Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

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The Office of the General Minister and President announces the establishment of the Office of Prophetic Witness

The Office of the General Minister and President is pleased to announce the establishment of the Office of Prophetic Witness in Washington, DC, the nation’s Capital, by Rev. Terri Hord Owens, General Minister and President, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada. Public witness is a historic Disciples commitment. Disciples founder, Alexander Campbell reflected, “we ought to have the largest meeting house in Washington City, and there stand in the presence of king’s and earth’s nobility and proclaim the gospel…” 

The Office of Prophetic Witness will work with other denominational and faith leaders to coordinate and provide support and encouragement for their public witness in the public square, and advance necessary faith actions including Moral Witness Wednesdays and Justice Focused Weekends – One Moral Vision in 1,000 Voices beginning in April.

Envisioning a wider witness, Rev. Terri Hord Owens observed: “National City Christian Church is our national church, and I hope the Office of Prophetic Witness will further root our passion for justice alongside our national church and other manifestations of our denomination further extending our prophetic witness throughout and beyond the church.”

Rev. Dr. William Barber II, former pastor of Greenleaf Christian Church, former Moderator of the North Carolina Region of the Christian Church, founding director of the Center for Public Theology & Public Policy, Yale Divinity School, and president of Repairers of the Breach, has been appointed to serve as the inaugural Prophetic Preacher In-Residence in the Office of Prophetic Witness. He has agreed to take on this role pro bono.

In this new role, Dr. Barber will preach, teach, and lecture once a month to the nation and the church. He will employ every means including in-person gatherings and social media to remind the nation and church of the high moral stakes of the policy battles raging in Washington, DC.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. Candace Adams

    This is wonderful! I am very excited about the possibilities of this new venture and Dr. Barber is a great person to initiate this effort!!!

    Thank you 🙏🏽

  3. Savina J. Martin

    This is indeed what the times have called us to. I am so pleased to be among the witnesses of the prophetic happening now—- it is time to move forward, and out— into the public Square, where our faith in action, together, will move mountains.

  6. Pamela Poniatowski

    So very thankful that you are doing this at this time, to provide us with hope during this very dark period in our country. We will pray, and we will witness and we will love our country and its people back to a place where justice for all is possible. Thank you ♥️

  8. Rev.Dr. Sharon Stanley-Rea

    Exciting—and deeply needed; more than ever in this turbulent time!

  13. Phil D. Gilliland

    WOW!! It is great having the all encompassing minds of the CC(DOC) bringing us this great advance in the Prophetic ministry. Thank You!

  16. Kenneth Kennon

    Hallelujah…Excellent step forward! Thank you so much to all involved in establishing this prophetic witness among us.

  18. Wendy Flora

    Thank you so much! We need more initiatives in our country like this. May God give Rev. Barber strength to give us hope and lead us out of the darkness.

  19. Charlotte Gilmore

    Although I am not clear just what this effort is going to look like and how it will be perceived in the public square, I am grateful that someone is doing something to counter the evil that has crept into our lives while we were sleeping. I am proud of our Disciples of Christ denomination that we are willing to “go where no man has gone before” in this as in other areas of conflict and discord.

  20. Jon Lacey

    Praise God as we reaffirm our historic commitment to speak to the powers and would-be principalities extending and encouraging our own speaking, witnessing, and faithfulness to the Gospel of Jesus, our elder brother.

  23. Rosetta Robinson Battle

    Grace and Peace,

    This is good news for our movement. Living in the Washington area, I have worked with many non profits, denominations, and faith leaders addressing many political and social justice issues. Now more than ever Washington and the world, needs to hear our Gospel rooted voice and passion for justice. May the blessing, Spirit, and power of God guide this work.

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