Yesterday, October 25, 2015, churches in many locations celebrated Reformation Sunday.

The Latin phrase, Ecclesia reformata, semper reformanda! is familiar to many people, especially people who have been part of the reformed tradition for a number of years. I learned it as “The Church reformed, and always in need of reforming!” Over the years I have learned that many people are happy to be part of “The Church reformed” – but often much less willing to be part of the Church “always in need of reforming.”

In my experience – More people like being right better than needing to change.

It seems easy to agree with the idea that is represented by the first part of this slogan, but much harder to find agreement with varying interpretations of the words following “and” – a small but important word defined in the Oxford English Dictionary as, Coordinating. Introducing a word, phrase, clause, or sentence, which is to be taken side by side with, along with, or in addition to, that which precedes it (Oxford English Dictionary).

My question for today is – what do we mean when we say Ecclesia reformata, semper reformanda! or in English “The Church reformed, and always in need of reforming!” How should our actions respond to our understanding of the words?

It is my hope that a number of you will respond to this post to begin a community discussion – remembering that it is important that comments always be friendly and respectful.

On Wednesday I will write about the origins of this phrase as well as more of what I understand it to mean.

Please make others aware of this site, and join us in a continuing discussion. A community discussion requires more than a single writer.

Grace and peace