Rev. Christy Correll-Hughes
Stetson University Chaplain

This week we celebrate the 500^th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation.  The story goes that Martin Luther, a university lecturer, posted his list of objections to the mainstream practices of the Roman Catholic Church of his time.

I was in a group of friends this week as we chatted about this idea of reformation.  What does that word even mean?

Reformation.

As I thought about it, I stumbled upon the image of a potter forming and reforming clay.  Molding it, shaping it and manipulating it from a shapeless lump into something beautiful, useful and perhaps even artful. The clay in its essence is not changed, but its shape is reformed, remade.

Martin Luther wanted that for the Church as he knew it. A Church that had, in his view, corrupt practices, the selling of indulgences or letters that assured salvation for the right price. He knew that the Church needed to be reformed.  It had gotten out of shape, it was not useful to the common person. It was no longer something beautiful.

I’m a minister in the Protestant Christian faith.  I look at the spiritual landscape of churches in my world and, much like Martin Luther, I see something that is out of shape. It isn’t beautiful or useful for so many people who find themselves labeled as outsiders by the Church. Reformation is necessary.

Reformation is where we keep the essence of who we are – faith, hope, love; but we reshape, reform and become once again something that is useful and beautiful.

Reformation isn’t only a Christian ideal. Other world religions have similar histories and even current calls for change. Reformation can also extend beyond faith, to political and social systems. Surely there are areas in our world, not just religious institutions that could stand to be reshaped into something else.

I am drawn to the image of a potter and clay, of shaping, forming and reforming, because it implies that we are not finished. While it may at times feel as though we have been through the fires of the kiln, perhaps we are still malleable?  There may still be space and time left for reshaping – for reformation to happen.

 

If You Go:

500th Anniversary Reformation Lecture – Examining the Protestant Reformation: Then & Now

Stetson Religious and Spiritual Life will host a special event Monday, Oct. 30, to commemorate the 500th Anniversary of the Protestant Reformation.

The event, which will be in lieu of the weekly Sacred Space program, will feature a lecture by Reformation scholar Dr. Michael Walker, who will discuss Examining the Reformation Then and Now. The event is Monday, Oct. 30, at 6:30 p.m., in Sage Science Center, Room 222.

Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017, marks the 500th Anniversary of the date German monk Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the door of the Castle Church, which began the Protestant Reformation.

Cultural Credit is available for this event. A free dinner will also be provided.