16/12/2025
Last month we enjoyed a discussion with Rev. Dr. Ron Johnstone and Wor. Bro. Ellis Hanna about the question “Is Orangeism Incompatible with Christianity?”
The conversation yielded some very interesting ideas, and by popular demand, we’ve decided to share our key takeaways:
🔸Why might people argue that Orangeism is incompatible with Christianity?🔸
🟠 Misinformation. The majority of people who condemn Orangeism as “incompatible” with Christianity are misinformed, confuse the Orange Institution with other organisations, and have preconceived notions about what an Orange meeting entails.
🟠 Fraternity. Others feel that Christians should avoid the company of those who are not believers, and argue that the Orange is a distraction from church life as well as exposing Christians to attitudes and behaviours incompatible with their faith. However, Christians are called to evangelise, and to live and work alongside their fellow people, as Christ did. While, as with all organisations, Orange Order members hold a variety of persuasions and behave in different ways, the institution as a whole is based on Christian principles, the qualifications of an Orangeman promote Biblical Christianity as a system for moral living, and this kind of fraternity provides vast opportunity for evangelism.
🟠 Sectarianism. Still more argue that Orange membership makes a person hateful, or that it prevents them from evangelising to Roman Catholics. However, the qualifications call on members to “abstain from all uncharitable words, actions or sentiments towards his Roman Catholic brethren”. This language promotes outreach to those from different denominations, and in no way prohibits evangelising to them.
🔸Is Orangeism actually compatible with Christianity?🔸
🟠The Orange Order is built on the principles of the Protestant Reformation, and has produced extensive religious literature. Meetings involve acts of worship, church services feature in the lodge calendar, and the lodge offers believers and nominal Christians alike a comfortable, neutral space to enjoy fellowship and fraternity, and to learn more about one another, and about their faith. Refusal to interact with non-believers only ostracises them further and may deter them from exploring faith for themselves (Matthew 9:12- “it is not the healthy who need a doctor”).
🟠 While engaging with church is incredibly important, not every moment of one’s life can be spent there - it’s also important to have a variety of passions, hobbies, and friendships. This is perhaps especially relevant to young men given recent discussion around male loneliness, mental health, and the need for strong male role models.
🟠 Charity plays an enormous role in the work of the Orange Order, pointing to its deep Christian roots. Projects such as several “Joyful Noise” concerts are received to great success every year, bringing together members of the Orange family to publicly worship God together. Protestants from vastly different denominations are often brought together by their Orange lodge.
🟠 A substantial number of bishops, moderators, ministers and church elders are and have been active members. At present there are ministers from various Protestant churches, full time Christian evangelists and missionaries who are members of the Orange.
🔸So what could we be doing better?🔸
🟠Emphasis was placed on the idea that there are many things Orange members can do better to educate, inform, and assure those who fear the organisation is not compatible with their Christian faith. Educating ourselves is imperative if we wish to respond appropriately to these kinds of arguments. A wealth of tracts and religious literature exists to help inform both ourselves, and those who might not agree with us. We can loudly and proudly support charitable work within the Orange family, or invite a non-member along to an event like Joyful Noise. Above all, we can continue to promote positive behaviour within our lodges, and hold fast to the true reason for our existence.
