QUOTE
Principle #5: The Priesthood Principle: equipping the laity for ministry.
What is the business of the church? Slaughter contends that the priorities of God identified in scripture are frequently ignored by what the churched culture considers to be important. Jesus had the same complaint (Mark 7:5-13). Releasing the laity for ministry in the world is the key to the success of Christ=s mission…. This principle was at the heart of the Protestant Reformation. Luther reaffirmed this new covenant strategy – that there is but one high priest, Jesus, and all of us are priests, ministering the same body under his authority (SE: 83). Slaughter identifies other examples of the Apriesthood of all believers@ in Methodist history in England and America. There are no superstars in the Body of Christ. Not one of us has all the gifts. I am limited in what I can do in ministry… We are meant to function in interdependent relationships with one another, as the Spirit works through us (SE: 85). Ginghamsburg is nationally recognized for the quality of opportunities that have been developed for laity to do real world, exciting, meaningful ministry within the church and within a hurting world. Links to many of these amazing programs can be found in the proper Workshop Materials folder for this unit. Determining one=s gifts and calling is a significant task in adolescent life, spiritual and otherwise, and working in ministry is a significant cause of spiritual growth.
NOTE (my response)
DISCERNMENT QUESTIONS
RESOURCES
SE: Michael Slaughter, Spiritual Entrepreneurs: Six Principles for Risking Renewal (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1994). Quotes from the book are in italics.
“First Love: A Christ Centered Environment for Church Renewal” by Michael Slaughter. Dayton, OH: Whaleprints at United Theological Seminary, 1990. (video; currently unavailable.)
Footnotes:
The quote is from Major League Disciple Making: An Overview of the Best Research on the Cell Church, an online course developed for the Institute for Discipleship at www.BeADisciple.com in 2009. Course materials, including these lectures, can be downloaded here: http://www.disciplewalk.com/IFD_MLD_Class_Links.html
All Scripture quotations are from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Please review the page How and Why We Use Quotes.