Integrity in the public life of the Church from Acts 4:15–20

Abstract

The purpose of this expository word is to demonstrate the need for churches to participate in public theology with integrity as partners in the dialog about societal issues. Within the framework of authority and responsibility, the author attempts to establish the Church’s unique position as a truth-teller, using her experience as a local parish pastor and community leader. Looking at Scripture as a role model for policy and action, this work lifts up the conviction of the primitive Church in its role as both witness and hero. Within the concert of voices in the world, the Church has to find its own voice to speak truth to power, and honor its calling by expressing its beliefs and behaving accordingly. Some of the main emerging themes in this article include secular vs divinely inspired authority, integrity as the quality of having only one identity and position, which is both private and public, and truth-telling as the ultimate action of faith and hope. This article will contribute to the extensive amount of literature that addresses the role of the Church in public life and encourage leaders to exert their authority based on the integrity of their convictions, actions, and words.