ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE CHURCH

ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE CHURCH by Prof. Benjamin Chuka Osisioma

Traditionally, accountability is the obligation to give a reckoning or explanation for one’s actions and responsibilities to a higher authority. However, for the purpose of this paper, we define accountability as the processes through which an organisation makes a commitment to respond to and balance the needs of stakeholders in its decision making processes and activities, and delivers against this commitment. In the church setting accountability involves managing the resources God has entrusted us with, organising for service and mission, and providing programmes to carry out the church’s mandate. The goal is to help people grow in Christ and learn to find Him as the source, force and course of life. Indeed, accountability is to the church, what tracks are to train: without it, we flounder, lose focus, detract from moral purity, and fail to achieve true unity and cohesion. Keywords: Accountability, Church, Leaders, Mission, Stakeholders, Decision Making.