N eglect not the gift that is in thee, which was giv en thee by

prophecy, with the lay ing on of the hands of the presby tery. Meditate
upon these things; giv e thy self wholly to them; that thy profiting may
appear to all.
1 Timothy 4:14,15
There is great need for local churches to hav e prophetic presby teries
that will strengthen, release, and help the church mov e into a greater lev el
of break through and ministry. I am surprised by the number of churches
that hav e nev er had a time for prophetic presby tery, although this was
practiced in the early church, and has been restored to the modern church
for ov er fifty y ears. Churches must hav e a rev elation of the power of
prophetic presby teries and set aside time for them periodically. Dav id
Blomgren's book , Prophetic Gatherings In The Church, is a classic on the
subject of prophetic presby teries, but unfortunately, is now out of print.
Stev e Schultz has recently released a practical manual on prophetic
presby teries, and has a v ision to see this practice restored to the church. I
recommend that churches in the I.M.P.A.C.T. Network of churches hav e
prophetic presby teries to release potential candidates into their place in the
Body of Christ, and help release them into their destinies.
Prophetic presbytery is a time when presbyters
(elders) lay hands on and prophesy over selected believers
to speak the will of God over them, impart gifts, and
release them into their membership ministries. A
presbyter is an elder who has the resident gift of
prophecy. Ideally, a presbytery should consist of apostles
and prophets who are elders of a local church. The
presbyters do not have to be from the local church where
the presbytery is being held. In other words, local
churches can call in presbyters from other churches to
conduct the presbytery.
Bi l l Hamon defines Prophetic Presbytery as a time
when two or more prophets and/or prophetic ministers lay
hands on and prophesy over individuals at a specified time
and place. Prophetic presbyteries are conducted for
several reasons:
1 . Revealing a Saint's membership ministry in the
Body of Christ.
2 . Ministering a prophetic rhema word of God to
individuals.
3. Impartation and activation of divinely ordained gifts,
graces, and callings.
4 . Revelation, clarification, and confirmation of
leadership ministry in the local church.
5 . "Laying on of hands and prophecy" over those
called and properly prepared to be an ordained fivefold
minister.
Prophetic presbyteries are governmental because they
are conducted by the authority (elders) of the church. This
is different from receiving prophetic words from a
prophetic team. Presbyteries have more of a setting and
releasing aspect for those receiving ministry. Candidates
are chosen by the leadership of the church. Prophetic
presbytery is not a time for anyone and everyone to
receive a word.
The presbytery team can consist of two or more
presbyters. Three or four presbyters are ideal. Each
presbyter takes time to prophesy over the candidates
before the entire congregation. Each presbyter has a part
to release, and no one presbyter will have all of the Word
of the Lord. Presbyters must work together as a team.
There is no competition between the presbyters. They
should all be mature (elders). The presbytery is lead by a
senior presbyter (usually an apostle with the most
experience and maturity among the presbyters). Apostles
will be able to prophesy with authority and revelation from
their apostolic office. They also have an anointing to set.
Prophets, however, are much needed in a presbytery,
because they bring detail and clarity by releasing the Word
of the Lord from the prophet's office. Apostles and
prophets make a powerful team in a presbytery.
Presbyters with a resident gift of prophecy can
prophecy on a regular basis to God's people. They do not
have to wait for a special anointing to prophesy, but can
prophesy because of the resident gift of prophecy. The
simple gift of prophecy is for edification, exhortation, and
comfort. Apostles and prophets can speak direction,
correction, and revelation, because of other gifts (e.g.
word of wisdom, word of knowledge, faith) that operate
through their offices. A prophetic presbytery will go
beyond edification, exhortation, and comfort, and include
impartation, direction, confirmation, and revelation,
because of the resident gift of prophecy in the presbyters,
and the strength and anointing of their offices.
The strength of a prophetic presbytery will depend
upon the presbyters and candidates. The more mature
and gifted the presbyters, and the more qualified the
candidates, the stronger the prophetic flow will be. The
faith of the church, and an atmosphere created through
prayer, fasting and worship will also determine the
strength of the presbytery. God desires for churches to
have strong prophetic gatherings. Strong utterances and
impartations should be expected if a presbytery is
conducted properly. These should be times of great
refreshing and blessing for the entire church. Even those
not receiving ministry can rejoice and be blessed by seeing
others in the body receive. As others in the body are
strengthened and released, the entire church is blessed.
We should rejoice with them that rejoice.
The entire leadership of the church should be present
during a presbytery. They need to hear the prophetic
words spoken over people who are under their leadership.
The leadership of a church is responsible to oversee the
members, and have a responsibility to help guide the
candidates after they receive prophetic ministry. Members
should also be encouraged to come and give their support.
The corporate anointing is needed to have a strong
presbytery. Those not receiving ministry are not to sit idly
by and be spectators of what is transpiring. They should
help create an atmosphere, through their faith and prayer,
which will assist the presbyters and candidates to receive
the full blessing of the Lord.
It is wise to invite presbyters who are new to the
church, and not too familiar with the people receiving
ministry. It is also good to have a presbyter return, who
has functioned as a presbyter before (if this is not the first
presbytery). There may be leaders within the local church
who can function on a presbytery, but is recommended
that the leadership brings in presbyters from outside the
local church, who are not familiar with the candidates.
After each presbyter has prophesied (it is not
necessary for all the presbyters to prophecy over each
candidate), it is time for the presbytery to lay hands on
and pray over the candidate (or candidates, if a couple).
This is a time of impartation and transfer of gifts and
anointing. The candidate will be encouraged, confirmed,
strengthened, and released into a greater sphere of
ministry as a result of prophetic presbytery. The church
will also be blessed by hearing the word spoken over the
candidates. This will help the church and leadership to
discern the gifting and calling upon the candidates. The
church will be built up because key people (candidates)
have received prophetic presbytery.
Candidates should be members of the local church
selected by its leadership. They should be saved, Spirit
filled, and evidence spiritual maturity. Prophetic presbytery
is not a time to fix problems that believers may have. It is
unfair to the presbyters to select people who are not
qualified for this kind of ministry. It is recommended that
the candidates be members of a local church for at least a
year, to prevent people from joining a church just to
receive this kind of ministry.
We believe that all believers can receive prophecy.
Churches today are raising up prophetic teams to
accomplish this. However, prophetic presbytery is a time in
which only a select few can receive in depth prophetic
ministry. It is recommended that the number be limited to
between three and seven settings. The presbytery can
take place over several days. It takes time to minister in
prophetic presbytery. This is not a time to call in prophets
to prophesy over everything moving in your church. After
candidates receive prophetic presbytery time can be given
to call people from the congregation and prophesy over
them. This is to encourage believers, but it is not the main
reason why the presbyters have come. The church can
also receive corporate words during a time of prophetic
presbytery.
Believers of a local church can request to be
candidates for presbytery. However, the leadership bears
the responsibility of selecting the candidates. Those who
are chosen should be told beforehand, in order to prepare
spiritually for the presbytery Fasting on the part of the
candidates and the presbyters will always enhance the
strength and accuracy of the prophetic word. The whole
church can be encouraged to fast prior to a presbytery.
This will create an atmosphere for the Holy Spirit to speak
to the church.
People who do not desire prophetic presbytery should
not be forced to receive it. If a spouse desires presbytery
and their mate does not, the spouse should not necessarily
be excluded. If one mate is not as qualified as the other, it
is advisable for them still to receive rninistry as a couple
(providing both are saved). If a mate is unsaved, the
believing mate can still receive presbytery.
Candidates can be potential leaders or potential
ministers of the church. They can be people whom the
leadership feels are about to enter into a new level of
ministry. Large churches will have an abundance of
candidates, and they must be chosen carefully and
prayerfully. There may be a tendency for some people to
feel overlooked, but the time frame must be understood by
all, and no one should take offense if they are not chosen.
A church can have a presbytery yearly or bi-yearly
depending on the need. Leaders should spend time
teaching and preparing the church if they have never had
a presbytery. The church needs to have revelation and
understand the importance of such a time.
The presbytery should occur in the local church
setting. This is not to be done in a cell group or home
meeting. The entire church should know the importance of
this time and participate if possible. A short message can
be given before a presbytery, and worship should be done
at intervals to keep the prophetic spirit strong. All
prophecies should be taped and later reviewed by the
leadership. The candidate has the responsibility to take
heed to the word spoken.
The foundational scripture for prophetic presbytery is
First Timothy 4:14. Paul admonishes Timothy not to
neglect the gift that he received through prophecy with the
laying on of hands of the presbytery. Timothy would be
able to profit as he meditated upon the prophetic words
and gave himself wholly to them.
This practice remained absent from the church for
many generations until the Latter Rain Movement of the
1940's. Many churches began to operate in presbyteries
during the Latter Rain Movement. However, the practice
has again declined significantly. One of the reasons for this
is that very few books were written by leaders of the
Latter Rain Movement. It is a spiritual technology that the
enemy desires to keep from the local church. I have a
heart to see it restored fully. I have seen firsthand the
benefits of prophetic presbytery in CRUSADERS CHURCH,
over which I am the apostolic overseer. Leaders cannot
introduce this to the church unless it is understood and
believed in.
Prophetic presbytery is a part of restoration truth that
present truth churches should receive and operate in. We
are living in times of restoration. Restoration churches are
recovering truth, revelation, and ministry that has been
absent or neglected in the church for generations. With
restored truth comes a greater ability for breakthrough
and release of ministry.
D a v i d Blomgren mentions nine (9) benefits of
prophecy in a presbytery as follows:
1. Edification (1 Corinthians 14:3).
2. Exhortation (1 Corinthians 14:3).
3. Comfort (1 Corinthians 14:3).
4. Direction (Acts 13:1,2).
5. Conferral (1 Timothy 4:14).
6. Confirmation (Acts 15:32).
7. Correction (1 Corinthians 14:31); learn is Greek word mathaneo
meaning correctiv e learning.
8. Judgment (Hosiah 6:5).
 9. Equipping of the saints (Ephesians 4:11,12).
And now brethren, I commend you to God, and to the
word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to
give you an inheritance among all them which are
sanctified.
Acts 20:32
Prophetic presbytery releases great grace to the
hearers. The prophetic word is able to build us up and
release our inheritances unto us. Believers need grace to
serve God. An abundance of grace is needed to reign in
life (Romans 5:17). An abundance of gifts is a sign of
abundance of grace (1 Corinthians 1:4-7). Gifts and grace
are imparted during a prophetic presbytery.
So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath
came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet,
an exceeding great army.
Ezekiel 37:10
The prophetic word is more than information. The
prophetic word releases life (breath). Prophetic presbytery
is a time in which life is breathed into the recipient. The
gifts and destiny of the candidate are revealed and
activated. It causes believers to rise up (stand up on their
feet). It is a key to raising up a strong army of believers.
...that thou shalt meet a company of prophets...and
they shall prophesy:
And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and
thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into
another man.
1 Samuel 10:5,6
 Leaders are changed when they come into contact
with the company of the prophets. Saul was released as
the first king of Israel through the prophetic anointing.
Prophetic presbytery is a time to release potential leaders
into their callings and ministries. The strength of prophetic
presbytery is the joining together of the anointings of the
team. The team members strengthen and stir up one
another as they minister together.
Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other
judge.
If anything be revealed to another that sitteth by, let
the first hold his peace.
For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may
learn, and all may be comforted.

1 Corinthians 14:29-31
Prophetic presbytery is a time for learning the will of
God and being comforted. It is a time to allow the
prophets to speak. The presbyters minister as a team.
As one ministers, others can receive revelation
concerning the candidates. In this way the candidates
benefit from the ministry of several prophets.
Prophetic presbytery is a spiritual technology to help
leaders build strong churches. This is a day of restoration.
Churches must appropriate all the benefits that God's gifts
bring to the church.
I believe that churches around the world will take
advantage of prophetic presbytery and move into apostolic
strength and power.
David Blomgren mentions thirteen (13) benefits of the
Laying on of Hands and Prophecy by the Presbytery:
1. A greater realization of each one's responsibility to
function in a ministry.
2. A greater appreciation for the various ministries in
the Body of Christ and the need for them.
3. A "setting in" of ministries in the local assembly.
4. Finding one's place in the Body of Christ.
5. Confirming the will of God to the candidate.
6 . The further development of ministries within the
local body.
7. Specialized assistance through prophetic revelation
and individual lives.
8 . Strengthening of the whole church in a better
understanding of God's ways through a receiving of the
prophetic ministry.
9 . The spiritual level of the whole church raised
through seeking the Lord in fasting and prayer.
10. The whole church receiving prophetic direction.
11. The imparting of gifts and blessings to believers
by the laying on of hands.
1 2 . A greater recognition of God's order in the
authority of the local leadership as overseers of the lives
of the people.
13. A deposit of faith in the hearts of the congregation
to see God's purposes to be fulfilled.
The Hebrew word for lay ing on of hands is samak . This word implies
the responsibility and obligation of the person receiv ing the imposition of
hands. The Greek word for lay ing on of hands is epitithemi. This word
implies contact which is a channel for transmission. Timothy receiv ed a gift
through (v ia) prophecy with the lay ing on of hands of the presby tery.
Prophecy is a channel through which grace and gifts are transferred. The
person receiv ing has the responsibility and obligation to steward the gifts
and grace receiv ed.
This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy,
according to the prophecies which went before on thee,
that thou by them mightiest war a good warfare.
1 Timothy 1:18
Fight the good fight in the spirit of those predictions.
1 Timothy 1:18 (TCNT)
The prophecies Timothy received helped him to war a
good warfare. Paul reminded (charged) him according to
these prophecies. Prophetic presbytery is not to be taken
lightly by the recipient. Unto whom much is given, much is
also required. The recipient has the responsibility and
obligation to war with the prophetic word. Prophetic words
recorded during a presbytery should be meditated upon
and used by the candidate as a weapon against the
enemy.
And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather
yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall
befall you in the last days.
Gather yourselves together, and hear, ye sons of
Jacob; and hearken unto Israel your father.
Genesis 49:1,2
Prophetic gatherings are times when destinies are
revealed and released. This can be seen when Jacob
gathered his sons together in Genesis, chapter 49. He
spoke prophetically to his sons and detailed their destinies
and inheritance. It is important for churches and believers
to set aside times for prophetic gatherings. These can be
times of power and release when accompanied by prayer
and fasting. The laying on of hands is one of the principle
doctrines of the church (Hebrews 6:1,2). Prophecy has
always been a vehicle through which the Lord has given
direction, blessing, activation, and impartation to his
people. Sometimes the prophetic word spoken during a
time of presbytery will not be fully fulfilled until years later.
With prophetic presbytery, believers can prepare for the
future by aligning themselves with the Word of the Lord.
The Word of the Lord will be tested, but a believer walking
in faith and fulfillment will see the desired result.
And this is the blessing, wherewith Moses the man of
God blessed the children of Israel before his death.
Deuteronomy 33:1
Moses prophesied ov er the tribes of Israel. The Word of God calls it a
blessing. Prophetic presby tery is a time of blessing. Blessing is the Hebrew
word Berak ah, meaning benediction, prosperity , and present. Moses was a
prophet. Prophets hav e the grace, authority, and ability to release
tremendous blessings. This is why presby teries should consist of prophets
as opposed to people with the gift of prophecy. Prophets hav e more grace
and authority to release and bless people concerning their destinies.
Leaders must understand that the purpose of the
fivefold ministry is for the perfecting of the saints. This
includes preaching, teaching, training, activation, laying on
of hands, and prophetic ministry. A lack of quality
prophetic ministry can be the difference between success
and failure. Believers cannot advance beyond their
leadership.
Each local church is responsible for the development
and release of its members. This is not to imply that
presbytery meetings are the only way for a believer to
discern and understand the will of God. Every believer is
responsible to pray, study and seek the will of God (for
himself/herself). Prophetic presbytery is not for lazy
believers who desire a "shortcut" to understanding God's
will. However, it is a tremendous benefit for believers.
Prophetic presbytery is a ministry given by God's grace to
help us walk in God's will for our lives.
 Move Into a Greater Level Neglect not the gift that is in thee,
which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the
presbytery. Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that
thy profiting may appear to all.
1 Timothy 4:14,15
There is great need for local churches to have
prophetic presbyteries that will strengthen, release, and
help the church move into a greater level of breakthrough
and ministry.
Churches must have a revelation of the power of
prophetic presbyteries and set aside time for them
periodically.