CCRS - CHURCHIntroductory comments

MODULE OBJECTIVES Explore the nature and function of Church

reflect on, and be challenged by, different models of Church;

be introduced to and challenged by the requirements of collaborative ministry and the role of the laity;

reflect on the relationship of Christian traditions to each other and to other major faith traditions and to the secular world.

AND YOUR OBJECTIVES/QUESTIONS

What would YOU like to get out of this module?

5 MINS

What is your experience of belonging to the church?

How is the Church perceived by others?

What does the Church do?

‘BELONG’

What does this mean?

How is this expressed?

CHURCH

Derives from the Greek meaning ‘thing belonging to the Lord’

‘kurios’ – Grk - master, lord, king

Old English: cirice; circe;

Middle English: chereche-chiriche-chirche-churche

...church and Church

EKKLESIA

Originally a legislative assembly of citizens

Only citizens who enjoyed full rights could belong

So the significance of ekklesia implies both legality of the assembly and the dignity of membership

Ecclesial .....ecclesiology

CHURCH IS The ongoing self-communication of God

God’s irreversible and historically tangible offer of himself

The actualising of salvation history in and through Jesus Christ

CHURCH IN CATHOLICISM

The central role of church in mediating salvation

The mediating function of certain ministries, structures, institutional forms e.g. Bishop

Sacraments – God’s life communicated

The Petrine office; The role of Mary

Visible organisation

CHURCH AS MYSTERY

‘Mysterion’ = ‘sacramentum’

Impossible to fully understand

A mystery to be dwelt on

LUMEN GENTIUM

‘faith seeking understanding’A reality which eludes definitionBoth human and divine

“The Church….at once holy and in need of purification, follows constantly the path of penance and renewal.” (Lumen Gentium N8)1964

IN THE CREED THE CHURCH IS

One

Holy

Catholic

Apostolic

CHURCH IS ONE AND HOLY ‘One’The Catholic Church is one because of her

source: CCC 813

‘Holy’The Church is holy because of her essential link with her founder Jesus Christ

 

THE CHURCH IS THE BODY OF CHRIST A community of those who believe in

Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour Who are baptised Who participate in the Church’s worship

and sacramental life Who broadly ‘love their neighbour’

So ‘the Church’ is the whole body of baptised Christians worldwide regardless of denominational differences

THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH

Word Kerygma

Worship Leitourgia

Witness Marturia

Service Diakonia

CHURCH IS CATHOLIC

‘Catholic’ – as in ‘universal’

The universal significance of Christ Jesus / Paul in Galatians LG13 – diversity supports

catholicity ‘belong to’ and ‘related to it’ Jews and Muslims are related to it -

CCC 839

CHURCH IS APOSTOLIC ‘Apostolic’

The Church is rooted in the first apostles and has an uninterrupted succession since that time.

The issue of succession is of course a controversial one in Christian communities.

MODELS OF CHURCH Institutional

Community / People of God

Sacrament

Servant

Herald

Discipleship

METAPHORS FOR CHURCH

A vine? A petrol station? Penguin colony? Supermarket? Sheepfold? Body of Christ Bride of Christ [Eph 5:21-33]

THE PROBLEM

Traditionally, the problem is not the existence of church but its origin

What connection exists between Jesus and the Church?

But now we might be asking why the church exists at all?

DEVELOPMENTAL PRINCIPLE

The idea of church is seen to develop through many stages

Interpretation of various presentations is a delicate and subtle matter

Diversity of ecclesiological approaches within the NT

Also within modern-day theologians

What is the Church for ?