Furthermore, an adiaphoron may be made a matter of rule, i.e., something to be done or not or something otherwise regulated. An adiaphoron, however, may have greater or lesser utility in the promulgation of the Gospel and in the cultivation of piety. The Lutheran doctrine on adiaphora (FC SD X), providing a salutary clarification on the interpretation and application of the satis est principle (CA VII), recommends neither liturgical anarchy nor self-indulgent idiosyncratic practice. In other words, liturgical liberty, if not bounded by reasonable parameters, can quickly become liturgical license, and that which one congregation does, in this age of communication and cross-congregation relationships, affects other congregations. How this question gets answered in any particular place should take account of local factors, but there are also some overarching principles that take precedence. He answers the question: “What shall we do about Ash Wednesday in 2021?” This article appeared on the website of the West Virginia/Western Maryland Synod and is reposted here with Bishop Riegel’s permission. Matthew Riegel is Bishop of the West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod of the ELCA.
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