The accountability of spiritual leaders in mushrooming independent churches : a pastoral response

Abstract

The study investigates the effect of mushrooming, unaccountability unsupervised leadership tendency, which has affected the African religiosity and took it by storm. Hence, the study of this nature will gaze its attention in South African townships in particular. Thus, by referring “independent church” a researcher does not specifically mean traditional churches who gain independence from western churches, which were planted in the African soil, but rather means the regular breaking away of churches by leaders, in order to start their own, if they do not see eye to eye with the current church leader. These are modern churches, which are young and most of them are yet in ownership of land and infrastructure. On the other hand, a researcher designates independent prophetic or new charismatic churches because these churches are the extension of the charismatic movement or neo-Pentecostals. In Addition, it is also due to practices by these churches, which are bizarre and unusual, which includes, eating of grass, eating of snakes, drinking of petrol, spraying of Doom on the congregants and other experiences Kgatle (2017) denotes in his study, to demonstrate the power of God (2017). As practices such as these are a new phenomenon in the history of South African church. Hence, they are called Prophetic based on showing more interest in prophesy, healing, deliverance, and the gospel of prosperity. These pastors have autonomy and freedom to practice without any accountability. Thus, there are lot of questions asked about independent prophetic churches growth. Is it genuine growth? Can it be attributed to mission advancement? Many have attributed such growth, as a result of people who have pulled from classical Pentecostal, mainline churches as well and most probable other traditional movements. This growth could not therefore be attributed to missionary expansion, if it does, there is a notion that some followers who are attracted to these churches are purely drown to them seeking prophetic voice, either or miraculous intervention such as healing and deliverance. Hence, leaders who do not have a responsible structural place for accountability challenge a researcher. Thus, the situation has led to the damage of theology and image of the church. Henceforth, self-appointed, theologically untrained and lack of mandate from mother bodies by such leaders poses societal challenges and outcry. Thus, the bizarre acts committed by these independent prophetic churches have left many speechless and asking questions. What South African church has become? To what extent is the independency of the independent church? Which religious body do the leaders account to? Who carries the accountability of the pastor? Is the claim of reporting straight to God justifiable? Have these tendencies of being not accountable led to chaotic state, which, currently have plucked the church? Hence, the study is therefore investigating the effect of mushrooming of the independent prophetic churches and its unsupervised leadership, which has dented the image and landscape of the church fraternity; thus, the above questions have helped to guide the research.