The call for accountability continues to grow in many C
hristian ministries. Bible study groups, one-on-one discipleship
and mentoring cliques now demand accountability. In some cases, Pastors are forced to meet with their accountability groups regularly.
Accountability is now written into job descriptions.
I was introduced to this word in a Leadership class while in School of Ministry, few years ago. I still recall my shock while in that class as I heard things I’d never seen practiced in many ministries. This is one of the reasons many Christians are reaching out for the kingdom beyond organized churches and some are just frustrated because of their unmet expectations in the church.
Today,
many people in various walks of life including missions, have embraced this idea
of accountability based on business models. Supported by the biblical precedent of Paul’s reporting to
the church at Jerusalem (Acts 15:4; 21:17-19), missionaries, mission agencies,
and churches have declared accountability as an important part of doing the job
right. While I agree with this and intend to focus on missions here; I think more needs to be said and understood about the need for accountability in general.
Convictions about what missionary accountability should be, and who should be accountable to who, differ dramatically; especially in cultures that make small gods out of leaders. To avoid misunderstandings, unfair accusations,
and general frustration, we may need a consensus from missionaries, donors, agencies,
and churches about a few questions I’m considering here.
What
is accountability in missions? The basic definition might be: reporting about
missionary activity. But the issue is not that simple. Accountability with the Father and in the earthly world is not a
one-way street. Implicit in the concept is the idea that who a person and the group
reports to has some degree of authority to evaluate and make decisions based
on the information provided.
Such
was implied in Paul’s two reports to the elders in Jerusalem. In both cases, approval
of the apostle’s missionary work was predicated on the elders’ hearing a full
account of what God had done through the missionary team.
Therefore,
accountability in missions might be more accurately defined as the process of
providing comprehensive information about missionary activity to those who have
authority to evaluate and direct the ministry towards achieving its goals.
By
what criteria is accountability judged? Here the issues grow more complicated. Is accountability measured simply by the amount of detail provided
as missionaries review their activities for a given period of time? If so, the
missionary who writes more often or the longest newsletters is the most accountable. Isn’t
there more to missionary accountability than the frequency of emails and
newsletters from the field? Yes there is, we are called to the mission field to serve the Lord, just as Jesus did, one person at a time.
Is the essence of accountability reporting “good” results? Or is it the warrior for the Lord who accepts the wins and losses and chooses to share those lessons so that others in the battle are able to move forward? Is it the missionary
who provides the most detailed statistics of how many people were brought to Christ and baptized the most
accountable? Can a “good” report include a costly goof on the field? Someone said, “…that is risky.” I agree but is it needful?
Some churches and donors are communication driven, and by innuendo, say that
accountability is tied to productivity. What is productivity? How is it
measured? The rationale seems to be, “Accountability means you’ve got to
prove to us that we are getting our investments worth, or like they say in
America, enough “bang for our buck.”
Concern
for good stewardship is certainly legitimate and cannot be overemphasized. But those who insist on evaluating
accountability by output standards will sooner or later encounter difficulties.
Who
is qualified to determine what constitutes an acceptable level of results? Is
it the missionary, the donor, the agency, the church, or a consensus of all? How is the Lord included with His great plan for all of us working together in the field? Will
expectations be individualized because of the unique and the changing circumstances in the field?
Would
it not be better to use predetermined individual ministry goals as the benchmark
for assessing accountability? For example, a young believer
decides that he wants to be more regular in daily devotions and asks an older
Christian to hold him accountable for such. Or a minister asks a friend or
group of friends to hold him accountable for maintaining moral purity? These are opportunities for personal success in developing a personal relationship with the Lord.
Yes, missionary accountability differs from a basic business model. Because the donors, agencies and church(es)
believe that since they have a vested interest in the mission goals they feel compelled to utilize a results-based
accountability. This goal-based accountability demands identifying who is qualified
and authorized to set the criteria and measure the success. Yet there is no commonly agreed standard for all of us to work with.
In
the past few days, I’ve been thinking seriously about my life goals, those
that support my vision and those I’m accountable to. The answer is the need for warriors who put the Kingdom first and have faith in our Father’s plans.
There’s a balance I long
for that is achievable. I confess that I can’t get there alone. I need “body builders”, whose hard questions, deep insights and strong arms can make good things come out of Nazareth.
Kingdom Exploits With Uche 
‘Our business in mission is collaborated effort, some time we in the forefront of the business feels we are the most important, with all kinds of sympathetic languages draw attention to ourselves, relegate the church to the background and feel the church is not doing that much, to support the course of mission. We should learn to acknowledge the fact that those whose support in their little ways to keep the work going are still the church, by acknowledging them in the name of the church may wake the church to their responsibility. I dedicated this month report in acknowledging all that contributed to the course of mission to unreached people group (Forgotten) in prayer, support, sending and going. God is creating an open opportunity through your participation to bless you. This I share as I say thank you for all you are doing for the Lord, He is seeing all that you are doing- Corinthian 15:58.’
Yes suporting the work of Mission should be see as a duty which the giver and the reciver own to the onwer of the work God. when we see it that where will be better accountable. The duty provides us with the opportunity to be a blessing and to be blessed. that how i see mission involvment, whether am in the field or in myself circular work i know am accountable to the work of reaching the nations.
Maybe that is a reason while am involved.
God holds us responsible
thanks
Ibiam
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The issue of criteria for evaluation is very crucial. That every minister should be accountable is no doubt essential.But accountable based on what? I believe every minister MUST first of all be accountable to God, critically assess him/herself knowing that we are dealing with the Lord before whom nothing can be hidden. Understanding this we then can be more thoughtful in reporting or even in having man’s approval. I dread “depart from me ye worker of iniquity for I know ye not” much more than the assessment of my leader, followers and others generally. I prefer to be misunderstood or even having low scores now than at the period of ultimate assessment. I also dread recieving commendation and being held in high honor now which may not be so then. MAY THE LORD HELP US.
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Ultimately accountability needs to involve an open conversation about issues that are mutually important. You set a good example in the way you open your life and ministry up to others and invite conversation about what God is doing.
In my experience, it is a posture that is rare.
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Seth, my life and ministry has improved greatly in the past few years because you cared enough to ask, you owned the issues you brought to the table and that changed everything.
Thank you Sir!
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