Prophetic Ministry

What is prophetic ministry?

The Anglican Communion and the Methodist Church recognize Five Marks of Christian Mission.

1. Proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom
2. Teach, Baptise and Nurture new believers
3. Respond to human need by loving service
4. Question and seek to transform the unjust structures of society
5. Sustain the integrity of creation and renew the face of the earth

Most Christian congregations respond readily to the first three marks but marks four and five, which relate particularly to the modern world, can easily be overlooked.  Nevertheless, all five marks are essential for a faithful response by the church to the mission of God. 

In order to provide for the full range of preparation for mission, The Queen's Foundation for Ecumenical Theological Education in Birmingham has created a Committee for Prophetic Ministry, which has the task of encouraging marks four and five, resisting the unjust structures and caring for the environment. 

Prophetic ministry may refer to several aspects of discipleship.  It can be mainly futuristic looking to the fulfilment of biblical prophesy, it can also refer to the ministry of deliverance and counselling for individuals.  There is a third meaning of prophesy, the questioning and criticism of the nations and of the surrounding society in the name of the God of justice and peace.  Up to a point, prophetic actions of this kind are more or less equivalent to acts of social justice, but maybe wider or deeper than these. 

The advantage of describing actions for social justice as prophetic is that it links such actions with the tradition of the biblical prophets and particularly with the ministry of Jesus, the prophet mighty in word and deed, who was more than a prophet.  The prophets saw deeply into contemporary affairs.  They saw what to most people was hidden.  They spoke out when most people were indifferent.  Prophetic actions of this kind may also be an effective form of evangelism.  In other words, marks four and five can contribute to the second mark, the making of Christian disciples. 

In order to offer experiences of prophetic ministry to members of the Queen’s community, a Committee for Prophetic Ministry was created in the spring term 2008.  Although part of the Centre for Ministerial Formation, the Committee and its activities are open to all members of the community.

A number of activities have been organised under the  general direction of the Committee,  and reports on four of these may be read here.

Over the past two years students at Queen's have taken part in planning and carrying out five difference acts of prophetic ministry. Click on the menu on the left to see these reports or on the links below to download a pdf version.

Aldermaston_Lamentation

Faslane pilgrimmage

Alternative Christmas

Procession of grief - Iraq