I had lunch today with a woman who has played guitar at various live music venues here in Austin for many years. She also plays in the praise band of a local church. We were talking about her mixed feelings about playing in church when she surprised me by pointing out how she prefers working with club owners and managers and band members and how she really gets frustrated working with ministers and church leaders.

She called it "professionalism" but as we talked, it became evident that what she was talking about was integrity. She described feeling cynical about church leaders' willingness to do what they say they will do and frustrated with their lack of follow-through. Most recently, she was disappointed by two different ministers failing to keep very basic promises and was so demoralized that she was considering quitting her role in helping to lead worship. I know both stories personally and I think she's absolutely right to feel betrayed. I also know for a fact that neither of these ministers knows the emotional carnage that he left behind.

The next part of our conversation also surprised me: she pointed out the vast differences in accountability in the secular world and in the church. In fact, she wondered aloud if maybe one reason church leaders lack accountability is the church culture of "niceness" that keeps us from confronting our leaders with their lack of integrity. I told her a little bit about the Ridder Leadership Initiative and your commitment to doing what you say you will do when you say you will do it and, I kid you not, she seemed wistful. This is radical stuff that you're doing--keeping your word and cleaning up your messes. It shouldn't be, but it is.