PART 3: THE KEY TO ANSWERS

Well, it's been awhile since I've posted. Our youngest dtr just returned home from having ear surgery (tubes placed in both ears) on Tuesday. She's doing much better and we are so glad to finally be home! As I sat at Children's Hospital those 5 days, I had a lot of time to read my Bible, think, and pray over all the questions and situations that have come up in bloggerland and in the "real" world. The Lord placed it upon my heart that the biggest answer, the best solution and the biggest reason why we are finding ourselves questioning all these things is accountability.
Why accountability? It is the way we can keep ourselves in check...where we can't be duped by lying to ourselves that it's all ok. Bloggerland debates and other discussions I've had all come down to this: we've lost a sense of direction as a church. We need to get back to the basics...not all about doing, not all about meeting the deadlines, not all about numbers...but about people and loving them the best we can to reflect God's love!
How did we lose this sight? When we challenge our corps members about priority...we have them list their daily and weekly schedules (including leisure time). It's amazing that those who put God on the top of their list spend the least amount of regular time with Him (in service and in communication). Without this accountability check, we can be fooling ourselves thinking that we are doing all we can to serve when in reality it's all superficial stuff we're doing (and not on purpose..but with "good" intentions).
So here is my question....How does an organization/church institute (not best word choice) accountability? Do we as believers have a responsibility to hold the church to accountability? If so, how do we do this while still showing the respect to the authorities placed over us? Also, do you see accountability (or lack thereof) as the main reason we have lost sight of our mission over the years?