Polity and Polemics: The Function of Ecclesiastical Polity in Theology and Practice

2015 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Avis
Keyword(s):  
Political Philosophy ◽  
Roman Catholic ◽  
Church Of Christ ◽  
Political Society ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Nature And Grace ◽  
Church Law ◽  
Church Structures ◽  
The Church

This article affirms the importance of ecclesiastical polity as a theological–juridical discipline and explores its connection to ecclesiology and church law. It argues that the Anglican Communion, though not itself a church, nevertheless has a lightly structured ecclesiastical polity of its own, mainly embodied in the Instruments of Communion. It warns against short-term, pragmatic tinkering with Church structures, while recognising the need for structural reform from time to time to bring the outward shape of the Church into closer conformity to the nature and mission of the Church of Christ. In discussing Richard Hooker's contention that the Church is a political society, as well as a mystical body, it distinguishes the societal character of Anglican churches from the traditional Roman Catholic conception of the Church as a societas perfecta. In the tradition of Hooker, the role of political philosophy in the articulation of ecclesiology and polity is affirmed as a particular outworking of the theological relationship between nature and grace. The resulting method points to an interdisciplinary project in which ecclesiology, polity and church law, informed by the insights of political philosophy, serve the graced life of the Church in its worship, service and mission.

scholarly journals Eurasianists on the Role of Orthodoxy and the Church in the National State Development of Russia

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 254-268
Author(s):  
Sergey V. Bazavluk
Keyword(s):  
Political Identity ◽  
Roman Catholic ◽  
Russian Orthodox ◽  
Orthodox Church ◽  
Russian Orthodox Church ◽  
Catholic Culture ◽  
History Of ◽  
New Type ◽  
The Church

The author analyzes the ideological views of a group of Russian migrants of the fi rst wave, known as Eurasianists, including N.S. Trubetskoy, P.N. Savitsky, N.N. Alekseeva, L.N. Karsavina and others. The author discusses fundamental elements of the classical Eurasianist program, such as the role of the Orthodox Church and the state in the life of Russia and its society, their attitude to Roman Catholic culture, and their place in dialogue with other religions. In addition, other important elements of Eurasianism noted here are the ideas of pan-Eurasian nationalism, ideocracy, the spatial borders of Russia-Eurasia, the symphonic personality, a guarantee state. These issues are associated directly with the authors of these concepts and with Eurasianism in general. The author demonstrates the continuity with the teachings of the Slavophiles and highlights the special attention that the Eurasians paid to the traditional cultures of Russia. Also noted is the interest in Eurasianism of church circles in exile in Europe. At the same time, the Eurasianists’ critical vies on the “Petersburg period” in the history of the Russian church are highlighted, which are also implicit in Eurasianism as an independent ideological and philosophical line of thought of Russian emigration in the fi rst half of the twentieth century. An attempt is made to show how, through conservative thought, Eurasians tried to form a new type of political identity. This ideological direction with an emphasis on spirituality and special institutions was considered by Eurasians as a prototype of the future statehood of Russia as opposed to the Soviet-Marxist system. In the context of the contemporary Eurasian integration (EAEU), of the current role of the Russian Orthodox Church and external political manipulations around the role of the Moscow Patriarchate, the theoretical views of the Eurasians take on a new dimension.

The Changing Role of Women in the Early Christian World

1992 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 225-238
Author(s):  
Howard Clark Kee
Keyword(s):  
Sixteenth Century ◽  
Social Economic ◽  
Roman Catholic ◽  
Christian Faith ◽  
Protestant Reformation ◽  
Early Christian ◽  
Sexual Boundaries ◽  
Changing Role ◽  
The Church

“[T]he vitality of the church is regained when it recovers the revolutionary insights of its founders, Jesus and Paul. In the Protestant Reformation of the sixteenth century and in the renewal movements that have taken place in both Roman Catholic and Protestant circles in the present century, it has been the fresh appropriation of the insights of Jesus and Paul about the inclusiveness of people across ethnic, racial, ritual, social, economic, and sexual boundaries that has restored the relevance and vitality of Christian faith and has lent to Christianity as a social and intellectual movement a positive, humane force in the wider society.”

Towards an Ecclesiology of the Cathedral

Ecclesiology ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 342-354
Author(s):  
Paul Avis
Keyword(s):  
Church Of England ◽  
Church Of Christ ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
The Church

The purpose of this article is to bring to light the ecclesiological reality of cathedrals, with a main focus on the Church of England. It initiates a concise ecclesiological discussion of the following aspects of the English, Anglican cathedrals: (a) the cathedral as a church of Christ; (b) the place and role of the cathedral within the diocese; (c) the relationship between the cathedral and the diocesan bishop; (d) the mission of the cathedral. The article concludes with a brief reflection on (e) the cathedral as the ‘mother church’ of the diocese.

The English Roman Catholic Bishops and The Social Order, 1918–26

2001 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 543-564
Author(s):  
Kester Aspden
Keyword(s):  
Working Class ◽  
Social Order ◽  
Roman Catholic ◽  
Pastoral Letter ◽  
Political Views ◽  
The Social ◽  
Two Sides ◽  
General Strike ◽  
The Church

It is ironic that it should have been the leader of the church with the greatest proportion of working-class members who took up the most hostile stance to the General Strike of 1926. While Francis Bourne (1862–1935), Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster, won the plaudits of the Establishment for his unambiguous denunciation of the strike, that cautious septuagenarian Randall Davidson, Archbishop of Canterbury, found himself cast in the unlikely role of the workers’ friend after his illstarred attempt to conciliate the two sides. Sheridan Gilley has highlighted another contrast: while in 1926 Bourne found himself sharply opposed to labour, in a 1918 pastoral letter he had been insistent that the Church should reach an accommodation with the ‘modern labour unrest’. While Gilley implies that his General Strike condemnation was uncharacteristic, Buchanan suggests that this was closer to expressing his ‘real political views’ than his 1918 statement. This article aims to provide a closer examination of the shift in Bourne’s attitude, and to consider the broader episcopal response to social and political questions during these fraught years.

Argentine Liberalism and the Church Under Julio Roca, 1880-1886

1974 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 319-340 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lee Bruce Kress
Keyword(s):  
Public Education ◽  
Free Trade ◽  
Catholic Church ◽  
Roman Catholic ◽  
Roman Catholic Church ◽  
Education For All ◽  
Free Trade Policy ◽  
Political Economic ◽  
The Church

Julio Roca and the Generation of 1880 are best characterized by their liberalism. Indeed Argentine politics ever since the fall of Juan Manuel de Rosas had adopted an increasing liberal tone. These beliefs included the encouragement of constitutionalism, federalism, freedom, and democracy. The last two points were rather vague; and democracy, especially, was interpreted in a more theoretical than practical way by the aristocracy that remained in charge of political, economic, and social affairs. However, efforts to stress the immigration of workers and capital from Europe, a relatively free trade policy, and public education for all were more clear and determined. On most of these points, the leaders of the nation seemed to agree. But on another point, that of the role of the Roman Catholic Church in Argentine life, there was sharp disagreement. At no time was this more evident than during Roca's first administration, 1880-1886.

Covenants and Anglicans

2008 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 139-152
Author(s):  
Frederick Quinn
Keyword(s):  
Sixteenth Century ◽  
Catholic Church ◽  
Church Of England ◽  
Roman Catholic ◽  
Roman Catholic Church ◽  
Jeremy Taylor ◽  
Common Prayer ◽  
Church Governance ◽  
The Church

ABSTRACTAlthough there is a strong movement within Anglicanism to produce a Covenant, this article argues against such an approach. Postponing dealing with today's problems by leaving them for a vaguely worded future document, instead of trying to clarify and resolve them now, and live in peace with one another, is evasive action that solves nothing. Also, some covenant proposals represent a veiled attempt to limit the role of women and homosexuals in the church.The article's core argument is that covenants were specifically rejected by Anglicans at a time when they swept the Continent in the sixteenth century. The Church of England had specifically rejected the powerful hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church and the legalism of the Puritans in favor of what was later to become the Anglican via media, with its emphasis on an informal, prayerful unity of diverse participants at home and abroad. It further argues the Church contains sufficient doctrinal statements in the Creeds, Chicago-Lambeth Quadrilateral of 1886, 1888, and the Baptismal Covenant in the American Church's 1979 Book of Common Prayer.Covenant proponents argue their proposed document follows in the tradition of classic Anglicanism, but Quinn demonstrates this is not the case. He presents Richard Hooker and Jeremy Taylor as major voices articulating a distinctly Anglican perspective on church governance, noting Hooker ‘tried to stake out parameters between positions without digging a ditch others could not cross. Hooker placed prudence ahead of doctrinal argument.’ Taylor cited the triadic scripture, tradition and reason so central to Anglicanism and added how religious reasoning differs from mathematical and philosophical reasoning. The author notes that the cherished Reformation gift of religious reasoning is totally unmentioned in the flurry of documents calling for a new Anglican Covenant.

scholarly journals Credo in unam sanctam…

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 88-106
Author(s):  
Alejandro Zafeiropoulos
Keyword(s):  
Catholic Church ◽  
Roman Catholic ◽  
Positive Answer ◽  
Church Of Christ ◽  
Roman Catholic Church ◽  
Orthodox Church ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
The Church ◽  
The Trinity

Is the Church of Christ the Roman Catholic Church? Could it be argued in parallel that the Church of Christ is the Orthodox Church? And could one accept a positive answer to these first two questions and still affirm that the Roman Catholic Church is not the Orthodox Church, and all this avoiding both a logical and a metaphysical contradiction? In this article I shall respond positively to each of these questions, avoiding the possible contradiction that such responses might involve. Taking as a starting point the philosophical and theological discussion of the Trinity within the analytical mainstream, I shall present the outline of an ecumenical ecclesiology based on the metaphysical relation of constitution. Thanks to this strategy, it is possible to think of a universal ecclesiology capable of explaining better not the diversity but the unity of the Church of Christ. Resumen: ¿La Iglesia de Cristo es la Iglesia católica romana? ¿Podría defenderse paralelamente que la Iglesia de Cristo es la Iglesia ortodoxa? Y, ¿se podría aceptar una respuesta positiva a estas dos primeras preguntas y afirmar que la Iglesia católica romana no es la Iglesia ortodoxa, y todo esto evitando tanto una contradicción lógica como metafísica? En el presente artículo se desea responder de manera positiva a cada una de estas preguntas, evitando la posible contradicción que dicha respuesta podría involucrar. Para esto y tomando como punto de partida las discusiones filosóficas y teológicas sobre la Trinidad dentro de la corriente analítica, presentaremos el bosquejo de una eclesiología ecuménica basada en la relación metafísica de constitución. Gracias a esta estrategia, se puede pensar una eclesiología universal capaz de explicar mejor, no la diversidad sino la unidad de la Iglesia de Cristo.  

Render Unto Caesar… What? Reflections on the Work of William Cavanaugh

2009 ◽  
Vol 71 (4) ◽  
pp. 583-605
Author(s):  
Paul S. Rowe
Keyword(s):  
International Relations ◽  
Roman Catholic ◽  
The State ◽  
Global Politics ◽  
Religious Groups ◽  
The Past ◽  
Role Of The State ◽  
Catholic Tradition ◽  
The Church

AbstractAn increasing concern for the place of religion in global politics in the past decade is reflected in the work of William Cavanaugh, a political theologian coming from the radical orthodox movement of the Roman Catholic tradition. Taking aim at key tropes in international relations, Cavanaugh introduces a strong critique of the legitimacy of the state and against its martial attitude. This review questions the historicity and generalizability of Cavanaugh's analysis. It also challenges Cavanaugh's exaltation of the church from both an internal and external perspective. Finally, it considers the expanded role of the state as compared to Cavanaugh's vision of the martial state. By way of conclusion, it questions the extent to which Cavanaugh provides an alternative to consigning religious groups to civil society or a workable role for Christian engagement with global politics, even though he provides us with a strong critique of the state.

On Fostering Ecclesial Dialogue: Engaging Contrasting Ecclesiologies

Ecclesiology ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 166-182
Author(s):  
Bradford Hinze
Keyword(s):  
Roman Catholic ◽  
Final Part ◽  
Dynamic Character ◽  
The Times ◽  
The Church

AbstractDialogue is widely acknowledged as a basic practice constitutive of the church's internal and external identity and mission. Advancing ecclesial dialogue by learning from a phenomenology of its practices and cultivating apt virtues is necessary but insufficient. These efforts are often thwarted because divergent ecclesiological approaches to dialogue stand in tension with one another. This paper explores how three trajectories in Roman Catholic ecclesiology develop contrasting approaches to the role of dialogue in the church: personalist, correlationist, and contextual. The final part of the paper proposes three topics where there are convergences about the dialogical mandate amidst these contrasting orientations: the dynamic character of faith and tradition, the synodal imperative, and the need to debate the synodal agenda for the church in response to the global signs of the times.

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