Accountability Structures For IND. Churches.

[Digging4Truth]

Originally Posted by Consapostolic1

We say we're independent, but we really aren't.

And one would hope not...

No man is an island but independents get accused of being one sometimes.

[berkeley]

solution... a church of elders... not one pastor running the show!!!

[Digging4Truth]

Originally Posted by Berkeley

solution... a church of elders... not one pastor running the show!!!

Yes sir...

The apostles thought a lot of it.

[Consapostolic1]

How our independents function like an org.
We have a ring of fellowship
We have fellowship meetings every other month with the churches in our fellowship ring
We have conferences
We have an accountability structure
We have a campmeeting
The pastors within our fellowship ring often have meetings to discuss varies things

[chaotic_resolve]

Financial accountability -

Create a Board of Directors. Don't allow the CFO, Secretary or any other position relating to finances be filled by family members.

Hire an independent financial consultant or accountant to periodically go through the church records several times a year. Keep the books open and transparent to the board and the members of the church.

Sounds easy enough . . . but most Pastors crave control, and they don't like opening the books for everyone to see it. Instead, most just print out an edited copy of what he's willing to show.

[Jack Shephard]

Originally Posted by Scott Hutchinson

Suppose someone pastors an independent church ,how can a ind. church be set up for accountability?
What some good working models for ind. works ?
Just because someone is ind. doesn't mean they are a loose cannon or they don't want to have accountabilty.

You can do it like alot of the mega churches that are independant. Set up a board of ministers. One from the local assembly then the others from other assemblies in the same town, organization, or friends from other denominal organizations. That is a common practice.

[Jack Shephard]

Originally Posted by chaotic_resolve

Financial accountability -

Create a Board of Directors. Don't allow the CFO, Secretary or any other position relating to finances be filled by family members.

Hire an independent financial consultant or accountant to periodically go through the church records several times a year. Keep the books open and transparent to the board and the members of the church.

Sounds easy enough . . . but most Pastors crave control, and they don't like opening the books for everyone to see it. Instead, most just print out an edited copy of what he's willing to show.

You are right. There are ministers you and I know that use the church account as it is theirs then either replenish the funds or that persons case just put more money in it when a new offering is taken.

[Steve Epley]

Originally Posted by chseeads

You're only accountable to somebody if you submit yourself to them.... Just because somebody might belong to the UPC or etc. it doesn't mean they are accountable to anybody by default.

That is true.