Who is accountable to whom?

[pilgrimgal]

How would you explain the accountablity in a non-denominational church? Besides the accountabilty to God to whom is your pastor accountable? How does it work compared to a denominational church where authority comes from a central source depending on how the structure is set up?

I am not trying to be critical at all here...but I do know that different non-denominational churches and organizations operate in different ways. Just wondering how it works in some churches. So, if you know, please share...and

Thanks... much...

blessings from pilgrim

 

[Wisdom's Child]

How would you explain the accountablity in a non-denominational church? Besides the accountabilty to God to whom is your pastor accountable? How does it work compared to a denominational church where authority comes from a central source depending on how the structure is set up?

I am not trying to be critical at all here...but I do know that different non-denominational churches and organizations operate in different ways. Just wondering how it works in some churches. So, if you know, please share...and

Thanks... much...

blessings from pilgrim

A very good question pilgrimgal.
Most non-denoms that I know of are accountable to each other within their congregations. The minister is a servant to the congregation and is therefore likewise accountable to the congregation for any buisness handlings (such as money expendatures and offering distribution). The whole is generally self contained, and accountable to God for their Doctrine. Non-denominationals lack the virtical hiearchy that typical denominations supply and that is one of the biggest differences between denomination and non-denomination.
Generally though non-denominational ministers do have some outside oversight and accountability through what is known as an "umbrella" or covering organization. These umbrella organizations are usually the ones who ordain and credential non-denominational ministers, and they often must recieve a yearly review to update their "letters on good standing" in order to meet some state guidelines in order to perform marriage ceremonies.
Accountability and discipline in non-denoms is usually from the "bottom-up" instead of from the "top-down". If a minister is not doing what is right, the congregation will not support them, and without an external source of funding such ministries usually "die on the vine" and go away.

Hope this helps.

 

[GraceLikeRainFallsDown]

Our church has a board of Elders. The pastor is accountable to them as well as the congregation.

The pastors are ultimately responsible to God.

 

[CrazyforYeshua]

We have the Pastor, the elders, and the council. The Pastor is accountable spiritually to the elders and the congregation. The council, which is voted in by the congregation, is accountable for work on the church, and finances. The Pastor has no voting rights on the council.

 

[MbiaJc]

How would you explain the accountablity in a non-denominational church? Besides the accountabilty to God to whom is your pastor accountable? How does it work compared to a denominational church where authority comes from a central source depending on how the structure is set up?

I am not trying to be critical at all here...but I do know that different non-denominational churches and organizations operate in different ways. Just wondering how it works in some churches. So, if you know, please share...and

Thanks... much...

blessings from pilgrim

Here is the body of Christ, I would say it hast to work the same way in any Church, that is the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ.

THE SPIRITUAL BODY OF CHRIST

MEMBER: Of the body of Christ, the first three are given by Christ Himself and all
are set in the church by GOD, each person has one or more.
Compare 1Corinthians 12:28 & Ephesians 4:11 which member of the body are you?
Apostles
Prophets
Teachers (evangelist, pastor and teacher) Compare 1Cor. 12:28 with Eph. 4:11
Miracles
Healings (medical remedies)
Helps
Governments (of Latin origin, to steer) (figuratively) directorship (in the church)
Diversities of tongues
OFFICE: The ability, the way the Spirit works through us (The work to be done). Each member can hold one, or more or all offices, but not likely.
Romans 12
Prophecy
Ministry
Teaching
Exhorting
Giving
Ruling
Mercy
MANIFESTATION: The way the Spirit works in us. The Spirit works in each member in one or more of these ways.
1Corinthians. 12:1-10
Wisdom
Knowledge
Faith (given by GOD)
Healing (medical remedies)
Miracles
Prophecy
Discerning of spirits
Tongues
Interpretation of tongues

Eph. 4:11
There is only 3 member gifts here, Compare this with 1Cor. 12:28
Also there are only 4 ministries Gifts not 5

Members Gifts
Apostles
Prophets
Teacher which includes Evangelist, Sheppard and Teacher

Ministries
Shepherd and Teacher
Apostles
Prophets
Evangelist

The only 2 not mentioned here are Deacon and Elder\Bishop. The reason they are not mentioned here is they are given by the Church.

Deacons: Are to be chosen paying close attention to biblical qualifications.

Elder\Bishop: Elder is the man Bishop is the office. These also should be appointed, paying close attention to biblical qualifications. The Elders are to be appointed to the office of Bishop and these would be the pastors. Each having equal authority, they would be the Under Sheppard’s of the church.


The only 2 not mentioned here are Deacon and Elder\Bishop. The reason they are not mentioned here is they are given by the Church.

Deacons: Are to be chosen paying close attention to biblical qualifications.

Elder\Bishop: Elder is the man Bishop is the office. These also should be appointed, paying close attention to biblical qualifications. The Elders are to be appointed to the office of Bishop and these would be the pastors. Each having equal authority, they would be the Under Sheppard’s of the church. The Elders are the Elderly men in the Church not some young Preacher.

 

[mark75]

I can speak from the standpoint of a South Bapt pastor. I have seen a few South Bapt churches in my area go non-demoninational, and it looks as if our systems of church govt must be very similar because it didn't require a major change in their current govt when they switched. All that to say that Non-Den's and Bapt's are probably very similar in church govt. The churches are each autonomous with respect to other Non-Den and Bapt churches. Within the church the senior pastor is someone elected usually by the church. Then that pastor, as far as his job-related duties, is accountable to the congregation. Some churches elect a special board of elders or some other board to whom the pastor is accountable. The bottom-line is that all these types of churches are autonomous and their govt's and accountabilities lie within themselves.

With regard to a statement made related to accountability to God, we are all accountable to God, and in fact James 3:1 says that pastors/teachers will be held to a stricter judgment. But again, ultimately, each person will be accountable to God, whether he/she serves in a church govt, staff, or lay position, or doesn't serve at all.

This is a great question, and I'll look forward to hearing other responses.

Mark

 

[pilgrimgal]

I can speak from the standpoint of a South Bapt pastor. I have seen a few South Bapt churches in my area go non-demoninational, and it looks as if our systems of church govt must be very similar because it didn't require a major change in their current govt when they switched. All that to say that Non-Den's and Bapt's are probably very similar in church govt. The churches are each autonomous with respect to other Non-Den and Bapt churches. Within the church the senior pastor is someone elected usually by the church. Then that pastor, as far as his job-related duties, is accountable to the congregation. Some churches elect a special board of elders or some other board to whom the pastor is accountable. The bottom-line is that all these types of churches are autonomous and their govt's and accountabilities lie within themselves.

With regard to a statement made related to accountability to God, we are all accountable to God, and in fact James 3:1 says that pastors/teachers will be held to a stricter judgment. But again, ultimately, each person will be accountable to God, whether he/she serves in a church govt, staff, or lay position, or doesn't serve at all.

This is a great question, and I'll look forward to hearing other responses.

Mark

Much appreciation for the answers which are giving me a keener insight, I think,into how accountability works within a non-denom congregation. I am fairly new to non-denominationalism...but I do appreciate that there is a certain structure within the structure and as said in my first post...accountability to God...as repeated by several here and also that some pastors are accountable to other pastors as well as their elders and/or congregation. When I asked my pastor about this he explained that they are accountable to other pastors within a certain framework and local...although it is not a denominational framework...

And so far I have learned a lot from these posts.

...also looking forward to more based upon your experiences. Great replies! God Bless...

pilgrim...original poster.