Pastoral Ministry, Part 9: A Pastor’s Accountability

When the pastor is wholly devoted to prayer and the exposition of Scripture, he will be one of the hardest working men in the church. Certainly his level of responsibility is one of the highest. For that reason, laziness is utterly incompatible with pastoral ministry. Although he does not punch a time-clock or file a work log, he is on duty 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. His boss is the Holy Spirit and he is ultimately accountable to God, the author of his eternal performance appraisal. Because the pastor is fallible, he should also make himself accountable to certain Christian brothers of high esteem and good report. Shunning pharisaical legalism, those men should lovingly and graciously hold the pastor accountable to the highest moral and spiritual standards. Depending on local church polity, those brothers might fill the role of elders or associate pastors. They should not be deacons, as that would be an unbiblical role for them and take away from their duty as servants. Neither should they be average church members or a church council, as that would inevitably cause the perception of partiality. If local church polity does not provide accountability in the form of elders or associate pastors, the pastor must seek it himself by forming partnerships among other local pastors of like faith and practice.