In honor of Reformation Day I spent yesterday and today doing something really, well, Reformed.

The annual Assembly meeting of the Synod of Southern California and Hawaii PC(USA) happened this weekend.  Appropriate to fall on Reformation Day 2009. 

And while in Reformation Day we commemorate a specific event — Martin Luther nailing his 95 theses to the door of the Castle Church door in Wittneberg on this day in 1517 — that event is remembered by a wide range of Protestants as a defining moment in church history that would shortly include a number of other reformers around Europe.  (With due recognition of Luther’s predecessors like John Wycliffe and Jan Hus.)

From that we of the Presbyterian and Reformed traditions get our concept of clergy and ordained laity ruling jointly with parity in all the courts of the church.  Not a synod, conclave or conference that calls only the high level clergy together to make decisions.  Not a bicameral body where the clergy meet together in one room and the laity meet separately in another room.  But a meeting where those of us without formal theological training participate side-by-side with church professionals on equal footing to make ecclesiastical decisions.

And the really radical part is that serving on an equal footing means that the ruling elders can lead the meetings.  A geologist and computer tech like me can be the one called and elected by the governing body to plan and chair the meeting.  This is radical — the thought that someone without formal theological training could run the meeting of a church governing body.  Sure, I have a whole bunch of church experience and am well versed on church polity and some aspects of theology.  But in few places do you see the person up-front without a clerical collar, robe, or staff.

So on this Reformation Day we remember what the Reformers brought to the Christian church — bringing the Church to all the people.  This includes the Holy Scriptures in the common language.  The opportunity to pray directly to God without an intermediary.  The responsibility of those chosen from among the congregation as leaders to serve as the shepherds of the flock.  In short – the idea that the clergy in the church are not inherently closer to God than the people in the pews.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.  As it was in the beginning is now and every shall be.  World without end. Amen.