scholarly journals Konfesjonelle tradisjoner – problem eller mulighet?

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lars Råmunddal
Keyword(s):  
Local Church ◽  
Local Churches ◽  
Traditional Values ◽  
Contemporary Culture ◽  
Church Development ◽  
The One ◽  
The Church ◽  
Contemporary Context ◽  
Do So ◽  
Church Tradition

The question I attempt to answer in this article is how church traditions can play a positive or constructive role in local church development – and when and why they cannot do so, but on the contrary, become an obstacle to developing churches in an ecclesiological holistic way. One of the main reasons why church traditions become a problem for church development today is to emphasize either the historical or the contemporary context of the church. Based on a holistic ecclesiological model, the article argues that a local church always stands in the tension between, on the one hand, the long history and tradition of the Christian Church – where “my” church tradition also is located –, and on the other hand, the Church’s presence in a given time and culture. In order to assess the constructive value of church traditions and their significance for church development, I recommend inspiration and guidance gained from thinking developed, in general, according to the concepts of detraditionalization and retraditionalization – and according to what is related to the question of a tradition’s “intention”, in particular. Here the article argues that the using and re-using potential of church traditions does not have to be not only linked to the historical dimension of the Church, but also to the socio-cultural one. Looking at the church landscape in Scandinavia today, one will find that there are representatives of local churches that relatively and unilaterally emphasize the practice of sacrament and liturgy. This is accentuated partly by those who wish to modernize meetings, music and forms of communication with the intention to adapt the church to the contemporary culture, and partly by those who try to find a balance between traditional values and contemporary ones. The United Malmö church is appointed out as an example of the latter way of thinking church development.

scholarly journals Pluralism of ethnic identities as a factor in the formation of parallel Orthodox hierarchical structures in Ukraine

2009 ◽  
pp. 229-240
Author(s):  
A. Babins’kyi
Keyword(s):  
Local Church ◽  
Local Structure ◽  
Mutual Recognition ◽  
Hierarchical Structures ◽  
Local Churches ◽  
Main Principle ◽  
Early Christian ◽  
The Common ◽  
The One ◽  
The Church

Eucharistic ecclesiology (in its universal dimension), which underlies Orthodox ecclesiology, has at its core a communion between the Local Churches. In practice, it manifests itself in the mutual recognition between the various autocephalous and autonomous Churches. The head of a separate Church of the Universal Orthodoxy during the Liturgy commemorates all the leaders of other self-governing Orthodox Churches. Communion through the sacraments also happens between the Churches, namely, unity is manifested through communion in the Eucharist. The teachings of the early Christian author, Ignatius Theophoros, Bishop of Antioch, formed the basis of the local structure of the Church. The main principle of his theology is the unity of all the faithful of a certain territory around his bishop, that is, the common communion of all Christians in the Eucharist, which only the bishop of that territory is entitled to fulfill. The bishop, in turn, is a member of the "universal bishopric" and through it the local church is part of the one universal Church.

scholarly journals Theological normativity and church development

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lars Råmunddal ◽  
António Barbosa Da Silva
Keyword(s):  
Practical Theology ◽  
Empirical Data ◽  
Local Churches ◽  
Church Development ◽  
Integration Model ◽  
The Bible ◽  
Church Life ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
The Church ◽  
Development Practice

This article attempts to answer the following question: how significant is theological normativity for church development practice? At a time when many leaders are busy developing local churches according to secular organisational theories, models and experiences, the following question arises: to what extent does the normative character of the Bible impact Christian faith, church life and ministry and how might normative theology affect development projects that are carried out by churches? The overriding issue that both current practice and the article focus on, is how theological normativity and empirical data can be integrated in the area of church development. After explaining the concepts of theological normativity and empirical data and the logical relationship between them, the article discusses how different national (Norwegian) and international researchers within practical theology attempt to resolve problems relating to the integration of normative theology with empirical data. The article’s authors believe that these attempts end up with either assimilation or integration, neither of which is beneficial for church development practice. Therefore, the authors propose an alternative integration model that distinguishes between three levels / degrees of theological normativity, corresponding to three different fields and areas of church development. From this perspective, one can see how the integration of empirical data in the three levels of normativity brings both challenges and opportunities. The authors’ conclusion and recommendation concerning the function and significance of the theological normativity in church development is that theological normativity bestows the church with identity and at same time has a guiding and corrective function.

The Church in the Twenty-First-Century Diaspora: The Local Church on Mission

2017 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 68-75
Author(s):  
Marian Nacpil
Keyword(s):  
Local Church ◽  
First Century ◽  
Local Churches ◽  
Twenty First Century ◽  
The Church

What must the church be in an age of diaspora? This article gives a glimpse of the twenty-first-century global diaspora, which has radically changed the context for the church’s mission. Drawing examples from local churches in Toronto, it casts a spotlight on the fruitful witness of migrant Christians and argues that the opportunity for renewal is ripe in cities where many diaspora peoples live. For those pained by the loss of land and community, it encourages local churches to stand in solidarity with them, striving to see communities shaped by the love of Christ—loving God and neighbor and looking forward with hope to his glorious reign.

The Idea of a Political Theology, I.

Worldview ◽  
1971 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-7
Author(s):  
J. Bryan Hehir
Keyword(s):  
Long Range ◽  
Catholic Church ◽  
Political Theology ◽  
Political Order ◽  
The Political ◽  
Contemporary Culture ◽  
Modem World ◽  
Vatican Council ◽  
The One ◽  
The Church

There is a dimension of Catholic thought rooted in the Vatican Council that extends beyond it in a way that could have significant implications for the Church's role in the political order. The basis for a political theology lies in the Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modem World; the purpose of this document was to reformulate the perspective in which the Church understood and evaluated contemporary culture and defined her rote in it. Many observers have singled out this document as the one with the greatest potential for shaping the long-range development of the Catholic Church.

“Really present to bless”: The sacrament of creation and a practical ethic of environmental care for the local church

2019 ◽  
Vol 116 (3) ◽  
pp. 332-344
Author(s):  
Joshua Paul Smith
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Local Church ◽  
Environmental Crisis ◽  
Local Churches ◽  
Environmental Care ◽  
Creation Theology ◽  
Real Presence ◽  
Sacramental Imagination ◽  
Practical Ethic ◽  
Do So

Anthropogenic climate change poses the greatest existential threat humans have ever faced as a species. Churches must find creative ways to confront this frightening new reality, but how are we to do so faithfully? The first half of the article explores the suggestion that a harmful modern worldview of “disenchantment” is partly to blame for our current environmental crisis, and that this perspective fails to account adequately for God’s real presence “in, with, and under” creation. The article then offers a short theological “sketch” that considers how a more robust sacramental imagination might challenge pastors and congregations to think differently about the interlocking relationships between God, humanity, and creation. Finally, the second half of the article recommends three small, practical steps that serve as “living signs” of this sacramental creation theology when put into practice by local churches, beginning with our dinner tables.

scholarly journals Recovering core identity, hermeneutical and contextual preaching

2016 ◽  
Vol 72 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Craig Linden ◽  
Malan Nel
Keyword(s):  
Local Church ◽  
Identity Crisis ◽  
Missio Dei ◽  
Local Churches ◽  
Remedial Action ◽  
Contributing Factors ◽  
The Core ◽  
Core Identity ◽  
Missional Identity ◽  
The Church

The church has the privilege of participating with God in his saving mission in a broken and suffering world, also known as the missio Dei (Bosch 1991:8–11, 390–393). This is its core, missional identity. However, many local churches are facing an identity crisis at their very core. The reasons are numerous. This article seeks to define, in a theoretical and theological way, the core identity of the local church and in the light thereof to explore two areas: (1) how the local church and particularly its pastor view the core identity of the local church, and (2) whether the identity of the local church is affected through the ministry of preaching – preaching that takes into specific consideration the aspects of hermeneutics and context. The research indicates that while the church may have an understanding of its core identity – certainly when it answers the questions ‘who are we?’ and ‘what are we called to be and/or do’ – it lacks significantly in its missional identity. Contributing factors are mentioned and remedial action is proposed.

scholarly journals Maori, Biculturalism and the Assemblies of God  in New Zealand, 1970 - 2008

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Philip D Carew
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Local Church ◽  
Assemblies Of God ◽  
Indigenous Leadership ◽  
Mainline Denominations ◽  
Considerable Success ◽  
Extensive Range ◽  
Organisational Factors ◽  
The Church ◽  
Do So

<p>This thesis examines the extent to which the New Zealand Assemblies of God, one of the largest and oldest Pentecostal denominations in the country, has fostered participation by Maori, and its success in doing so between 1970 and 2008. From the advent of the Mana Maori renaissance in the 1970s the idea of biculturalism became an important vehicle for Maori aspirations. As part of its broader agenda, the thesis also considers the church's response to this bicultural emphasis. The Assemblies' particular response is analysed in the light of experiences in the mainline denominations and the Apostolic and Destiny churches which either experienced considerable success in attracting Maori participation, or explicitly accommodated the call for a bicultural response using recognised bicultural models. The research is based on the published literature of the Assemblies of God and an extensive range of interviews. These provided detail on the motivations and underlying beliefs that have generated particular responses. The published literature of the other denominations has also been addressed for comparative purposes, along with a range of relevant secondary literature. The Assemblies of God's flexible structure, clarity of teaching, fostering of indigenous leadership and emphasis on local church autonomy, has enabled it to grow rapidly throughout the world. Despite this, and despite the church's emphasis on crosscultural mission, this thesis demonstrates that Maori have not joined the Assemblies of God to the same extent that they have other Pentecostal denominations in New Zealand. It argues that the church has done little to foster Maori participation in the movement, and identifies eight key historical, ideological, and organisational factors that have hindered its ability to do so. In particular, it highlights the significance of the denomination's emphasis on local church autonomy, the absence of any deliberate "mission" to Maori, and the church's multicultural emphasis and historical suspicion of "social justice".</p>

scholarly journals Post-secular religion and the therapeutic turn: three Norwegian examples

2012 ◽  
Vol 24 ◽  
pp. 62-75
Author(s):  
Ingvild Sælid Gilhus
Keyword(s):  
Local Church ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Traditional Religion ◽  
Contemporary Culture ◽  
Personal Relations ◽  
Secular Religion ◽  
Everyday Problems ◽  
The Church

The focus of this article is three contemporary Norwegians, who claim that they communicate with superhuman beings and/or promote therapeutic practices based on superhuman intervention. They come from different walks of life: Margit Sandemo is a best-selling author and housewife; Joralf Gjerstad is now retired, but was a dairy assistant and a bell-ringer in the local church; Märtha Louise is a princess and trained as a physiotherapist and Rosen ther­apist.What sorts of religion do they promote? How do they relate to the Church? How do they reflect the situation of post-secular religion in Norway? They personify in different ways the therapeutic turn of contemporary culture and religion, which challenges traditional religion as well as the field of medicine/science. Sandemo, Gjerstad and Märtha Louise and Samnøy try to solve everyday problems—illness, difficulties in mastering life and personal relations, the need for safety, feelings of unease in one’s house—problems that are basic in human life, but in some cases neglected by the expert fields or not able to be solved within them.

scholarly journals Menggagas Spirit Perjumpaan antara Keuskupan Bogor dan Umat Beragama Lain

MELINTAS ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 329
Author(s):  
Dionnysius Manopo
Keyword(s):  
Catholic Church ◽  
Vatican Ii ◽  
Local Church ◽  
Social Dimension ◽  
Local Context ◽  
Local Churches ◽  
Religious Traditions ◽  
Religious Plurality ◽  
The Church ◽  
The Catholic Church

Christianity exists within the different religious traditions and Christians are aware of this reality as part of their existence. Especially in Asia, this situation has become a basic context to Christianity and the local churches that requires continuous reflections. In Asian reality, religious plurality is not merely a particular situation, but an important stage in the life of the Christianity, which leads to further reflections and even questioning of its existence among the other religions. The Catholic Church in Bogor (the Diocese of Bogor), Indonesia, is one of the example how the church in Asia is trying to survive and to find its roots within the local context. Thir article is inspired by the Diocese’s vision, the documents of Vatican II, and other documents of the Catholic Church, in exploring how the “spirit of encounter” can become a model for the local church to continue to exist within the religious plurality. This spirit invites the local believers to have a committment in giving their attention to the their context and to their social dimension. Through the encounters, the local church attempts to reduce the gaps of communication and to preserve good relationship with people of different religious traditions. Here the church enters the interfaith experience or the experience of togetherness, and the spirit of encounter might help spread the image of the church as a church of relation.

The Church and Mary

Ecclesiology ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 276-298
Author(s):  
Frances Young
Keyword(s):  
Marian Devotion ◽  
The Gaze ◽  
The World ◽  
Ordination Of Women ◽  
The One ◽  
The Church ◽  
Do So

AbstractThe aim of this paper is to explore the theme of Mary as 'type' of the Church, and to do so with a bifocal ecumenical perspective. The first section of this paper focuses on the persisting reasons for the Protestant critique of Mariology. Mary's ambiguous role as a model for virginity shifts the focus to the second section, which directs the gaze on Mary as a pattern for all believers, the one who typifies the Church's calling – to bring Christ into the world. Protestants are challenged to take seriously the theological logic underlying Marian devotion; Orthodox and Catholics are invited to consider Mary's priestly role and its implications for the ordination of women.

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