Food insecurity, Eucharist, and community: Reading Jean-Marc Éla’s “shade-tree” theology in light of Balthasar’s ecclesiology

2020 ◽  
Vol 117 (4) ◽  
pp. 536-546
Author(s):  
Jackson Nii Sabaah Adamah
Keyword(s):  
Social Justice ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Political Issues ◽  
Shade Tree ◽  
Prophetic Community ◽  
The Church ◽  
Robust Response

This article discusses how the African church together with the church catholic can develop a theological response to rising food insecurity in Africa. Considering food insecurity is only a symptom of a much broader set of sociological and political issues that determine the church’s response to the problem, this article explores the ecclesiological formulations of Jean-Marc Éla’s “shade-tree” theology in light of Balthasar’s ecclesiology. The differences in Éla’s and Balthasar’s visions of the nature and purpose of the church elucidate the complementary differences between the church as a prophetic community committed to social justice and a worshipping community committed to the performance of the Eucharist. Consequently, engaging the two Catholic theologians highlights the tensions of the church–world relationship the church must negotiate if it is to offer a robust response to food insecurity.

Left Coast Catholicism: The Tradition of Dissent in the California Church

2019 ◽  
pp. 63-85
Author(s):  
Jeffrey M. Burns
Keyword(s):  
Twentieth Century ◽  
Social Justice ◽  
Local Church ◽  
Concerted Action ◽  
Openness To Change ◽  
California Missions ◽  
Social Teachings ◽  
The Church

This chapter argues that independence, innovation, bold action, and openness to change—traditions uniquely nurtured in California from its beginnings—shaped Catholic experience in the Golden State. It presents a treatment of the formative California missions that focuses on the “first dissenter,” Fray José Maria Fernandez, a critic of the exploitation of Indians in the late 1790s who was persecuted by enemies (and later by many historians) as mad or brain-damaged, yet endured in his advocacy work. In the twentieth century, California Catholics engaged issues of great importance for the whole church; the local church engaged in vigorous dialogue that addressed questions of work and social justice with a directness and intensity rarely witnessed in eastern cities, where ethnic tribalism so often undermined concerted action, especially action that called the church to account for failures to practice its own social teachings.

The Satanic Reformation

2020 ◽  
pp. 83-102
Author(s):  
Joseph P. Laycock
Keyword(s):  
Nineteenth Century ◽  
Social Justice ◽  
Imagined Community ◽  
Benedict Anderson ◽  
The Church

Members of The Satanic Temple have presented themselves as “nice” Satanists who advance the values of compassion and social justice. This move has earned them scorn from some more traditional Satanic groups, notably the Church of Satan founded by Anton LaVey, which has accused The Satanic Temple’s members of being fake Satanists and plagiarizing everything that LaVey built. This chapter suggests that there is no objectively authentic form of Satanism and that Satanism is better understood as what Benedict Anderson called “an imagined community.” Thus a variety of sources can be invoked to form models of what Satanism is or ought to be. In redefining Satanism, The Satanic Temple and other socially engaged Satanic groups have looked past LaVey to the Satan portrayed by nineteenth-century Romantics. They argue that works by Byron and Shelley represent an older mode of Satanism that is compatible with their values of compassion and egalitarianism.

The Christian Left in Latin American Politics

1979 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Dodson
Keyword(s):  
Latin American ◽  
Social Orientation ◽  
The Political ◽  
Latin American Politics ◽  
American Catholicism ◽  
Political Issues ◽  
Political Situation ◽  
Christian Left ◽  
Social Upheaval ◽  
The Church

After decades of neglect, interest in the political significance of Latin American Catholicism increased sharply in the late 1960s when it began to appear that the Church might have unimagined potential for promoting social change, particularly in a continent plagued by social upheaval and political instability (Drekonja, 1971: 59-65). In both word and deed, the postconciliar Church manifested a changing social orientation which entailed open involvement in political issues on behalf of the poor. In fact, by August 1968 and the convening of the Council of Latin American Bishops (CELAM) in Medellín, Colombia, the Church seemed to be changing its social and political attitudes so profoundly that reports of a revolutionary Church began to accompany discussions of the political situation in Latin America. Since Medellín, an important literature has evolved from efforts to understand this change in Latin American Catholicism.

Argentina, the Church, and the Debt

2007 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 135-160
Author(s):  
Thomas J. Trebat
Keyword(s):  
Social Justice ◽  
Emerging Markets ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Catholic Church ◽  
Debt Crisis ◽  
Social Teaching ◽  
International Debt ◽  
Poor Countries ◽  
Moral Framework ◽  
The Church

The Argentine debt crisis of 2001–2002 and its aftermath are examined in the light of the moral framework of Catholic social teaching on the debt problems of poor countries. The author, a former practitioner in emerging-markets finance, seeks to bring together and interpret the church's teaching (which was mostly worked out in the 1980s) in the particular economic and social circumstances of Argentina in the early 2000s. The key question is how closely the outcome of the debt crisis in Argentina conformed to what social justice, in the Church's interpretation, would have required. The main conclusion is that the resolution of the crisis was broadly consistent with that teaching. The crisis was managed with pragmatism rooted in shared (by debtor and creditors) concerns for social justice—more so than had been possible in the earlier Latin American debt crises in the 1980s, which the author had also witnessed. For that, many factors are responsible, including the emergence of civil society in Argentina and changes in the system of emerging markets finance. The author argues, however, that the moral framework of the Catholic Church on matters of international debt may deserve some of the credit.

From Medellín to Puebla: Notes for Reflection

1979 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-44
Author(s):  
Renato Poblete
Keyword(s):  
Latin American ◽  
Catholic Church ◽  
Great Influence ◽  
Processes Of Change ◽  
Good Opportunity ◽  
Political Issues ◽  
The Third ◽  
American Catholic ◽  
Latin American Countries ◽  
The Church

Ten years ago the Latin American Catholic Bishops held their Second General Conference in Medellín, Colombia. The conference had a great influence not only within the Catholic Church, but also on the formation of socioeconomic and political issues in Latin American countries. At the time of this writing, we are in the midst of preparations for the Third General Conference taking place in Puebla, Mexico, in October 1978. Therefore, this seems a good opportunity to reflect on the general processes of change in the Church leading to Puebla and their implications for the future.

scholarly journals The Relastion Between Church and Politcs

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-19
Author(s):  
David Ming
Keyword(s):  
Social Issues ◽  
Religion And Politics ◽  
The Other ◽  
Political Issues ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
The Church

The relationship between the Church (religion) and politics is a very important matter to be discussed both in the academic sphere and in the scope of society in general. The relationship is different from time to time as the relationship between the two raises a  polemic. This is due to the understanding that the field of service the church must be restricted to theological matters. On the other hand, there are those who hold that church activities cannot be narrowed only to abstract / theological matters. The church must instead show its concern on social issues that are very concrete, for example political issues. But before we enter into the discussion of the relationship between "Church and Politics", it helps us to understand what church and politics are

scholarly journals The Church mission relative to socio-political issues in Francophone Africa

2012 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kalemba Mwambazambi
Keyword(s):  
Paradigm Shift ◽  
Francophone Africa ◽  
Political Issues ◽  
Christian Mission ◽  
Church Mission ◽  
Mission Strategy ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Positive Transformation ◽  
The Church

The Church mission relative to socio-political issues in Francophone Africa requires a paradigm shift in both practice and teaching. To revitalise the Christian mission and pave the way for the positive transformation of Francophone Africa, a method review and mission strategy is relevant. The Church�s mission is to create disciples, to evangelise people, bring them to a deeper faith, promote truth, justice, peace, reconciliation, reconstruction, development and defend the poor and oppressed. Thus, people should always be central to the Church�s commitment regarding evangelism and social advancement. This article has provided a missiological overview of the Christian mission to gain a better understanding of the role of the Church in Francophone Africa today.

scholarly journals Whosoever Will May Come

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wendy McGuire ◽  
Michelle Short ◽  
Kari Martin
Keyword(s):  
Social Justice ◽  
Church Leadership ◽  
Social Identities ◽  
Religious Community ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Social Hierarchies ◽  
Spiritual Community ◽  
Class Privilege ◽  
Metropolitan Community Church ◽  
The Church

Intersectional queer activists and scholars have critiqued mainstream gay and lesbian social movements for losing their radical edge and promoting homonormative political agendas. Homonormativity concentrates power in the hands of LGBTIQ2S+ activists with race, gender, and class privilege. The Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) of Toronto is Canada’s largest LGBTIQ2S+ religious community and a significant player in global LGBTIQ2S+ human rights movements. This paper explored the perceptions of inclusion and representation of members of MCC across embodied social identities including sexual identity, gender identity, race, age, socioeconomic status, and ability. Three dimensions of inclusion were examined: personal feelings and experiences, alignment of personal social justice priorities with those of the church, and representation in church leadership. In the fall of 2015, BSW student researchers collected survey data from 146 respondents attending MCC Sunday services. The study found that most respondents, across identity categories, felt personally included most of the time and nearly all felt that their social justice priorities were aligned with the priorities of the church. Respondents who reported exclusion across all three dimensions identified as pansexual, trans male, gender non-binary, intersex, and Asian. Others who generally felt included but not represented in leadership identified as Indigenous, Black, heterosexual, bisexual, gay, and cisgender. Findings suggest that this activist spiritual community has resisted homonormatization to create a space of radical inclusivity but must continue to work hard to extend this space and to prevent the reinscription of social hierarchies.

Holiness, social justice and the mission of the Church: John Wesley’s insights in contemporary context

Holiness ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 177-198 ◽  
Author(s):  
David N. Field
Keyword(s):  
Social Justice ◽  
John Wesley ◽  
Means Of Grace ◽  
Social Holiness ◽  
And Migration ◽  
The Church ◽  
Contemporary Context

AbstractJohn Wesley summarised Methodism’s mission as spreading ‘scriptural holiness’. This article argues that the praxis of social justice as an expression of holiness is integral to the mission of the Church. The following themes from Wesley’s theology are examined: holiness as love; ‘justice, mercy, and truth’; social holiness; works of mercy as a means of grace; stewardship, and ‘the outcasts of men’. It argues that the praxis of justice, mercy and truth is integral to holiness and hence to mission of the Church. A contextualisation of this theme in the context of secularisation and migration is then developed.

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