SOME CONCEPTS RELATED TO PROPHETIC MINISTRY

By Pastor Philip D. Long and Charles Honeywell
May 1998

The Prophet in the Old Testament always has the authority of God behind his words and actions: "Thus says the Lord..." God has sent a message into the prophet's heart which burns and will not rest until it is spoken regardless of the consequences.

For us Christians today, Prophetic Ministry means a way of doing ministry which has a critical and creative edge to it. It involves action that engages people and unleashes energy instead of resulting in that tired, "burned out", feeling of endless routine. Turning problems into issues that result in creative change in any ministry is a prophetic act that enhances our witness. To be prophetic does not always mean challenging evil in a community, although that is a necessary part of it when existing civic groups are stymied. But it is essential, first of all, that people engaged in each ministry within a congregation learn how to incorporate prophetic action and develop issues. As Christian congregations and parishes, we are called to follow Jesus' example of both healing and prophetic ministries. When he challenged his own followers or his enemies, he said and did what was God's will, not what people wanted, or felt comfortable with. Often, He did not facilitate the comfort of his hearers. The majority of his teaching stories and actions recorded in the New Testament show him challenging, disturbing, or upsetting those who would deter him in any way from his mission.

"Prophetic Ministry" is not a term used in most churches nor do we find it listed among the various ministries of a congregation or parish. Why not? For one thing, the instincts of most American churches jump not to defining the prophetic, but to preserving security and avoiding unpleasantness. Yet, the lives of many people around our churches are very unpleasant, often due to economic, crime, and other forces destroying their tranquility. There is also great cultural pressure from our society seducing our churches into being more concerned about niceness than about truth. Reseaching the truth about an issue can be a prophetic act. And then there are the rewards of growth and money for those that win the competition to be the nicest church around. Finally, it is neither popular nor profitable for churches to align themselves with the oppressed of society, yet that was Jesus' way. Few churches today want to take that kind of risk.

Of course, it is not in the self-interest of the membership of most congregations or parishes, especially new members, to have a ministry focused narrowly on social. A "prophetic ministry" that only draws negative reactions will not sustain a congregation or parish. A well balanced combination of priestly and prophetic ministry provides both positive, internal ministry (growth and success) and innovative, challenging, energizing witness (prophetic).

The need for a witness among our churches to the whole model of Jesus Christ is long overdue and well documented. Parish education with corresponding actions is the key to creating new interest in the church, especially among our young people. Education without action or action without education is shallow. This is a "prophetic ministry" orientation.

The priestly and prophetic parish needs to implement a living demonstration of prophetic ministry applied to all areas of church life. A prime example is education (the whole educational effort of the congregation or parish, not just to work of the Sunday School or CCD program.

Example: Work to add more creative "hands-on" experiences to the teaching of the Bible with projects we develop ourselves using the gifts and skills of members - like model building (tabernacle, temple pottery, etc.) Include actions for the adults who study the Bible - like leadership training, media analysis, creation of teaching models, provision of archaeological studies and special events.

Example: Work to engage the community around us, including the business community, in a way that provides "teaching" for members and also helps accomplish improvement of the neighborhood. Ad-book and business meetings need to be seen as educational experiences for our members, not just fund raising.

It is a five year project for parishes to provide systematic training in organizational skills for all ministries. This does not in any way replace or lessen the objectives of each ministry or take our focus off of our Word and Sacrament mission. It would aim to give each and every ministry a creative edge (prophetic is sharp, as opposed to dull).

Examples include finding a way to keep the stewardship ministry before the congregation with imaginative, creative articles and themes; finding a way to highlight the creativity of members (" A year of Member Creativity:); a year of creative building maintenance; continued efforts to provide creative youth programs; creative and exciting ways to reach out into our community and people's homes. all of these ways must be energized if they are truly prophetic.

How can we start implementing this model at our parish or congregation and refine it for sharing with other churches?

Ministry needs three concepts employed as focus:

1. Each ministry needs to be critical of the culture.

2. Each ministry needs to have creative approaches.

3. Each ministry needs to take action in the form of issues. `

(Issues have 4 elements: 1. Must be realizeable and deliverable. 2. Specific enough to be actionable. 3. Must be accomplished in reasonable time, not years. 4. Must create energy in those organizing the issue and draw more people to participate.)