Everything looked impressive on paper. The church had a board of elders, a personnel committee, quarterly reviews, and annual surveys. Every accountability structure seemed to be in place—except the one that mattered: the kind that actually worked.
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When the pastor started making questionable decisions, nobody pushed back. When staff raised concerns early on, they were asked if they'd "prayed about it." There was a full set, cast of characters, and a convincing script. But when the spotlight came and the platform was tested, it turned out to be all for show.
Welcome to what I call "accountability theater"—and it's more common in churches than we'd like to admit.
Here's the first hard truth we need to face: churches that have good structure don't automatically have good accountability. Most churches assume they have accountability because there's a board, bylaws, maybe an HR person, or an outsourced HR firm.
But accountability isn't just a form to fill out—it's a function of leadership culture. The system might exist, but there's no spine to it. There's no real accountability to the accountability.
What does this look like in practice? Sometimes boards are stacked with friends, yes-men, yes-women, and fans. Sometimes elders feel obligated to "trust the man of God"—believing they should never question the pastor. Sometimes evaluations happen, but they carefully avoid all the hard topics. And when someone does raise a concern or makes waves? They get punished.
"Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." - Galatians 6:1-2
Let me say something out loud that I've thought for years: accountability fails a lot of times because people in power don't want to lose control. This is true in business, but it's especially painful when it's true in the church.
We often confuse charisma with character. We fear conflict more than we fear corruption. We want to protect the mission, even if it means ignoring the cracks. We over-spiritualize loyalty, and often the board starts answering TO the pastor rather than the other way around.
That's inverted accountability, and it's absolutely everywhere. I've seen this dynamic play out over and over in churches of all sizes.
In every major scandal—Harvest Bible Chapel, Willow Creek, RZIM, and countless smaller churches that make local headlines—the structures were in place. They had accountability systems, but those systems didn't hold people accountable.
In every case, warning signs flashed for years. Elders raised concerns and were dismissed or pressured to resign. Staff members voiced worries and were told to pray about it. Sometimes victims came forward and were questioned instead of believed.
The problem wasn't a lack of systems. The problem was a failure of culture and courage.
We read headlines about church failures and think they happened overnight. But the warning signs have usually been flashing for years. The accountability structures were there—they just didn't have the courage to function when it mattered.
Here's a crucial mindset shift: accountability isn't for bad leaders. It's for all leaders. We often think accountability is just about keeping troublemakers in check, but that's backwards thinking.
You don't build guardrails because you expect to crash. You build guardrails because you know that everyone—including you—is capable of crashing.
"Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken." - Ecclesiastes 4:12
Real accountability needs several key elements:
So how do we move from accountability theater to the real thing? It starts with honest self-assessment and a willingness to embrace uncomfortable conversations.
Don't build a stage—build a circle. Don't settle for accountability theater. Demand the real thing, because accountability is for every leader.
Here are two crucial questions every church leader needs to answer honestly:
If you're a senior pastor: Who can challenge you? Who do you allow to challenge you? When was the last time anybody challenged you and actually changed your direction?
If you're on a board: Are you here to affirm and say yes all the time, or are you here to provide genuine oversight?
"Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." - James 5:16
The enemy is active, and I'm tired of hearing about pastors and churches falling. These failures don't happen overnight—they happen over time, when accountability systems exist on paper but not in practice.
My heart is to safeguard you and your church so you never find yourself in a situation where you embarrass yourself, your family, or your church because of something that could have been prevented with real accountability.
If you want to assess your church's accountability health, there's a free assessment available at whenthechurchfalls.com. There are versions for pastors, church staff, and board members.
Have thoughts about accountability in your church context? I'd love to hear from you. Drop me a line at podcast@chemistrystaffing.com.
This post is adapted from episode 549 of the Healthy Church Staff podcast, part of the "When the Church Falls" series. For more resources on church leadership and staffing, visit chemistrystaffing.com.