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