Bringing Churches Together by
According to the author, "In order to understand the present, and move confidently into the future, one must have an appreciation of the past." The book therefore deals, in a non-technical way, with the theology and history of ecumenism, explains the origins of the main Christian denominations, gives a brief history of the World Council of Churches, and introduces some of the current issues. Ecumenical ethics and inter-religious dialogues form the subjects of the two final chapters. The author concludes each chapter with questions for group discussion, and ends the book with suggestions for practical ways in which the ordinary individual can promote ecumenism. Several appendices give useful background information. This book is for the average reader or student of theology who would like to be better informed about ecumenism.
By What Authority? by
With the breathless excitement of a detective novel, a former Protestant fundamentalist discovers that evangelical Protestantism is itself based on shaky modern traditions.
Called to Communion by
This is a book of wisdom and insight that explains how providential are the trials through which the Catholic Church is now passing. The need of the Papal Primacy to ensure Christian unity; the true meaning of the Priesthood as a sacrament and not a mere ministry; the necessity of the Eucharist as the Sacrifice of the Savior now offering Himself on our altars; the role of the Bishops as successors of the Apostles, united with the successor of St. Peter, the Bishop of Rome; the value of suffering in union with Christ crucified; the indispensable service of the laity in the apostolate - all these themes receive from Cardinal Ratzinger new clarity and depth.
Catechism of the Catholic Church by
A compendium of Catholic doctrine regarding faith and morals, revised in accordance with the official Latin text promulgated by Pope John Paul II in 1997, with a glossary of terms, analytical index, index of citations, abbreviations of biblical and Church documents, and other reference tools.
The Catholic Church by
Walter Kasper is already well-known and loved throughout the English-speaking world. He has held high office in the Vatican but until his recent retirement has felt constrained from publishing what he really thinks and his vision of the Church for the future. Kasper brings to conclusion a project that has been pursued for years, as it joins together his greatest monographs on the subject of God's teaching and Christology. The book covers three main topics: Nature, Reality and the Mission of the Church. The introductory section is autobiographical and the reader can see Kasper's personal and theological way in to and with the Church. He develops the actual ecclesiological exegesis - for Kasper the representation of the Being of the Church is not about empirical description, but rather a testimony of being. He emphasizes that nobody is able to apply the stereotypical and idealistic image of the heavens to the critical acknowledgement of the church's present. The program of the Church is ultimately not self-directed but rather remains oriented towards the finalization of the arrival of the kingdom of God and the spiritual healing of the human race.
The Catholicity of the Church by
Nearly all Christians profess allegiance to the holy catholic church, but the meaning of the term "catholic" is widely disputed. This book investigates the historical use of the word and the various aspects of catholicity. Beginning with the word's divine source in Christ as "the first-born of all creation," Dulles goes on to discuss such topics as the "catholic principle," Catholicism as a specific ecclesial type, and the possibility of a "Protestant Catholicism." He concludes by asking how, given the current "parochial" appearance of Christianity, any Christian church can plausibly claim to be catholic.
The Church, Ecumenism, and Politics by
This work features the most discussed topics of the life of the Church, treated with unique frankness and depth by the Church's spiritual and theological leader. In this collection of essays, theologian Joseph Ratzinger, now Benedict XVI, tackles three major issues in the Church today?the nature of the Church, the pursuit of Christian unity, and the relationship of Christianity to the secular/political power. The first part of the book explores Vatican II's teaching on the Church, what it means to call the Church "the People of God", the role of the Pope, and the Synod of Bishops. In part two, Ratzinger frankly assesses the ecumenical movement?its achievements, problems, and principles for authentic progress toward Christian unity. In the third part of the work, Ratzinger discusses both fundamental questions and particular issues concerning the Church, the state and human fulfillment in the Age to come. What does the Bible say about faith and politics? How should the Church work in pluralistics societies? What are the problems with Liberation Theology? How should we understand freedom in the Church and in society? Beneath a penetrating analysis on these important topics by this brilliant teacher and writer, both concise and also surprising, is revealed the passion of a great spiritual leader. The result is an exciting and stimulating work, which can be provoking, but never boring.
The Church in the Theology of the Reformers by
Introduction: The Reformation concept of the church -- Part I: The true church -- The Christological centre -- The church takes form -- Problems in Evangelical ecclesiology -- Defining the circumference -- A reformed catholicity -- Part II: Ministry in the true church -- The Word of God and the Word of man -- The universal priesthood -- The reformed episcopate -- The godly prince -- The royal supremacy -- Part III: The mission of the true church -- The reformers and mission -- The spread of the reform in Christendom -- The conversion of the Jews -- Missions to the heathen -- Conclusion: The relevance of Reformation ecclesiology.
Compendium of the Social Doctrine Church
Throughout the course of her history, the Church has never failed, in the words of Pope Leo XIII, to speak the words that are hers concerning life in society. This book shows the value of Catholic social teaching as an instrument of evangelisation because it places the human person and society in relationship with the light of the Gospel.
The Disputed Teachings of Vatican II by
The Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) radically shook up many centuries of tradition in the Roman Catholic Church. This book by Thomas Guarino, a noted expert on the sources and methods of Catholic doctrine, investigates whether Vatican II's highly contested teachings on religious freedom, ecumenism, and the Virgin Mary represented a harmonious development of--or a rupture with--Catholic tradition. Guarino's careful explanations of such significant terms as continuity, discontinuity, analogy, reversal, reform, and development greatly enhance and clarify his discussion. No other book on Vatican II so clearly elucidates the essential theological principles for determining whether--and to what extent--a conciliar teaching is in continuity or discontinuity with antecedent tradition. Readers from all faith traditions who care about the logic of continuity and change in Christian teaching will benefit from this masterful case study.
Dogmatic constitution on the Church : solemnly promulgated by His Holiness, Pope Paul VI on November 21, 1964 by
Contents: The numbers given correspond to section numbers within the text.
1. The Mystery of the Church (1–8)
2. The People of God (9–17)
3. On the Hierarchical Structure of the Church and In Particular on the Episcopate (18–29)
4. The Laity (30–38)
5. The Universal Call to Holiness in the Church (39–42)
6. Religious (43–47)
7. The Eschatological Nature of the Pilgrim Church and Its Union with the Church in Heaven (48–51)
8. The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God in the Mystery of Christ and the Church (52–69)
An Introduction to Ecclesiology by
An Introduction to Ecclesiology will richly reward the student, pastor or layperson who is looking for a comprehensive and insightful overview of the unity and diversity of understandings and practices within the one church of Jesus Christ. What is the church? What makes the church church?In this volume, theologian Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen provides an up-to-date survey and analysis of the major ecclesiological traditions, the most important theologians, and a number of contextual approaches that attempt to answer these essential questions. Drawing on his international experience, global research and ecumenical awareness, Kärkkäinen presents an overview of both traditional and contemporary expressions of the Christian church.
Magisterium by
Avery Cardinal Dulles, SJ here offers a complete theology of the Church's Magisterium. In a study that will be the standard treatment of the topic for years to come, Cardinal Dulles takes up such issues as the Magisterium's nature and function, the roots of the Magisterium in the New Testament and its development in the history of the Church, the relationship between the hierarchy of the Church and the theological academy, the scope of the Church's infallibility, the response due to the Magisterium's teachings, and the role of the Church's reception of magisterial teaching. Written for those seeking clarity, wisdom, and erudition about the Church's Magisterium, this book stands head and shoulders above any other presently available. Its accessible style makes it a valuable not only for scholars but for all Catholics.
Models of the Church by
There is today a dramatic reexamination of structure, authority, dogma -- indeed, every aspect of the life of the Church is held up to scrutiny. Welcoming this as a sign of vitality, Avery Dulles has carefully studied the writings of contemporary Protestant and Catholic ecclesiologists and sifted out six major approaches, or "models," through which the Church's character can be understood: as Institution, Mystical Communion, Sacrament, Herald, Servant, and, in a recent addition to the book, as Community of Disciples. A balanced theology, he concludes, must incorporate the major affirmations of each. "The method of models or types," observes Cardinal Dulles, "can have great value in helping people to get beyond the limitations of their own particular outlook and to enter into fruitful conversation with others... Such conversation is obviously essential if ecumenism is to get beyond its present impasses." This new edition includes a new Appendix and Preface by the author.
The Oxford Handbook of Ecclesiology by
The Oxford Handbook of Ecclesiology is a unique scholarly resource for the study of the Christian Church as we find it in the Bible, in history and today. As the scholarly study of how we understand the Christian Church's identity and mission, ecclesiology is at the centre of today'stheological research, reflection, and debate. Ecclesiology is the theological driver of the ecumenical movement. The main focus of the intense ecumenical engagement and dialogue of the past half-century has been ecclesiological and this is the area where the most intractable differences remain to betackled Ecclesiology investigates the Church's manifold self-understanding in relation to a number of areas: the origins, structures, authority, doctrine, ministry, sacraments, unity, diversity, and mission of the Church, including its relation to the state and to society and culture. The sources ofecclesiological reflection are the Bible (interpreted in the light of scholarly research), Church history and the wealth of the Christian theological tradition, together with the information and insights that emerge from other relevant academic disciplines. This Handbook considers the biblicalresources, historical development, and contemporary initiatives in ecclesiology. It offers invaluable and comprehensive guide to understanding the Church.
Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium, and the Renewal of the Church by
The material in this collected volume, twelve essays in all, originated with a conference, '"Making all things new"? Evangelii Gaudium and Ecumenical Mission," held at St. John's College, University of Cambridge, from June 29 to July 1, 2015. Unlike previous scholarly treatments of the Apostolic Exhortation, it was conceived in quite a particular ecumenical setting, namely a meeting of English ARC, the Anglican-Roman Catholic Committee in March 2014, at which EG and its implications were discussed within a broader set of conversations about evangelization and mission in the UK, and an ecumenical, pastoral guide to EG was commissioned. In this regard, it is a companion piece to a recent special issue of the International Review of Mission, which provides a detailed summary of each chapter of EG and then systematically juxtaposes the Apostolic Exhortation with two other, recent ecumenical documents on mission. This volume differs, however, in focusing exclusively on EG as interpreted from a variety of interdisciplinary and denominational perspectives, with a sharper focus on the ecclesiological as well as the ecumenical potentialities for the reform and renewal of the church contained within this reorientation and re-appreciation of the church's primary mission to evangelization in the modern world.
The Routledge Companion to the Christian Church by
The nature and story of the Christian church is immensely important to theology students and scholars alike. Written by an international team of distinguished scholars, this comprehensive book introduces students to the fundamental historical, systematic, moral and ecclesiological aspects of the study of the church, as well as serving as a resource for scholars engaging in ecclesiological debates on a wide variety of issues. It divides into six parts: the church in its historical context the different denominational traditions global perspectives methods and debates in ecclesiology key concepts and themes ecclesiology and other disciplines: social sciences, philosophy, literature and film. Authoritative, accessible and easily navigable, this book is indispensable for everyone interested in the nature and history of the Christian Church.
The Theology of the Church by
Lists some of the most important ecclesiological writing, both past and present, focusing on topics related to the nature, mission, and structure of the church. Divided into 53 sections that deal with various aspects of the theology of the church, sources have been selected for their utility, histor