Accountability in Leadership

One of the most dangerous things in Christian ministry is authority without accountability. Whether we want to believe it or not, there are Christian leaders who are flying solo, with zero covering, zero accountability. And they think they're doing fine. There is a good reason why our nation's founding fathers were so adamant in having a solid form of "checks and balances" between the three forms of government. They wanted to make sure that American leaders could never find themselves bringing down the nation because of their power and inability to be responsible with it.

Why should the leadership at one little church someplace in America be any different? The idea that someone who has influence and control over other people, who trust and look up to this leader, may not be held accountable by his or her words and actions, is terrifying. I look at some people in leadership and wonder, "how on earth did they get there?" And it's no surprise to me to see that they have no one to keep tabs on them. My success as a leader is as much because of the gifts God has given me as it is the people I answer to who teach me and encourage me. 

It doesn't matter if you have authority over one person, 100 people, or 1,000. The effect can be just as devastating (or, ideally, encouraging). A leader can hurt someone just as easily as help them. The goal of any church should be to raise up leaders. Strong, mature believers to help others excel in whatever area needed and to bring them closer to God. As we raise up these leaders, we need to instill in them an understanding of how critical it is to have accountability. No leader can be exempt from this.

What Can We Do About It?
Everyone is clearly affected by this. So everyone should care about this. If you're a leader and there is not at least one person that holds you accountable, FIND SOMEONE. Obviously, you're going to want someone who is mature, older, and has more experience. It's even better if they are also involved in the type of ministry you are. I am a worship leader for a youth group. Two people who hold me accountable are the worship pastor of the church and the director of the youth ministry. Two people in higher authority, who are older, and  have a lot of experience and spiritual maturity.

If you're a leader over other leaders, get after them. Be that covering. Take responsibility. Check up on them, challenge them, encourage them, reprimand them when needed. Just be involved!

If you're worried that one of your leaders is "flying solo." Simply ask them. As a person under them, you have every right to know if they have a covering. Even my senior pastor, the "top dog," has a covering and he makes sure we know it. If they don't, figure out who may be over them and ask them. If you're going to be in a position of being influenced by them (or a loved one), you need to get to the bottom of this. Too often we see examples of Christian leaders falling and hurting many people (e.g. Ted Haggard & Eddie Long). Let's prevent this where we can.

Whether you're the senior pastor of a large congregation or a Sunday School teacher for a class of 5 year olds, you have a lot of influence. The question is, are you influencing those under you in a good way, or a bad way?