Non-Denominational Accountability

[9Rock9]

So, I have seen non-denominationalists getting a lot of flack online.


The biggest criticism I've heard is that non-denom churches lack accountability since the pastor can do and teach whatever he wants, without any higher authority overruling him.


What are your thoughts about this, and how would you respond?

 

[David Lamb]

So, I have seen non-denominationalists getting a lot of flack online.


The biggest criticism I've heard is that non-denom churches lack accountability since the pastor can do and teach whatever he wants, without any higher authority overruling him.


What are your thoughts about this, and how would you respond?

Well, that shouldn't be so. I'm a baptist, and each local baptist church is autonomous under God. There is no "higher authority" over the local church which can tell the church or the pastor how it should run itself, which translation of the bible it should use, and so on. However, the pastor in such a church doesn't have the sole authority over the church as a whole. He is a member of the church, and he, together with his fellow members, makes decisions concerning the life of the church. Many such churches see it as important to have a plurality of elders in each local church.

 

[Tuur]

So, I have seen non-denominationalists getting a lot of flack online.


The biggest criticism I've heard is that non-denom churches lack accountability since the pastor can do and teach whatever he wants, without any higher authority overruling him.


What are your thoughts about this, and how would you respond?

It's pretty much true, and has me hesitant about "non-denominational" churches. A denomination can err on doctrine, but my thinking is it may be easier for "non-denominational" to go astray because it's not part of a group. A group means peers in the ministry who can point out departures in doctrine and, if severe enough, withdraw fellowship. That doesn't exist in "non-denominational" churches. And if there is a group of peers who hold the same doctrine that call themselves non-denominational, they may in effect be their own denomination and not non-denominational.

 

[AlexB23]

It's pretty much true, and has me hesitant about "non-denominational" churches. A denomination can err on doctrine, but my thinking is it may be easier for "non-denominational" to go astray because it's not part of a group. A group means peers in the ministry who can point out departures in doctrine and, if severe enough, withdraw fellowship. That doesn't exist in "non-denominational" churches. And if there is a group of peers who hold the same doctrine that call themselves non-denominational, they may in effect be their own denomination and not non-denominational.

Agreed. That is why my parents left nondenominational churches in 2019, and myself in 2022.

Even denominational churches, Catholic churches, and every other church is not perfect, but we must go to church regardless.

Romans 3:23 (NIV): "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God"

 

[Richard T]

You are right that many non-denominational churches are unclear about their doctrines. Some simply may not address this in a comprehensive way. Sometimes this is out of ignorance, but other times they simply avoid the controversy. What makes it hard is you might attend for months only to later find out the disagreements. Fortunately, the Holy Spirit can help you discern, plus there should be room for some flexibility. Still, it is a problem if you hold some doctrines dear and to me some errancy is a deal breaker.

I find the same problems though in denominational churches. After being subjected to a guest speaker's version of the end times that differed widely from the denomination's tenets. I complained to the Pastor by letter. He was absent though and deferred me to the associate pastor who was in charge that service. The Associate sent me a letter back too saying he did not agree with the denomination viewpoint and thought I should reconsider. Why would i reconsider when the tenets of the church were violated? I never returned to that church location and am very cautious with ALL church leaders.

If you talk just about accountability the pastors of non-denominational or independent churches have been shown to be sorely lacking at times. The Boards may just be rubber stamps for just about anything the pastor wants. So in essence the pastor controls everything, sometimes including the church building too. If the pastor is walking in the spirit there are no issues. Otherwise, you can have some pretty serious and harmful failures. There was a case in my state, of a large church I had visited a few times that was so indebted that to finance church operations and building debt they turned to money laundering for a South American cartel. I could cite it because the criminal trial and appeals are well-documented but it gives no glory to God. The pastor and one church trustee conducted their side of the operation. It is heartbreaking to see this kind of conduct that would have been avoided had the church had even minimal accountability. Of course on the good side, God held the minister accountable, but the church too had sold bonds to many members and they also suffered financial harm in addition to spiritual harm caused by the complete collapse of the church.

Anyway those are my thoughts. Thanks for bringing up an important question to consider.

 

[eleos1954]

So, I have seen non-denominationalists getting a lot of flack online.


The biggest criticism I've heard is that non-denom churches lack accountability since the pastor can do and teach whatever he wants, without any higher authority overruling him.


What are your thoughts about this, and how would you respond?

We are supposed to study the bible ourselves and make sure the teachings are true regardless where they come from.

 

[Stone-n-Steel]

non-denominational Pastors should be accountable to the Elders if they have such a setup. The Pastor should also be accountable to the congregation who should be watchful of what is being preached.

 

[timf]

If institutional churches were the way to prevent error, there would have been no need for a reformation. It is human nature to err whether in a denomination or outside of one. Institutional error is much harder to correct.