In our day, there are all kinds of ways to think about change in the Church.

Let's start over again. This time let's keep it closer to home.

In our day, there are all kinds of ways to think about change in The United Methodist Church and St. Peter's United Methodist Church. When considering change in the life and faith, mission and ministry, of the denomination and the congregation, we can ask many different questions. Will this change hurt some feelings? Will that change make some people mad? Will doing such-and-such increase membership and/or attendance? Or will offerings increase? Will this change put our denomination, or our congregation, on the public's mind? If we do this, organizational efficiency will go up; right? If we do that, excitement will escalate; no?

These questions, that attempt to evaluate change in the church, are common, expected, and understandable. And they do, indeed, deserve some attention. However, are there more basic, essential, even Christian questions that should be asked to evaluate proposed change in the church?

Near its conclusion, the Nicene Creed declares: "We believe in the one holy catholic [universal] and apostolic church." One. Holy. Catholic. Apostolic. These are four, important adjectives that Christians, through the ages, have applied to the church.

But what do these words mean? Since a couple of these words are often spoken but seldom understood, brief and general definitions might be helpful. According to Faith and Order of the World Council of Churches (WCC), the church's "oneness [has] a special relevance in the face of the divisions of the fourth century. [The suggestion is that oneness is not what the authors of The Nicene Creed saw in the church of 381; just as oneness is not what we often see in the church of 2009.] [The church's] holiness refers to the fundamental fact that the Church belongs to the Holy One and is called to fidelity. [The church's] catholicity means that it is the gift of God for all people whatever their particular country, race, social condition or language... The apostolicity of the church expresses its obligation and commitment to the norm of the apostolic gospel of God's action in the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ." (Confessing the One Faith: An Ecumenical Explication of the Apostolic Faith as It Is Confessed in the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed [381], WCC, 1991, par. 220, p. 83, emphases added)

So, when considering a possible change in the church, raising the following questions might prove especially fruitful.

(1) Will this change increase the unity of the church? (2) Will this change deepen the holiness of the church? (3) Will this change extend the catholicity of the church? (4) Will this change advance the apostolicity of the church?

If changing the church will lead to increasing unity, holiness, catholicity, and apostolicity, then the change is probably consistent with God's will for, Christ's Lordship over, and the Spirit's leading of the church. Such a change should be attempted.

On the other hand, if changing the church will probably lead to disunity, unholiness, fragmentation, and make-it-up-as-you-go teaching, then the change should be politely shelved.

To be sure, when any church considers any change, there will be many considerations in play. Including: Is this change consistent with our mission statement? And is this change in line with our vision statement? But the four standards from fourth century Nicea -- one, holy, catholic, and apostolic -- should never be forgotten or ignored.

Thanks be to God for giving four words that help us to discern His will for the church.