Reformation Day: We’re always reforming
John Knox of the Scottish Reformation. Image: Public domain.
I love October 31st. Not just for the neighborhood kids coming around, but because of Reformation Day.
As the elder and the Clerk of the Session here at Edgewater Presbyterian Church, I spend a lot of time thinking about what it means to be a “reformed” church. But being reformed isn’t a fixed state, it’s a commitment. We use the phrase Semper reformanda, “Always reforming,” and that’s a beautiful promise to me, especially when I look at my own family history.
My own family history is a living testament to theological diversity. My parents and grandparents have held deep ties to Roman Catholicism and Latter-day Saint traditions. My grandfather and uncles practiced and preached Spiritism, and in the deepest roots of our family tree, there are indigenous faith traditions.
When I reflect on this heritage, I see the whole beautiful, complex Christian world, and sometimes beyond it, right in my own background. This diversity teaches me that God’s work isn’t just happening inside our Sanctuary walls, but everywhere, constantly pushing people to listen and change.
For the Presbyterian Church (USA), our commitment to reform is very visible. We took necessary, brave steps many years ago to affirm the call of women and LGBTQ people into ordained ministry and church leadership. While other denominations are still debating the basics, we acted on the Gospel’s call to radical inclusion.
That change didn’t just happen overnight, it was the result of consistent, faithful work, and it is a light for the whole Church.
We are also seeing real, hard-earned progress in increasing the numbers of people of color into all levels of leadership and into the flock itself.
This work is slow and challenging, but it is necessary to truly reflect the Kingdom of God here on earth.
But even with these accomplishments, reform is exhausting work that never ends. Inside our own churches, we struggle with the temptation of complacency and institutional inertia.
How often have I heard—or even thought myself—the words, “That’s not how we do it,” or, “This is the way we’ve always done it.” These phrases are the anchors of tradition trying to pull against the current of the Holy Spirit.
We are still having necessary, sometimes difficult, discussions about our relationship to the larger neighborhood. What exactly are we to the greater community, defined by its vast differences in culture, heritage, and religion?
Furthermore, we have to honestly face the old biases and prejudices that still linger, quiet but real, right here in our own pews.
Semper reformanda isn’t just about big constitutional votes; it’s about the daily, hard work of changing hearts.
And sometimes, our internal reforms have wider echoes. The recent acceptance by Pope Francis of a permanent PCUSA representative at the Vatican is a significant step. It shows that our willingness to change and evolve is respected, even by our oldest siblings in the Roman Catholic Church.
We may be small, but our commitment to justice and inclusion has influence. We are not just criticizing the outside; we are changing ourselves, and that, in turn, influences the world around us.
Being a reformed church means never being done. It means showing up to the Session every month, doing the practical work, and keeping our doors open to everyone who seeks to follow Christ. It means remembering that “Always reforming” applies to me, to our Session, and to the whole worldwide Church. The greatest reform is often the one we need to make inside ourselves.
