By Mike McCurry
Lay Leader, St. Paul's United Methodist Church
Director, Center for Public Theology at Wesley Seminary

Mike McCurry, the leader of the Center for Public Theology at Wesley Seminary, explores the importance of the church using its voice and offers congregations six ways of engaging in the public square. 
Note: this video was recorded prior to the results of the national conventions in 2016.



What role do you think the church has in the midst of a political environment where there is a strong and long-held belief that we are moving in the wrong direction, polarization in society, extreme distrust in our government, and the almost non-existent middle.

In the video, Mike suggested six ways to use our voice more prophetically. Discuss each one and decide what one thing you are going to do to make a difference for those that apply to you.

1. Use the pulpit to shed light on controversy. Leaders of churches need to provide fact-based information from which people can draw their own opinions.
2. Model a different kind of discourse in our own interactions: demonstrate how people of good faith can be in disagreement loving and real dialogue.
3. Acknowledge the diversity of opinion in our United Methodist body and enter into holy conversations. The Book of Resolutions contain many issues that need to be discussed until more and more people understand the issues deeply and accurately.
4. Encourage people to participate in the political process. Too many people in the face of disenchantment who opt out.
5. Speak out against hate-speech and vulgarity in the public square.
6. Pray incessantly for our national leaders. When they try to do the right things we need to give them praise.