Boundaries and Accountability

As much as I like what we have discussed in the companion course to the one we are covering here (This is the course from Rockbridge Seminary, where I am one of the professors. We are in the seventh week of that course, "The Theology and Practice of Ministry."), one of the things I have been concerned about related to the original ministry and vision of a church that becomes a permission-giving church.

I have a friend who gives a good definition of unity (even if may, or may not be, technically correct as a use of the word). He says that unity does not mean that we all agree on everything, but it does mean that we support each of us to do what God has called us to do.

Another aspect of ministry does relate to the role of a pastor. One of the things he (pastor/bishop) is to do is to be an overseer. If we take permission-giving to the extreme, what is this individual overseeing?

A bunch of "lone rangers" operting in the same geographic area does not necessarily constitute a ministry, does it? I mean, that could be several separate ministries. We have probably heard the analogy of "loose canons" floating around as being dangerous. How do we have this wonderful permission-giving culture, equipping and helping people discover their own individual ministries, function properly in such a way as not to be hampered and yet to be properly "overseen"? After all, the role of pastor (bishop) is a biblical role.

Therefore, I was quite encouraged to read the part of the lecture on permission-giving to see how it dealt with this issue:

Here is that quote:

"Boundaries and Accountability . Permission-giving churches do need boundaries and accountability. Permission cannot be given in a vacuum. Some circumstances call for decisions to be made. Freedom of choice within certain boundaries is the basic system for order and control. In permission-giving churches guidance and accountability come from the church's Mission, Vision, and Values Statements, and a clearly defined scenario plan. People are free to live out their spiritual gifts within these boundaries. Governing bodies exist primarily to provide an environ­ment in which individual members and teams can live out their spiritual gifts on behalf of the Body of Christ.

"Boundaries and accountability cannot come from rule books or procedures. No book of procedures is broad enough to avoid control. For boundaries and accountability to be effective requires clarity concerning the basic values of the congregation. These basic values define the corporate culture of the congregation. They are the compass to the future."

I like the statement, and I do think it is well worth the challenges (as far as causing it to come about goes) to implement a permission-giving culture within a local church ministry.

I certainly have enjoyed reading the Rockbridge students' own evaluations as to where they are in the process of develeping a permission-giving culture in the context of their own ministries.