{"id":543,"date":"2010-05-29T09:35:00","date_gmt":"2010-05-29T09:35:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/monkeymind\/2010\/05\/passing-ruminations-on-the-nature-of-prophetic-ministry-while-waiting-to-join-a-demonstration-in-phoenix\/"},"modified":"2011-11-01T15:05:22","modified_gmt":"2011-11-01T19:05:22","slug":"passing-ruminations-on-the-nature-of-prophetic-ministry-while-waiting-to-join-a-demonstration-in-phoenix","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/monkeymind\/2010\/05\/passing-ruminations-on-the-nature-of-prophetic-ministry-while-waiting-to-join-a-demonstration-in-phoenix.html","title":{"rendered":"Passing Ruminations on the Nature of Prophetic Ministry While Waiting to Join a Demonstration in Phoenix"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>
<\/a><\/div>\n

It is quite early in Phoenix.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve been working on my sermon for Sunday.<\/p>\n

Soon, I\u2019ll finish packing my bags, check out of the hotel, they\u2019ve said I may leave my bags there, and then go off to the demonstration.<\/p>\n

I really think Arizona\u2019s SB 1070 something wicked. It plays upon fears, some real, most imagined about the undocumented among us. And out of that fear does some bad things to the illegal immigrants, to our law enforcement officers, and to our American soul.<\/p>\n

I feel strongly compelled to stand up and to speak out. Today I stand up. Tomorrow I speak out.<\/p>\n

And in the meantime I find myself thinking of various things, but particularly the prophetic voice much valued in the liberal religious tradition.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n
In that regard let me tell a brief story. It really is true, although I\u2019ve jumbled details a bit so people don\u2019t have to be unduly embarrassed. It was a clergy gathering. The young minister visibly shook as he told his peers about what he had done. \u201cI thought and meditated and prayed,\u201d He told us. \u201cAnd finally I decided I needed to deliver a prophetic sermon to my congregation. I felt in my bones they needed to hear it.\u201d He paused, it felt trying to find that place between humility and pride, a difficult spot to land, no doubt. He then said, \u201cWhen I finished, the gave me a standing ovation.\u201d He was met with silence, not unkind, but silent. It was a gathering of clergy. Most had heard most variations on the homiletic endeavor and what follows. Out of that silence an old hand said, and I think she meant it as kindly as possible. \u201cYou know,\u201d she said. \u201cIf they applauded it wasn\u2019t prophetic.\u201d<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
The majority of my gang, the folk I serve in Providence, are in favor of what I am doing.\u00a0<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
So, I\u2019m in some danger of that applause. <\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
But I\u2019m trying to be clear, to call us to our better natures, and who knows, maybe I\u2019ll disappoint\u2026<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
And maybe that won\u2019t be a bad thing\u2026<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\"\"<\/div>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It is quite early in Phoenix. I\u2019ve been working on my sermon for Sunday. Soon, I\u2019ll finish packing my bags, check out of the hotel, they\u2019ve said I may leave my bags there, and then go off to the demonstration. I really think Arizona\u2019s SB 1070 something wicked. It plays upon fears, some real, most […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":120,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-543","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nPassing Ruminations on the Nature of Prophetic Ministry While Waiting to Join a Demonstration in Phoenix<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"It is quite early in Phoenix.I've been working on my sermon for Sunday.Soon, I'll finish packing my bags, check out of the hotel, they've said I may leave\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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