As part of our Foundation’s portfolio, we manage the scholarship and grant dollars of the Martin Methodist (College) Foundation. Though the school no longer functions as it once did, the legacy of gifts from generous donors lives on to provide resources for students on their higher education journey.

Recently, our staff and members of the Board of Higher Education for the TWKC were reviewing forms and documents that would be used by prospective students when applying for scholarship support. One of the proposed questions would provide an opportunity for an applicant to express how they hope to use their gifts, faith, and education as part of the “priesthood of all believers” to impact their community?

As members of such a priesthood, this is a question we should be willing to ask ourselves with a degree of relative and reflective frequency. Jesus said in John 7:37-38 as part of a public proclamation, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink…(for) out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.” (NRSV)

Martin Luther, John Calvin, and John Wesley each proclaimed some variation of this expression in their efforts to reform the church through their practical, theological, and scriptural engagements. This concept is considered part of the core foundation of Protestant Christian doctrine. This priesthood appreciates a common understanding that all believers are created as gifted and graced priests or servants before a potential calling to the formal ordained or pastoral office of clergy might ever be considered. The implication being that God is calling all disciples of Christ to have an attitude, a mission, or a sense of purpose for life driven by their faith and manifested through vocation, servitude, and relationship.

The world is filled to the brim with empty, thirsty people. As members of the priesthood of all believers, how do we contribute to quenching the parched lives of those we encounter who might hope our words, our attitudes, and our actions will flow from the Holy Spirit…which is the very current of the Living Water of the Good News?

Serving you, serving with you,

Rev. Dr. David Weatherly