Leaders Require Accountability

Whether you have been witness to internal problems or problems that become more public, leaders are not immune to sin. In fact, the sin of leaders can cause stumbling blocks for teams or an entire church/cause.

Geoff Surratt wrote about this some time ago in a blog post entitled “An Open Letter to Pastors”:

1. If you think you aren’t vulnerable, you are already toast
2. If you think you can burn the candle at both ends, you are already toast
   
3. If you think you can do ministry without accountability, you are already toast
   
4. If you think you don’t need safeguards, you are already toast
5. If you think it’s about you, you are already toast

His blog post provides 3 suggestions, which I want to reprint in their entirety:

1. Slow down

   You will not change the world today and tomorrow isn’t looking good either. There is plenty of time to hang with your wife, play with your kids, play golf, relax. God was at work long before you showed up and He will be at work long after you are gone. You cannot live on adrenaline all of the time. You cannot be pumped up about every weekend. If you live that way for an extended time you will crash.

2. Open up You need someone in your life who knows you inside and out; someone who will ask the hard questions and know when you are ducking the answers. It is difficult as a pastor to find someone you can be truly honest with, but it is essential that you find that person. Another pastor who does not attend your church might be ideal.
3. Count the costEvery time you are tempted to break a rule, to cut a corner, togo somewhere you shouldn’t go consider what it will cost you when it all comes to light. What is going to happen when your wife finds out? How will she feel? What will it do to your children? What will this do to your church? How will it feel to write a letter like Gary had to write?

You don’t wake up one day and decide to shipwreck your life. You do it one stupid decision at a time. As someone who has seen this happen again and again and again I am begging you to take action today because it will happen to you.

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