Is Accountability a Bad Word?

Is Accountability a Bad Word?

Donna J. Wright

Remember the offering envelope checklist? If you are over 50 and grew up in a Baptist church you probably do. I remember getting my envelope—even as a young child, I had my own set, and marking each box on the front: Present, On Time (hopefully), Bible (I’d better go get it), Offering (Daddy, can I have some money?), Lesson, (Look it over for a minute), Preaching (always). Usually, I totaled 100%. I can honestly say I probably didn’t earn that 30% for studying my lesson, but I usually knew the scripture and topic before I arrived. Oh, and I had to keep up with my envelopes too. That provided some accountability for me.

I’m sure the checklist on the offering envelopes has gone away for lots of reasons. They can still be purchased today so evidently some churches still use them. But I haven’t used them in many years. I had friends that were never able to be 100% and it wasn’t their fault. I’m guessing that is one of the reasons they went away. Their parents didn’t bring them on time and picked them up before “preaching.” This reminded me of the seminary class I had in Childhood Education. Never reward or punish children for something that is not their fault. This proverb could have been the beginning of the end of the envelope. I don’t know.

Whether the envelope was good or bad, one thing it did provide was accountability. We’ve written them off as ancient but they did provide it in some ways. It gave me a short checklist of what was expected of me—someone who held a box of envelopes from South Summerville Baptist Church. I was expected:

·      To be present

·      To be on time

·      To bring my Bible

·      To give an offering

·      To study my Sunday School lesson

·      To attend worship

Today in our churches do we communicate basic expectations in such a tangible way? We may “encourage” regular attendance in Sunday School (small groups) and Worship (formerly called “Preaching”), and ask occasionally for the other commitments and participation, but I don’t think we do anything that shows people that we expect these things regularly, weekly even.

Many articles have been recently been written about the dearth of disciple-making in our churches. Sadly, I agree. I have read widely to find some ways to help my own church be a better incubator of disciples. I eventually concluded that we need two things. People to spend time with other believers in a way that encourages them to grow spiritually and as someone to “hold them accountable.” Beyond that I have to figure out how to make sure this occurs, and even measure it in some way.

And then I remembered the envelope. I can see and hear one of my Sunday School teachers, Mrs. Wallin, asking me if I filled out my envelope. One Sunday she questioned me about my “studied my lesson” check mark. She was on to my quick look before checking the box. I guarantee you that I studied my lesson more the year I was in her class. I couldn’t face her with my 100% envelope if I didn’t. I responded to her higher expectation.

As Small Groups Director in our church, I remind teachers not to embarrass anyone, to remember that some cannot easily look up scriptures in their Bibles, some don’t have Bibles, and so it goes. We have gone from accountability to trying not to embarrass anyone and to making sure they feel comfortable. I’m for those things. I don’t want anyone to be so embarrassed that they walk out the door and never come back. So, how do we hold people accountable and not embarrass them?

·      Set expectations publicly and not personally

·      Share expectations again in a small group setting

·      Make expectations and accountability a part of the one-on-one discipleship

My pastor, almost a year ago, did a series of messages where the gist of it was asking everyone who calls West Mobile Baptist home to do three things: attend worship regularly, join and attend a small group, and serve in some way in our church

This simple three-point list resonated with me. I used it on our website and in some meetings with leaders. Then, I was leading a small group and one of our newer church members shared that it was during that series of sermons that her husband and she decided they needed to get into a small group. So, evidently I wasn’t the only one that was moved by it.

No, it isn’t a fully developed plan to make disciples. But it is a clear set of expectations for every person in our church to know that at least three things that are expected of them.

So how about you? Are you accountable? Are you holding anyone else accountable? Want an envelope checklist?