"Ecclesia Reformata, semper reformanda!" 2 Corinthians 5: 16-21; Genesis 35: 6-15

"Ecclesia Reformata, semper reformanda!" was a hallmark phrase of the Reformation.  I translates as "the church reformed, always to be reformed!"

I have not delved deeply into the topic yet due to some other commitments this week, but I had chosen this topic based on an article in Presbyterians Today supplement "What Presbyterians Believe: Part 2" entitled "Our misused motto."  the article articulate several points including the following:
 
    1.  The church cannot reform itself, God has to be at work.

     2.  The church always needs to be reformed because the church is always made up of sinner.

     3. The church always needs to be reformed because the church follows a living God.

I also would note that change always seems to be part of the biblical story.  Jacob becomes Israel at a pivotal time in his story; Abram becomes Abraham; Sarai becomes Sarah; Saul becomes Paul; the prophets continually call for God's people to change their ways; repent literally means to change direction 180 degrees.

I may have shared this story before, but when I was in college about 7 or 8 freshmen began worshipping at church just off the campus where we attended.  Historically, it had been the church where students attended, but that had changed when the university had built a beautiful sanctuary and began having a chapel program of its own.  For whatever reason, the small group of Freshman, including me, decided not to go to Chapel each week, but to attend worship. Within a month or so of our starting to worship there (we didn't know each other before arriving on campus), the church initiated an almost weekly college-age program that incorporated the freshman and a few others in the congregation who were attending local junior colleges or were not in school at the time.  It seemed normal to me then; as  minister serving a church I now marvel at how quickly the congregation adapted to our presence, initiated a new group, and integrated us into the life of the church (I was taking youth to conferences before too long!).  Rapid change that probably had only a four-year expected life, but they did and impacted me and several others in wonderful ways (three of us are not ministers, and at least one other is ordained as a deacon in her church).  Minor change, maybe, but still very important and I suspect indicative of how that congregation understood and acted as church.

When should the church change?  Are there things that should never be changed?  Part of the divides in churches, including the Presbyterian Church, USA revolve around what can be changed and what cannot be changed and still be faithful to God.

I don't have a clear vision for where this sermon is headed, so feel free to guide me with your thoughts.  I'm still open to change!