Comments on: Emerging accountability? http://lyn.lifeshapedfaith.com/2008/04/emerging-accountability/ a journal on my journey with Jesus, and the paths in which God is taking me. Sat, 10 Jan 2009 03:27:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: lynhallewell http://lyn.lifeshapedfaith.com/2008/04/emerging-accountability/#comment-193824 lynhallewell Sat, 03 May 2008 08:58:46 +0000 http://lyn.lifeshapedfaith.com/2008/04/emerging-accountability/#comment-193824 Very true my friend. Very true my friend.

]]> By: Paul http://lyn.lifeshapedfaith.com/2008/04/emerging-accountability/#comment-193819 Paul Sat, 03 May 2008 08:00:46 +0000 http://lyn.lifeshapedfaith.com/2008/04/emerging-accountability/#comment-193819 Christians have their good moments and crap ones regardless of the institution/space - we can get all idealistic and romantic about it but it's pretty much been the same across the history of God's followers... Christians have their good moments and crap ones regardless of the institution/space - we can get all idealistic and romantic about it but it’s pretty much been the same across the history of God’s followers…

]]> By: lynhallewell http://lyn.lifeshapedfaith.com/2008/04/emerging-accountability/#comment-192572 lynhallewell Fri, 02 May 2008 07:25:04 +0000 http://lyn.lifeshapedfaith.com/2008/04/emerging-accountability/#comment-192572 Jeff, the "accountability" you have is exactly what I mean by accountability, and how my husband seeks it. Safe, honest people who aren't there to control, but will tell you if they think you're way off track! Jeff, the “accountability” you have is exactly what I mean by accountability, and how my husband seeks it. Safe, honest people who aren’t there to control, but will tell you if they think you’re way off track!

]]> By: Jeff McQ http://lyn.lifeshapedfaith.com/2008/04/emerging-accountability/#comment-192167 Jeff McQ Thu, 01 May 2008 23:48:45 +0000 http://lyn.lifeshapedfaith.com/2008/04/emerging-accountability/#comment-192167 Lyn, to answer your question...yes, I do submit myself willingly to several mature people whom I trust to speak truth to me--and who are not afraid to do so. They do not attempt to control us, and allow us to be who we are. I actually feel safer and more accountable in these relationships than at any time in any hierarchy I've been part of. It's actually within the safety of these relationships that I have realized that true accountability is an attitude of the heart, not an issue of control. I've known IC pastors who could rattle off their accountability structures while successfully finding ways to subvert them. I guess what I'm saying is accountability ultimately starts with me. Lyn, to answer your question…yes, I do submit myself willingly to several mature people whom I trust to speak truth to me–and who are not afraid to do so. They do not attempt to control us, and allow us to be who we are. I actually feel safer and more accountable in these relationships than at any time in any hierarchy I’ve been part of.

It’s actually within the safety of these relationships that I have realized that true accountability is an attitude of the heart, not an issue of control. I’ve known IC pastors who could rattle off their accountability structures while successfully finding ways to subvert them.

I guess what I’m saying is accountability ultimately starts with me.

]]> By: Jeff McQ http://lyn.lifeshapedfaith.com/2008/04/emerging-accountability/#comment-192152 Jeff McQ Thu, 01 May 2008 23:39:09 +0000 http://lyn.lifeshapedfaith.com/2008/04/emerging-accountability/#comment-192152 Not in the least, Lyn. You asked for our thoughts, and that was my thought. :) It was a great post. Not in the least, Lyn. You asked for our thoughts, and that was my thought. :) It was a great post.

]]> By: lynhallewell http://lyn.lifeshapedfaith.com/2008/04/emerging-accountability/#comment-191870 lynhallewell Thu, 01 May 2008 20:09:33 +0000 http://lyn.lifeshapedfaith.com/2008/04/emerging-accountability/#comment-191870 I know :-( I know :-(

]]> By: Erin http://lyn.lifeshapedfaith.com/2008/04/emerging-accountability/#comment-191729 Erin Thu, 01 May 2008 16:54:06 +0000 http://lyn.lifeshapedfaith.com/2008/04/emerging-accountability/#comment-191729 I'd love to say that no church gathering is ever started out of bitterness, but unfortunately some are. I’d love to say that no church gathering is ever started out of bitterness, but unfortunately some are.

]]> By: lynhallewell http://lyn.lifeshapedfaith.com/2008/04/emerging-accountability/#comment-191691 lynhallewell Thu, 01 May 2008 15:40:18 +0000 http://lyn.lifeshapedfaith.com/2008/04/emerging-accountability/#comment-191691 I agree it is hard, however as you pointed out things are more likely to be successful through calling. Personally I'd have concerns with someone starting something out of bitterness or anger, as that is when people start throwing mud at others and don't actually get anywhere for the kingdom. Some of this mud throwing (name calling) is already quite apparent within emerging circles! I agree it is hard, however as you pointed out things are more likely to be successful through calling. Personally I’d have concerns with someone starting something out of bitterness or anger, as that is when people start throwing mud at others and don’t actually get anywhere for the kingdom. Some of this mud throwing (name calling) is already quite apparent within emerging circles!

]]> By: Erin http://lyn.lifeshapedfaith.com/2008/04/emerging-accountability/#comment-191592 Erin Thu, 01 May 2008 13:53:42 +0000 http://lyn.lifeshapedfaith.com/2008/04/emerging-accountability/#comment-191592 What Jon said was so profound: let's be proactive instead of reactive. That's so hard, but so much of the people who start smaller gatherings are being reactive...but to start something out of a call or mission is more likely to be successful than something angry or bitter. What Jon said was so profound: let’s be proactive instead of reactive. That’s so hard, but so much of the people who start smaller gatherings are being reactive…but to start something out of a call or mission is more likely to be successful than something angry or bitter.

]]> By: Jon Hallewell http://lyn.lifeshapedfaith.com/2008/04/emerging-accountability/#comment-191310 Jon Hallewell Thu, 01 May 2008 08:16:47 +0000 http://lyn.lifeshapedfaith.com/2008/04/emerging-accountability/#comment-191310 This whole thing has brought up 2 issues for me. Firstly, if we leave IC because we're fed up of control etc. we will find similar issues in our organic forms of church, because of 'people' as well documented in previous comments. Answer: we need to pursue new forms of church for positive reasons, defined in terms of mission. We also need to be honest with ourselves about this. Lets be proactive, not reactive. Moving forward with grace, if not totally healed of the hurts we have been dealt in any given situation. For me, I am keen to be accountable and have oversight , even for many of our family decisions. There are huge abuses in many forms of church. Just look at the reporting of the Popes visit to the states. We all need people (even the pope ;-) ) who can say "are you out of line here friend?" Second: the thing that suprised me. When Lyn first told me about this she said "they were christians who weren't apart of church" alarm bells started ringing in my head. They continued to ring when she said "they met in a coffee house with a few other families." All this before she got to what had happened, which, it goes without saying was just so very sad. I then thought to myself, when I am so so so for new forms of church, why were the alarm bells ringing? Maybe because she said there was a story on cnn, which meant it probably wasn't going to be about mission. I have a personal issue here - but - there is a wider issue in terms of public perception, that has a negative impact on missional viability. Think about the cult case all over cnn lately. People fear getting trapped! Discuss. This whole thing has brought up 2 issues for me. Firstly, if we leave IC because we’re fed up of control etc. we will find similar issues in our organic forms of church, because of ‘people’ as well documented in previous comments. Answer: we need to pursue new forms of church for positive reasons, defined in terms of mission. We also need to be honest with ourselves about this. Lets be proactive, not reactive. Moving forward with grace, if not totally healed of the hurts we have been dealt in any given situation. For me, I am keen to be accountable and have oversight , even for many of our family decisions.

There are huge abuses in many forms of church. Just look at the reporting of the Popes visit to the states. We all need people (even the pope ;-) ) who can say “are you out of line here friend?”

Second: the thing that suprised me. When Lyn first told me about this she said “they were christians who weren’t apart of church” alarm bells started ringing in my head. They continued to ring when she said “they met in a coffee house with a few other families.” All this before she got to what had happened, which, it goes without saying was just so very sad. I then thought to myself, when I am so so so for new forms of church, why were the alarm bells ringing? Maybe because she said there was a story on cnn, which meant it probably wasn’t going to be about mission.

I have a personal issue here - but - there is a wider issue in terms of public perception, that has a negative impact on missional viability. Think about the cult case all over cnn lately. People fear getting trapped! Discuss.

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