The Basics of

the Accountability Model

The Senior Pastor is called to lead the
church. The staff (both paid and
unpaid) reports to the Senior Pastor
(not the congregation) and is
responsible for managing the church
and carrying out the implementation of
the vision. The Church Board governs
the Senior Pastor through Guiding
Principles. The Congregation does
the ministry of the church.

© Mission International Research and Development 2008

 The Strengths of the
Accountability Model
.

1. It marries responsibility and

authority with accountability.

2. It promotes church unity.

It stops triangulation among board
& staff.

3. It functions on a high level of

trust.

4. Decisions are made with

relative ease and very quickly.

5. Mission/Vision fulfillment is the

driving force not management.

6. The document is fluid and can

change as needed.
© Mission International Research and Development 2008
 The Problem with
most church structures:

1.Most structures create a sense of

anxiety…promote disunity and
enable dysfunction.
2. Most structures have clear lines of
authority but no clear lines of
accountability.
3. Most structure places all the
responsibility on the Pastor, but give
no authority to the pastor to carry
out responsibilities.
4. Making difficult and timely
decisions are nearly impossible
because of the process.

© Mission International Research and Development 2008

 From John Kaiser

“What Winning on Purpose

can do for a congregation
is to provide a system to
help identify, attract, retain,
and support a strong
senior pastor. However,
both leading that system
and following it are
dependent on the
character and competency
of the people in the
system..” P. 76

© Mission International Research and Development 2008

 From John Kaiser

“What is an appropriate response

for pastors winning big on the
mission question? Short answer in
a free system: a big raise. What
about pastors who are losing big
on mission? No raise and a year or
less to turn around their
performance to a reasonable
degree. What if there is a “draw” on
mission - no great gains or losses?
No raise until the congregation
starts winning and perhaps two or
three years to make that happen.”
P.104 Winning on Purpose

© Mission International Research and Development 2008

 What does meaningful
Accountability look like?

5) Board holds Pastor accountable 1) Board creates/revises

for interpretation AND application. Guiding Principles.

4) Pastor holds Staff 2) Pastor interprets

accountable for application. Guiding Principles.

3) Staff applies Pastor’s

interpretation of GP’s.

Adapted from Winning on Purpose by John Kaiser

© Mission International Research and Development 2008

 The on-going rhythm
Position Rhythm Functions

Board 5) Board holds Pastor

accountable for Govern
1) Board creates/revises
interpretation AND
application. Guiding Principles.

2) Pastor interprets
Guiding Principles.
Pastor Lead
4) Pastor holds Staff
accountable for application.

Staff 3) Staff applies Pastor’s

Interpretation of GP’s. Manage

Adapted from Winning on Purpose by John Kaiser

© Mission International Research and Development 2008

 Who plays what position?

Positions People Functions Sports

Analogy

Ministry Members Outreach first then Teammates or

Care for One Champions,
Another Athletes, etc.

Management Staff Equipping and Assistant

Coordination Coaches and
Specialists

Leadership Pastor Vision, Direction, Head Coach or

and Teaching Quarterback,
Captain, etc.

Governance Board Accountability and Commissioner,

Support Umpire,
Scorekeeper, &
Cheerleader

Adapted from Winning on Purpose by John Kaiser

© Mission International Research and Development 2008

 Boundaries and Freedom

“Touchline” (boundary)

Area of
Fair Play
Freedom
Authorization
Legitimate Actions

“Touchline” (boundary)

Adapted from Winning on Purpose by John Kaiser

© Mission International Research and Development 2008

 Boundaries and Goals

Doctrine Legal

1.Making Disciples
2.Multiplication of Leaders
3.Ministry Growth

Moral Budget

© Mission International Research and Development 2008

 What are the Guiding Principles

Mission Boundary Accountability

Principles Principles Principles
Clarifies the Clarifies the Rules Clarifies How to
Object of the of the Game Keep Score
Game
Responsibility Authority Accountability

Ends Means Oversight

Board speaks to Board speaks to Board speaks to

Pastor Pastor Chair
Prescription Prohibition Process
Language Language Language
Where are we How will we get Are we there yet?
going? there?

Adapted from Winning on Purpose by John Kaiser

© Mission International Research and Development 2008

 Quarterly Emphasis for Board Meetings

Quarter Focus Training Status Check

Emphasis of the Connecting with Biblical Mission •Connecting with

1st Quarter Christ and Values people
•Updating the
principles
•Monitoring
performance
Emphasis of the Connecting with Culture and •Monitoring
2nd Quarter People Community performance
•Connecting with
Christ
•Connecting with
people
Emphasis of the Updating the Accountability •Monitoring
3rd Quarter Principles and Support performance
•Connecting with
Christ
•Connecting with
People
Emphasis of the Monitoring Leadership •Connecting with
4th Quarter Performance Development Christ
•Connecting with
people
•Updating the
principles

Adapted from Winning on Purpose by John Kaiser

© Mission International Research and Development 2008

 Board Meeting Frequency
• Meeting more often than necessary
tempts a board to manage rather
than govern.

• Meeting less often than necessary

tempts a board to abdicate rather
than govern.

• Most boards will govern effectively

by holding carefully prepared
meetings.

• The staff should meet much more

often than the board to coordinate
the details of management.

Adapted from Winning on Purpose by John Kaiser

© Mission International Research and Development 2008

 Board Meeting Agenda Templates

Item Part 2 Hour 5 Hour 12 Hour

Version Version Version
Agenda-Based 10% 15 min 30 min 1 hr, 15 min
Prayer &
Scripture
Board Training 25% 30 min 1 hr, 15 min 3 hrs

Accept/Revise 5% 5 min 15 min 30 min

Consent
Agenda
Focus of the 50% 1 hr 1 hr, 15 min 6 hrs
Meeting
Status Check 5% 5 min 15 min 30 min
of Governance
Tasks
Concluding 5% 5 min 15 min 30 min
Thoughts &
Prayer

Adapted from Winning on Purpose by John Kaiser

© Mission International Research and Development 2008

 When performance problems
develop in a pastor’s life or ministry

Initial Continuing Stubborn

Instances Pattern Persistence

Minor Allow room for Ask for Adjust

Lapse self-correction. corrective conditions to
action. counteract.
Real Ask for Impose Confer with
Problem corrective corrective District
action. action with President.
deadlines
and
penalties.
Serious Confer with DP Have DP Never allow
Offense and offer advise about it to get this
rehabilitation. removal far.
from roster.

Adapted from Winning on Purpose by John Kaiser

© Mission International Research and Development 2008

 Sample of
a Church’s Goals
Category Goals or Outcomes
Compassionate (1) Develop and implement a plan for increasing the body’s
Outreach involvement in personal evangelism.
(2) Create and implement a comprehensive promotional strategy to
communicate our ministry to the larger community

Spiritual  (1) Develop and implement the building blocks for spiritual growth
Formation and identify pathways from initial contact to full integration with
spiritual formation.
(2) Continue training and development of coaching systems for
leadership and integration with spiritual formation.

Weekend (1) Re-imagine and implement a strategy for developing worship

Services services that help people feel welcomed, inspired and motivated to
take the next step.
(2) Develop and implement a plan to create a helpful campus
orientation, a positive guest atmosphere and an effective connection
environment from parking lot to parking lot.

 
Growth (1) Develop and implement strategies that identify, reach, attract and
Strategies connect families with young children.
(2) Increase and improve connectedness that draws Young Adults
(22-30). (as demonstrated through growth through our six spiritual
habits)

 
Communication (1) Complete development of website and procedure for updating
and maintaining.
(2) Develop and implement procedures to improve oral, written and
digital communications internally and externally.

© Mission International Research and Development 2008

 Sample of Pastor’s
Personal Goals

Personal Category Goal or outcome

Health Working out 3 times a week
Spiritual/Disciplines Monthly check-in on scripture
reading, memorization, and
types of prayer
Restorative Uses vacation and comp. time
yearly
Time Away Takes a 2 week block off
Counseling 2-3 counseling sessions per
month to be reassessed after 6
months
Quarterly non-anonymous
Listening Skills director scorecard on pastor’s
listening skills
Monthly Planning Monthly planning and reflection
day

© Mission International Research and Development 2008

 Potential Landmines
1. It takes a lot of patience and
time.Don’t try to do too much too soon.
2. Be prepared to answer questions and
concerns from the congregation all along
the journey.
3. Don’t underestimate the toll that this
change will have on the pastor.
4. Remind people often about why the
change is being made so that they don’t
lose sight of the big picture
5. Don’t declare victory too soon
6. The administration of the process can
be wearing because of the details.
7. The pastor must be ready for the
spotlight to shine on him more than it
has in the past.

© Mission International Research and Development 2008

 Sample Consent Agenda Format
Consent Agenda

Board Meeting:
Date

The officers of the board believe that each item below complies with the Guiding Principles and
should be adopted by consent. Any item marked as questionable by a board member will be
removed.

Instructions: Mark any item you believe is questionable with regard to the Guiding Principles, sign the
form, and return it to the secretary or another officer prior or upon arrival at the board meeting.

Proposal Questionable

1. 
2. 
3. 
4. 
5. 
6. 
7. 

I hereby vote to affirm each item above except for any I have marked as questionable.

Board Member Signature: Date:

Adapted
© Mission International from
Research Winning
and on Purpose
Development 2008 by John Kaiser
 Sample Agenda Item Worksheet

Board Meeting:
Date

Board members may submit an item for the agenda by completing this work sheet.
The chairperson will certify whether the item falls within the board’s written job
description and, if so, will schedule the discussion for an appropriate quarterly or
special board meeting.

1. Which part of the board’s job description makes this issue a board issue?

Creating and revising our Guiding Principles

Evaluating the pastor’s progress toward fulfilling one of our Mission Principles
Identifying a violation of one of our Boundary Principles for the pastor to rectify
Connecting with people in our community in order to serve them ahead of ourselves
Connecting with Christ through prayer and study of Scripture pertinent to our role
Connecting with people in our congregation in order to help them care for one another

2. In one sentence, what is the question you want the board to address?

3. Which one of our Guiding Principles speaks most directly to this question?

4. List the alternatives you see for addressing this question and the implications or each one:

Chairperson’s initials:

certified as board work scheduled for meeting distributed to board

Adapted from Winning on Purpose by John Kaiser

© Mission International Research and Development 2008