Leadership failures have caused many of us to re-assert the importance of accountability structures etc. This is a good and important development. Yet, these interventions also have limited value. That is because, while I, as a leader, may have some kind of official accountability structure around me, my heart may not engage with it. Structures are good and important, but they can’t, in and of themselves, impart wisdom if my heart resists it. Personal defensiveness does actually make me pretty impregnable to help, and the results are deadly.May the Lord help us to watch ourselves here:
Have I become a pastor who is never actually pastored?
Do I minister to others, but not allow others to minister to me?
Do I have an appearance of submission, but no actual submission?
Do I live as everyone’s teacher, but no one’s pupil?
Do I see myself a ‘sinner’, but with no specific sins to confess, nor anyone to say sorry to?
…the Lord preserve us from such madness!
CEEC published a series of materials designed to help evangelical churches review, repent and reshape their cultures on the back of the recent Thirtyone:eight independent reviews into two prominent evangelical churches and their leaders.
The materials, which can be found here, are both in response to the criticism and recommendations made by the review, and the subsequent wider reflections of a representative group of Anglican evangelical church leaders (women and men, younger and older, lay and ordained, conservative and charismatic, and survivors of abuse) convened by the CEEC.
The CEEC describes the materials as ‘first steps’ in helping local churches reflect on, lament and address existing and potential issues surrounding power and abuse.