It is not necessary that rites and ceremonies should in all places be the same, or exactly alike; for they have been always different, and may be changed according to the diversity of countries, times, and men’s manners, so that nothing be ordained against God’s word. Whosoever, through his private judgment, willingly and purposely, doth openly speak against the rites and ceremonies of the church to which he belongs, which are not repugnant to the work of God, and are ordained and approved by common authority, ought to be rebuked openly, that others may fear to do the like, as one that offendeth against the common order of the church, and woundeth the consciences of weak brethren.   

Every particular church may ordain, change, or abolish rites and ceremonies, so that all things may be done to edification.

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Embedded in this Article is the missiological pulse of God’s heart. God’s desire is for all people to know Him, love Him, and live fully alive in and through Him. To do this, He was willing to lay aside all of His Divine privileges and become a Man. It is this same ethos of self-limitation and mission that informs this Article. 

The Article asserts that while the doctrines of the Church are based on the Holy Scripture and must not change, the local church's traditions and practices (ie. “Rites and Ceremonies”) must be flexible so that they can meet each congregation's needs. The stated concern of this Article is the flexibility of the local church’s liturgy, so long as it includes the essential elements of prayer, praise, thanksgiving, the reading and expounding of the Holy Scriptures, and the Sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. The historical context of this concern was that churches in different geographical locations needed to have the freedom to fulfill their calling to be the Body of Christ, unhindered by the traditions and practices of other churches. 

Unfortunately, doing this has not always been easy. Often, throughout Church History, we can find examples of where the Church has erred, either in its emphasis on Doctrinal Orthodoxy or in its emphasis on Missional Orthopraxy. To be healthy and thriving, a local church must have both in harmony with one another. 

The goal is to remain faithful to the revealed Word of God, while also actively removing any obstacles that might prevent people from hearing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. A lack of fidelity to God’s missional heartbeat will result in spiritual deadness, a form of godliness without substance. However, a lack of fidelity to the revealed Word of God will result in the accommodation of cultural ideas that will lead to syncretism, sabotaging both orthodoxy and orthopraxy. 

Therefore, while the local church has the freedom to adapt its practices, this is not a general license or permission for every individual to do as they see fit. All changes must be aligned with the Holy Scripture and in harmony with the Discipline. They must be prayerfully considered by the leadership responsible for the local church, in consultation with the Superintendents when necessary, and have been discerned to have been prompted by the Holy Spirit. This process of checks and balances is intended to ensure the unity of the Body, for the edification of the saints and fidelity to Christ's mission, in the spirit of holiness.

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Reflect on the following Biblical texts. What are your thoughts on the way they reveal this doctrine to us? Discuss your answers with your pastor/group leader.

Deuteronomy 18:9-14 (cf. Jeremiah 29:4-7) 

Luke 14:15-24 (cf. Matthew 22:1-14 / Matthew 23:1-15) 

Acts 15:1-35 (cf. Galatians 2:1-10) 

Romans 14:1-23 (cf. 1 Corinthians 9:18-27 / Philippians 2:1-18) 

1 Corinthians 12:1-14:40 (cf. Galatians 5:13-16)

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Use the following questions to summarize what you have learned about this Article of Faith. Discuss your answers with your pastor/group leader. 

How do we discern between what a local church can change and what it cannot? 

What are the dangers for local churches that are trying to adapt to the local culture? 

Why is it so hard for Churches to remain faithful to the Holy Scriptures while also adapting to culture? 

How should a local church go about exploring and pursuing an effective mission strategy in its cultural context? 

How does this doctrine affect the practice of our faith? 

Notes: