it.
Comment by Beth
4.36 pm on 14 May 2008
I read an interesting article by Kevin Kelly (?) about the future of the church, and one of the things it mentioned was the rapid fragmentation of the church with all the new denominations springing up.
I think accountability is hugely important as long as it is done healthily as Kate has described above.
I find it somewhat worrying how many people when church gets tough, decide that the answer is to start a new denomination. It reminds me of the church in Corinth.
Comment by Lyn
6.58 pm on 27 May 2008
Hi everyone, thanks for your comments. I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to reply, but we’ve been away in Canada for a few weeks. I concur with what you’ve written. Healthy accountability is key.
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