It’s essential to build structures of accountability for your spiritual innovation work. Not because you’re likely to fail, but because you care deeply about doing what’s right. Accountability isn’t about punishment or shame; it’s about creating a safety net for your values and your vision. When you invite trusted people (whether it’s a peer circle, a mentor, a coach, or an advisory board) to offer honest feedback, you give yourself the gift of perspective. These are the people who can help you catch hidden biases or gaps, grow through mistakes, and stay aligned with the integrity your work calls for. And just as importantly, they’re the ones who will cheer you on when you get it right.
As a white man, it was especially important for John Helmiere, founder of Valley and Mountain in Seattle, to have relationships of accountability with people of color in his community. So, in addition to a lot of training and active conversations within the community, a key accountability practice for John was to ensure that a majority of decision-makers on his board were always people of color.
We need people in our lives who have earned the right to tell us the hard thing; not to tear us down, but to help us grow. Regular check-ins, reflection practices, or other structured conversations with people who care for you and hold your mission close can make a huge difference. Building a culture of accountability, within yourself and your team, isn’t a barrier to your creativity, it’s what gives your work roots. It helps ensure that your spiritual innovation doesn’t just shine brightly for a moment, but lasts in a way that is healthy, honest, and whole.
An Exercise to Begin: Relationships of accountability
Nadia Bolz-Weber, a Lutheran spiritual innovator in the US, had a remarkable relationship with her bishop, Jim Gonia. Read their story here and reflect on the following questions as you consider who might hold you accountable:
Restorative Justice is a powerful model of repairing relationships after harm. Learn from Fania Davis, who founded Restorative Justice for Oakland Youth in this presentation and this interview.
Accountability Mapping provides tools and frameworks to help organizations and leaders visualize and strengthen their accountability relationships and systems.
