Accountability is good and right. A denomination or network would be foolish to give away Kingdom resources without certain standards. Expectations should be expected. My concern is not with accountability. When I worked for McDonald’s and Burger King, I had to wear the appropriate uniforms for the appropriate places. I knew such expectations existed before I agreed to receive their paychecks. My concern is in the level of expectations.

I recently spent some time with a friend who has been involved in church planting activities. His denomination financially supported his ministry. However, he recently declined such financial support because he believed some of the methodological expectations required unhealthy theological and missiological compromises. “The one who pays the piper picks the tune,” he said.

This brother was not cynical or belligerent. He loves his denomination and continues to remain active within that tradition. He was simply making a point: Expectations come with financial contributions. But to what extent should those expectations come?

Accountability is good and right. A denomination or network would be foolish to give away Kingdom resources without certain standards. Expectations should be expected.

My concern is not with accountability. When I worked for McDonald’s and Burger King, I had to wear the appropriate uniforms for the appropriate places. I knew such expectations existed before I agreed to receive their paychecks.

My concern is in the level of expectations. Church planting is more art than science. At McDonald’s, I had to follow certain methods because the goal was a scientifically determined end result produced by per-determined methods. There was very little art involved in cooking French fries. But such is not the way of ministry.

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