Overcome Resistance and Transform Your Church with Accountable Leadership

I find that the word accountability is one of the most misunderstood and criticized in the church. Yet, the practice of accountable leadership is one of the most needed yet neglected practices in churches today.

Let’s begin with a shared definition of accountability. Accountable leadership is the combination of responsibility and authority. Too often we give servant leaders responsibility, but not authority. On the other hand, we often give servant leaders authority, but do not hold them responsible or accountable. Solid, effective accountable leadership marries sound practices of both responsibility and authority.

A culture of accountability is a sense of collaboration, communication, transparency, participation, feedback, and evaluation. Accountability is the practice of being held to a certain standard of leadership and missional excellence. Individuals know what is expected of them without hesitation. Trust is built between staff, team members, and team leaders. Accountability provides clarity of expectations and open conversations.

So why is there such deep resistance to the practice of accountability in the church?

According to Stephen Mattson, Sojourners online article, he states the following reasons churches avoid accountability:

1. A Desire for Comfort and a Fear of Conflict - Confrontation is awkward, messy, and just plain hard — so few do it. Additionally, churches and spiritual communities are intentional about creating a sense of peace, encouragement, happiness, and joy — even if it’s a façade.

2. A Culture of Unlimited Choices and Options - The reason churches emphasize comfort so much is because discomfort leads to parishioners leaving congregations. Many spiritual leaders perceive spiritual accountability and discipline through the lens of church retention and attendance — and it’s not a pretty sight.

3. A Fear of Legalism and Fundamentalism - Pastors, mentors, and spiritual leaders quickly learn that discipline (even advice) can quickly be interpreted as legalistic or fundamentalist by those who are upset, hurt, or feel wounded. Such accusations and stigmas are hard to defend and can cause church splits, vicious interpersonal conflict, and irreversible damage.

4. The Rise of Spiritual Ambiguity - In a postmodern world where people are starting to realize that they don’t have the market cornered on truth, ethics, and what constitutes as being sinful, Christians are starting to be less judgmental and more focused on grace.

Accountability is Biblical! While some believe accountability is a secular practice, it instead started as a biblical concept that was adopted by secular and corporate culture. Accountability is a Christian and Wesleyan core value. John Wesley created Band and Class Meeting questions for the members of the Methodist movement to ensure they were all accountable by growing as a key part of their discipleship journey. And, here are just a couple of scriptures (there are many) calling us to accountability.

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.

Proverbs 27:17

There is nothing that can be hid from God;

everything in all creation is exposed and lies open before his eyes.

And it is to him that we must all give an account of ourselves.

Hebrews 4:13

Let’s move past our resistance and skepticism of accountability in the church for the sake of the mission!

It’s Looking for accountable leadership resources? Kotan has written, coached, and led workshops on leadership and missional accountability. Take a look at some of those resources:

Read: Six Powerful Steps to Easily Hold People Accountable

The Cornerstone of Trust: Why Leadership Accountability Matters

Accountability: Friend or Foe?

Review the accountable leadership cycle from Mission Possible.