INTERVIEW WITH DR. BETTY PRIES

Betty says that the Anabaptist tradition was trying to establish a “monastery without walls” meaning a change in thinking—that it was not just the select few, but all believers that were required to live holy lives. Is this how you would understand the church, or do you think that leaders are (or should be) required to live holier lives than the rest of the church family?
If you agree leaders should live to a higher standard, is your reasoning that we are all on a journey toward maturity and leaders should be from among the more mature believers? Or do you mean there should be higher standards for leaders that the rest of the church isn’t ever required to live up to? For example, do you consciously or unconsciously have different standards for leaders and congregations when it comes to alcohol use? Playing video games? Wearing trendy fashions? Driving a few points over the speed limit?
Betty states that it’s really hard to be formed in isolation. Can you think of a time when you were “formed in community,” that would not have happened in isolation?
Betty asks if we need to do a better job of being communities of transformation. How would you answer her? Would you agree there’s room for improvement? What in particular do you think would help us mature? How would we invite people onto that journey of transformation? What might your own part in that be?

A monastery without walls