Accountability is a Ministry
It is easy to get off track, right? We shift the direction we are on for another direction, and things can end up far from where they should be. When that happens to a Church or a Ministry, it is called ‘Mission Shift,’ an intentional move to a different emphasis. Recently, I heard of several ministries who are in trouble because of ‘Mission Shift.’ How did that happen? They had no accountability factors. The early Church organized around Elders and Deacons … one did the Ministry of the Word, the other did the Ministry of Acts of Service. One of those Acts of Service in today’s Church is management, which becomes the accountability factor for the leaders who lead. When leaders get off track, the cause is always ‘No Structure of Accountability.’ Accountability is as critical as the Ministry itself.
Accountability is as Critical as the Ministry Itself
Over the years, I have learned that one of the major flaws in many ministries is their lack of accountability in managing resources and polices, and holding leadership to a higher standard of integrity. I have heard how donations that are specifically designated for a purpose are used for other purposes. That is not integrity and not honest. The question is, are there watchmen who hold the ministry to a higher standard of good resource practice?
At times, vision can get in the way of management and becomes the reason the ministry does the ‘Mission Shift.” We have seen the misuse of funds in many ministries that use donations for jets, lavish lifestyles, and multi-million-dollar homes. This is usually the image that most people think is the greatest abuse, but the scale of resource abuse doesn’t have to be in the millions … it is often just not having a good accounting system or a management team overseeing the operations.
Regardless, the point is the management of any ministry must be as dynamic or as prolific as the ministry that comes from the preaching of the Word. In recent years, many of the fallen ministries happened because there was no accountability of the leaders leading the ministry from the watchmen who manage the ministry. If a founder starts a ministry in the name of Jesus and its management is in their complete control, that is a red flag for disaster. Some ministries are simply spiritual businesses directed and controlled by the one person who founded the work. This kind of arrangement is difficult to hold accountable, primarily because the power of that organization is in the hands of a few people such as the founder’s family. We see this a lot in ministries, but Churches are not exempt from poor management practices.
The Failure of a Good Management Team is the Failure of the Ministry
We have heard it said that the failures of ministries fall into three categories. Money, Morals, or Might (Power). All three of these can be reduced in liability if the organization has a strong commitment to managing the ministry in these areas.
No one has complete control or the last say in everything. A controlling person is the first red flag of accountability, and is a sign of a poor leadership who is wanting control.
No one can control the morals of a leader, but signs of moral failure can be detected by behavior that is out of the ordinary or exclusive. The fear of confronting such behavior, or even ignoring issues of a leader’s behavior of not becoming of a leader, cannot be excused or become the norm.
Money is always an issue in ministry. Either there is never enough, or there is too much. Either way, money is often the partner in the work of the Lord that can be the biggest temptation for corruption and misappropriations. Financial accountability is best done in transparency to those who gave the money and how the leaders spend that money.
Simple ideas that are often ignored at all levels of an organization. But as it was said earlier, “Accountability is as critical as the ministry itself.”
Challenging the Culture with Truth … Larry Kutzler