by Christopher Edmonston
Long before I started studying theology I had been exposed to the notion of the priesthood of all believers. I knew of Martin Luther and of his role in introducing this theological conviction. Through study I discovered John Calvin and other Reformers for whom this commitment was also central. The priesthood of all believers connects the anthropology of the Bible to our Reformed ecclesiology. This priesthood defines the beating heart of our polity and our church constructs.
During officer training we make every attempt to explain the importance of the priesthood of all believers. Our vision for the church is expanded by the collected inputs that the Holy Spirit provides through the many people who are called into leadership of church. Diverse voices are not only valued in this priesthood of all believers, they are necessary.
Unfortunately, our vision for leadership often runs headlong into professional and specialized cultures of knowledge and leadership in which we live. In the 21st century, nearly every doctor, lawyer, teacher, mechanic, craftsman, farmer (and in larger churches, even pastors) has become a specialist. In church leadership, governing councils are likely to defer to expert voices during critical moments of discernment. While this can provide for sound decision-making, it can also become a stranglehold for innovation and a vice grip to Christ’s vision for the church of which he is the head.
It is famously said in Proverbs 29 that with no vision the people perish. The first steps towards discerning vision that is disclosed to the priesthood of all believers (and then sustained by the priesthood of all believers) is intentional prayer and observation: listening and watching for the Holy Spirit. This means training officers in the art of discernment. A good next step is training church officers to ask guiding questions of the entire church family that seek not only practical solutions to challenges but also opportunities for theological ingenuity.
Church officers must remember that vision is ever expansive because the Holy Spirit is ever changing course, making streams in deserts where there were none before. The courses of such streams of vision then must be vetted among the entire body of Christ. The Spirit rarely repeats itself verbatim. Our calling is to trust the prophet: “Behold I am about to do a new thing.” New things, new ideas and new churches are born as all believers are engaged.
Engaging all believers in articulating vision is messy and time-consuming. The most critical moment of vision testing occurs when officers seek the input of voices deferred, ignored or neglected within the church. Officers must be trained in reaching out to youngest disciples, young adults, oldest adults, newest members and charter members whose days of intensive service might long be passed.
Vision is not solely the purview of the experts among us. But it is the purview of the Spirit’s conversation with God’s people, the priesthood of all believers. And vision is best served when all really means all.
Christopher Edmonston is the pastor of White Memorial Presbyterian Church in Raleigh, North Carolina.
