Deepening Communion

Deepening Communion
Author: Catholic Church. National Conference of Catholic Bishops. Bishops' Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs
Publisher: USCCB Publishing
Total Pages: 660
Release: 1998
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 9781574551648

This collection of documents explores the growing relationship of the Catholic Church with the Lutheran, Reformed, Christian church/Disciples of Christ, Baptist, and Pentecostal churches.

What Happens in Holy Communion?

What Happens in Holy Communion?
Author: Michael Welker
Publisher: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing
Total Pages: 212
Release: 2000
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 9780802846020

All the large churches in the world agree on this: communion is the highest expression of the church unity. Yet it is exactly the act of communion that historically has given rise to vehement controversies among the churches. This new book not only explores the meaning of holy communion but also marks a turning point on the way to common understanding. Welker gives a clear explanation of holy communion based on the biblical tradition and evaluates the ecumenical discourse on communion of the past thirty years. In the process he answers such often posed questions as "What do we mean when we say that Christ is present in communion?" "How are Christ's body and blood connected with bread and wine?" "What is the difference between the Christian Supper and the Jewish Passover meal?" and "Are children allowed to share in communion?"

More Than Communion

More Than Communion
Author: Scott MacDougall
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Total Pages: 398
Release: 2015-05-21
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0567659909

The dominant contemporary model for ecclesiology (theological views of the church itself) is the ecclesiology of communion. MacDougall argues that communion ecclesiologies are often marked by a problematic theological imagination of the future (eschatology). He argues further that, as a result, our ways of practising and being the church are not as robust as they might otherwise be. Re-imagining the church in the light of God's promised future, then, becomes a critical conceptual and practical task. MacDougall presents a detailed exploration of what communion ecclesiologies are and some of the problems they raise. He offers two case studies of such theologies by examining how distinguished theologians John Zizioulas and John Milbank understand the church and the future, how these combine in their work, and the conceptual and practical implications of their perspectives. He then offers an alternative theological view and demonstrates the effects that such a shift would have. In doing so, MacDougall offers a proposal for recovering the 'more' to communion and to ecclesiology to help us imagine a church that is not beyond the world (as in Zizioulas) or over against the world (as in Milbank), but in and for the world in love and service. This concept is worked out in conversation with systematic theologians such as Jürgen Moltmann, Wolfhart Pannenberg, and Johannes Baptist Metz, and by engaging with a theology of Christian practices currently being developed by practical theologians such as Dorothy C. Bass, Craig Dykstra, and those associated with their ongoing project. The potential for the church to become an agent of discipleship, love, and service can best be realised when the church anticipates God's promised perfection in the full communion between God and humanity, among human beings, within human persons, and between humanity and the rest of creation.

The Cosmic Pilgrim

The Cosmic Pilgrim
Author: Margaret MacIntyre
Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers
Total Pages: 173
Release: 2010-03-01
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1498272231

The Cosmic Pilgrim is an introduction to the world of eco-theology. Based on the vision of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, it describes the nature of reality in our Cosmos that is continually unfolding within our expanding consciousness, and the journey, the pilgrimage, of the universe through space and time toward its consummate destiny within the fullness of God. This radical, evolutionary perspective is part of the new story of science and religion. Mathematical cosmologist and visionary Brian Swimme is the chosen guide to this new cosmology, and his insights form the continuing thread of the book. His mentor, Thomas Berry, is well represented here, as are other great thinkers from the realms of science and theology: Jurgen Moltmann, Alfred North Whitehead, C. S. Lewis, John Polkinghorne, and John Haught. The Cosmic Pilgrim presents a personal, easy-to-grasp map of the current interface between ecology, religion, and science. It aims to develop a spirituality that is grounded in the present struggle of moving beyond our Earth-damaging, industrial mindset toward a higher vision of vibrant planetary community. At the same time it seeks out the wider horizon of ultimate meaning and ponders the mystery of the far future and our cosmic destiny. Although the book reflects the author's Christian background, it is nonsectarian in approach and could be enjoyed by any seeker interested in developing a "green" spirituality.

Deepening Community

Deepening Community
Author: Paul Born
Publisher: Berrett-Koehler Publishers
Total Pages: 193
Release: 2014-03-10
Genre: Family & Relationships
ISBN: 1626560986

Community shapes our identity, quenches our thirst for belonging, and bolsters our physical, mental, emotional, and economic health. But in the chaos of modern life, community ties have become unraveled, leaving many feeling afraid or alone in the crowd, grasping at shallow substitutes for true community. In this thoughtful and moving book, Paul Born describes the four pillars of deep community: sharing our stories, taking the time to enjoy one another, taking care of one another, and working together for a better world. To show the role each of these plays, he shares his own stories—as a child of refugees and as a longtime community activist. It's up to us to create community. Born shows that the opportunity is right in front of us if we have the courage and conviction to pursue it.

Celebrating a Century of Ecumenism

Celebrating a Century of Ecumenism
Author: John A. Radano
Publisher: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing
Total Pages: 357
Release: 2012-04-30
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0802867057

Modern ecumenism traces its roots back to the 1910 World Missionary Conference in Edinburgh. Celebrating a Century of Ecumenism brings readers up to date on one hundred years of global dialogue between many different church traditions, including Anglican, Lutheran, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, Evangelical, Orthodox, Baptist, Disciples of Christ, Oriental Orthodox, and more. Eighteen essays by authors representing a wide spectrum of denominational interests outline the achievements of this movement toward unity. The first part of the book focuses on multilateral dialogue that involved a variety of churches attempting to delineate common ground, with considerable progress reported. The second part describes bilateral discussions between two churches or groups of churches. Celebrating a Century of Ecumenism is one small marker along the way to the unity that many Christians desire, and the report it provides will encourage those involved in ecumenical discussions. Contributors: S. Wesley Ariarajah Peter C. Bouteneff Ralph Del Colle Lorelei F. Fuchs Donna Geernaert Jeffrey Gros Helmut Harder William Henn Margaret O'Gara John A. Radano Cecil M. Robeck Jr. Ronald G. Roberson William G. Rusch Mary Tanner Geoffrey Wainwright Jared Wicks Susan K. Wood

Sex, Moral Teaching, and the Unity of the Church

Sex, Moral Teaching, and the Unity of the Church
Author: Timothy F. Sedgwick
Publisher: Church Publishing, Inc.
Total Pages: 97
Release: 2014-10
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0819229660

Respected Episcopal ethicist Timothy F. Sedgwick provides an alternative viewpoint on the homosexuality debate, on the proposed Anglican Covenant, and on mission and ministry. He deals insightfully with what he thinks is a mistaken assumption in the Church and advances a cogent argument that the church needs to be clear in forming its moral teaching--whether liberal or conservative. The right question, Sedgwick maintains, is how do we teach morals and order our life accordingly? This book evolved from his work over the last decade addressing same-sex issues in the national church. Chapters include: - Homosexuality, Teaching, and Governance in the Episcopal Church - The Anglican Covenant: What are Bishops for? - Anglican-Roman Catholic Dialogue: The Unity We Seek - Moral Teaching, Formation, and the Mission of the Church A timely and lucid treatment of the single most controversial topic in the Episcopal Church Written by a preeminent Episcopal ethicist

Theology and Technology, Volume 2

Theology and Technology, Volume 2
Author: Carl Mitcham
Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers
Total Pages: 277
Release: 2022-07-20
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1666734632

Originally published nearly forty years ago as a spiritual successor to Carl Mitcham and Robert Mackey’s Philosophy and Technology, the essays collected in the two volumes of Theology and Technology span an array of theological attitudes and perspectives providing sufficient material for careful reflection and engagement. The first volume offers five general attitudes toward technology based off of H. Richard Niebuhr’s five ideal types in Christ and Culture. The second volume includes biblical, historical, and modern theological engagements with the place of technology in the Christian life. This ecumenical collection ranges from authors who enthusiastically support technological development to those cynical of technique and engages the Christian tradition from the church fathers to recent theologians like Bernard Lonergan and Jacques Ellul. Taken together, these essays, some reproductions of earlier work and others original for this project, provide any student of theology a fitting entrée into considering the place of technology in the realm of the sacred.