PROPHETIC GUIDELINES | PASTORAL OVERSIGHT & PROPHECY

1. Guidelines

a) These are the guidelines to facilitate the proper exercise of prophecy in the church. Guidelines are included for both the prophets and the persons receiving the prophecy.

2. Pastoral Oversight And Prophecy

a) To maintain proper protocol with decency and order, we require that all prophetic ministry be conducted only in the presence and under the direction of the Pastors or Ministry Heads.

b) In instances where prophecy occurs in small group settings and a Pastor or Ministry Head is not present, the prophecy should be written and submitted for consideration by either the Pastor or a Ministry Head.

c) Often the Pastor and Ministry Head will be able to provide caring input into our lives with regard to the prophecy we receive, particularly in regards to the timing of certain words being fulfilled.

d) It should be noted that personal prophecy does not replace the need for 'pastoral' counsel and oversight, nor does receiving a valid, genuine word from the Lord give one license to become independent or spiritually superior. Prophecy is one way we can know the will of God. Pastoral counsel is another, complementary way; the two should flow together.

e) The reason to follow in this manner is two-fold.

i) First, you can record all prophetic utterances; this practice is for the blessing of the person receiving ministry, as well as protection for the one who is giving the prophecy. Unrecorded prophecies are subject to each person’s remembrance concerning what was said and the context and spirit in which the word was ministered. Often when receiving a prophecy we hear what we need or want, not what was actually said.

ii) Secondly, we are responsible to ensure that all ministry is effective and ministered in the proper spirit. We want to evaluate and witness all personal ministry to ensure people are not misled, or do not respond improperly to their prophetic word.