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What is it to be reformed? By Trevor Jamison

Well, I’ve (finally) staggered into the twenty-first century and now have a page on Facebook, the internet site where “friends” chat to one another and share information about themselves (sometimes with alarming openness considering that this may be viewed by people from all around the world). You can also take fun personality quizzes which claim to answer questions such as which city you wish to live in (Seattle – must be for the coffee) or which famous author you most resemble (James Joyce, another Irishman who spent large periods of his life living elsewhere). As a theologian apparently I am a reincarnation of the American Puritan Jonathan Edwards. If I was transformed into a church denomination I would be Presbyterian (big surprise) and if I exemplify one of the traditions that preceded the United Church of Christ (a

U.S. denomination with similarities to the URC) it would be the Reformed. 

But what does it mean to be Reformed? This seems a reasonable question to ask for a United Reformed Church minister of three URC congregations. John Leith*, an American Presbyterian suggests the following list of nine attributes that combine to provide the ethos of the Reformed Tradition. I wonder whether you would respond with a ‘yes’, a ‘no, or a ‘maybe’ to some, most or all of these: 

1. The majesty and praise of God2. Opposition to idolatry3. Working out divine purposes in history (and so involved in world as well as church)4. Living a life of holiness (as a response to God’s grace, not a means of obtaining it)5. The life of the mind as the service of God6. The importance of preaching7. An organised church with a system of pastoral care8. The disciplined life (responsible to others for how we live)9. Simplicity  

My guess is that not every one of us enthusiastically endorsed every one of the above. Others may feel that things have been missed out (where is the freedom in worship or freedom from state control so important to parts of the tradition that come into the URC?). Given that other Christians from other denominations would say they believed these things too perhaps we are talking more about a movement that crosses denominations and emphasises particular aspects of church. In any case, most URCs I know have many, many members who started out in other Christian traditions and then enriched our Church’s life by joining our congregations. 

We can go on talking (I’d be delighted if anyone wants to respond to me about this) and exploring together, Ministers and members, Elders and fellow worshippers which would be a very Reformed way of going about things.

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