The Friendly Proclamation

The Formative Messenger: Ben Staley

A Note on this Conversation: This conversation was recorded with Ben Staley, a seasoned pastor with over 55 years of ministry experience. Ben’s journey is a testament to the power of a life formed by the Word and yielded to the Holy Spirit. Summary: What does it mean to be a "missionary pastor" in the modern world? In this episode, we sit down with Ben Staley to explore his decades-long journey through the Missionary Church, Evangelical Friends, and United Methodist traditions. Ben reflects on the vital importance of scriptural memorization, the "craft" of structuring a message that offers both hope and value, and his core philosophy of the "Jesus Way of Life." Key Discussion Points: * The Foundation of Memory: Ben discusses why a childhood Sunday School teacher’s challenge to memorize scripture became the most important anchor of his 55-year ministry. * Finding a Home in Friends Theology: The "heart-opening" experience of discovering the Friends' Faith and Practice and its unique emphasis on the Holy Spirit combined with social concern. * His Framework: Ben breaks down his four-pillar approach to ministry: * Incarnational: Moving toward people in their mess, as Jesus did. * Relational: Learning to love others with the literal, sacrificial love of Christ. * Transformational: Being "salt and light" and committing to the work of mentorship. * Missional: Running to "win" others unto Christ. * The Structure of the Message: A look at Ben’s "preaching anatomy"—from an opening that draws people in, to the "So What?" conclusion that challenges listeners to respond. * The Secret Sauce of Peace: Ben’s ultimate advice for discerning God's voice: letting the "Peace of Christ rule in your heart" (Colossians 3:15) when choosing a direction, a mate, or a message. The Messenger’s Toolkit: "The life I live is 'not I, but Christ.' We need to be so familiar with the Word that we don't just give our opinions, which are easily influenced by culture, but we speak the very breath of God." — Ben Staley

The Universal Messenger: David Kingrey on Preaching as Corporate Ministry

How does the Quaker belief in the "priesthood of all believers" change the way a pastor prepares a message? In this episode, we sit down with David Kingrey, a seasoned pastor and Friend’s historian, to explore the intersection of personal calling and corporate worship. David shares his journey from a nineteen-year-old student preacher to a leader dedicated to affirming the "ministry of everyone". He challenges the idea of the preacher as the sole voice in the room, advocating instead for a model where the sermon and "Open Worship" work together to reveal the immediate presence of Christ. Key Discussion Points: * The Calling and the Craft: David reflects on his sixty-five years in the pulpit and how his approach to preaching has evolved from his early days at Earlham and Purdue to his time as a senior minister in Wichita, California, and North Carolina. * The Centrality of Universal Ministry: Why the core of Friends' preaching is affirming that every Christian has a vocation and a ministry, regardless of their professional title. * Preaching as a Physician and Teacher: How David used his role as a pastor to frame ministry through the lens of "healing" and "teaching," showing how every member of the meeting can participate in those tasks in their daily lives. * The Synergy of the Sermon and Open Worship: David explains his practice of placing "Open Worship" both before and after the sermon to allow the Spirit to direct his words and allow the congregation to respond to them. * Christ-Centered Preaching: A look at the historical common theme of great Quaker preachers: that Christ must be the absolute center of the message. * The Midwifery of the Spirit: How David views the preacher’s role as helping to "give birth" to what God is already doing in the hearts of the congregation. * The Power of Pastoral Presence: David shares moving stories of how simple acts of faithfulness—from hospital visits to using technology like PowerPoint to engage youth—can break down barriers and open doors for the Gospel. The Messenger’s Toolkit: "The ministry of everyone needs to be affirmed... our preaching and our pastoral work are two sides of the same coin: the calling of the messenger to be faithful to the needs of the people." — David Kingrey

The Anchored Messenger: David Robinson

How does a preacher move from a "momentary flash of inspiration" to a message that truly nourishes the "Universal Ministry"? In this episode, we sit down with David Robinson—former pastor, seminary president, and Mid-America Yearly Meeting Superintendent. David traces his journey from preaching his very first sermon in Coldwater, Kansas, before he had ever been trained, to becoming a champion of expository preaching. He challenges the idea that preparation stifles the Spirit, arguing instead that a messenger must be "adequately anchored" in the Word to effectively lead others into a deeper devotion to Christ. Key Discussion Points: * The "Jump In" Calling: David reflects on his unexpected start in ministry in 1970, pastoring his first church while still a student, and the steep learning curve of preaching without prior education. * The Paradox of Quaker Ministry: A deep dive into Elton Trueblood’s concept that a "separated" ministry (pastors) exists primarily to nourish and make genuine the "universal" ministry of the laity. * Preparation vs. Flash of Inspiration: David discusses why "Open Worship" should be more than a testimony time, advocating for a level of preparation that moves beyond "momentary flashes" to sharing things of lasting value. * Spirit Primary, Scripture Reliable: Exploring the distinction between the Holy Spirit as primary and Scripture as the truthful, reliable secondary source inspired by that same Spirit. * Retooling for the Long Haul: Advice for weary pastors on the necessity of "iron sharpening iron" through ministerial associations and the "stimulation" of continued education to avoid getting stuck in the "mess" of daily ministry. * The Shadow of Merle Roe: A personal look at the legendary Friends evangelist Merle Roe, his "auctioneer" preaching style, and the humility of receiving encouragement from those who have spent a lifetime in the Word. The Messenger’s Toolkit: "The universal ministry does not come to flower except when it is nourished deliberately... The only way in which to produce it is to train a minority for this holy task." — Elton Trueblood

Listening for the Flock: Marlene Smith on the Craft of Prayerful Preparation

A Note on this Conversation: This interview was recorded prior to Marlene Smith’s passing. We share this conversation now as a tribute to her life of faithful service and her deep love for the Friends' ministry. Her words remain a vital testament to a life lived in tune with the Spirit. Summary: In this debut episode, we sit down with the late Marlene Smith, who shared her journey from structured denominations to the "richness of freedom" found in the Friends tradition. Marlene challenged the traditional concept of a "sermon," viewing her ministry instead as a byproduct of a week-long "visit with the Lord." She discussed the vital importance of the "ministry of believers," where the preacher is just one voice among many, and the ultimate goal is for the Spirit to bring unity and peace to the gathered body. Key Discussion Points: * The Shift from Creed to Experience: How Marlene transitioned from liturgical structures to a ministry based on "inner light" and personal experience. * Preparation as Conversation: Why Marlene viewed her preparation as listening to what both she and "the flock" need to hear from the Word. * The Courage to Stop: A powerful story about a time Marlene stopped her message mid-stream because she felt it wasn't what the Lord wanted, making way for another's voice. * The Foundation of Prayer: How daily journaling and "writing to her Father" formed the bedrock of her ability to hear the "still small voice." The Messenger’s Toolkit: "Preaching is like sharing the message that the Spirit has already just born in my heart... it's about being free enough to do exactly what the Spirit requires." — Marlene Smith

Introducing The Friendly Proclamation

Quakers: Peculiar People with Peculiar Preaching? Join us at FPI as we explore with voices from the Evangelical Friends world to answer the question: What makes Friends preaching unique? Friendly Proclamation is produced by the Friends Preaching Initiative at Barclay College. Music from #Uppbeat