The Correlation Between Ecclesial Communion and the Recognition of Ministry

Recognition of an imperfect communion between churches, the recognition of ecclesial communities as churches, and the mutual recognition of ministry are treated as separate and discrete topics in ecumenical conversations. Nevertheless, an ecclesiology of communion suggests that ecclesial recognition and recognition of ministry within a relationship of imperfect communion should be correlated with each other in such a way that an imperfect ecclesial communion contributes to an incremental recognition of ministry in ecumenical relationships. This essay explores this question with specific references to the concept of communion in Chapter II, part D and E of the World Council of Churches document, The Church: Towards a Common Vision (2013)

The Meanings of Communion: Anglican Identities, the Sexuality Debates, and Christian Relationality

Recent discussions of the international Anglican Communion have been dominated by notions of a \'crisis\' and \'schism\' resulting from conflicts over issues of homosexuality. Existing accounts of the Communion have often tended to emphasise the perspectives of those most vocal in the debates (particularly bishops, senior clergy, and pressure groups) or to engage in primarily theological analysis. This article examines the nature of the purported \'crisis\' from the perspectives of Anglicans in local parishes in three different national contexts: England, South Africa, and the US. Unusually for writing on the Communion, attention is simultaneously given to parishes that have clear pro-gay stances, those that largely oppose the acceptance of homosexual practice, and those with more ambivalent positions. In doing so, the article offers new insights for the growing body of literature on lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Christians, as well as wider discussions about the contested nature of contemporary Anglican and other Christian identities. Key themes include the divergent ways in which respondents felt (and did not feel) connections to the spatially distant \'others\' with whom they are in Communion; the complex relationships and discordances between parish, denominational, and Communion-level identities; and competing visions of the role of the Communion in producing unity or preserving diversity amongst Anglicans.Anglican Communion; Sexuality; Christianity; Religious Identities

Creative Communion: Toward a Spirituality of Work

Reviewed Book: Holland, Joe. Creative Communion: Toward a Spirituality of Work. New York: Paulist Press, [19--]

Replacing Development: An Afro-communal Approach to Global Justice

In this article, I consider whether there are values intrinsic to development theory and practice that are dubious in light of a characteristically African ethic. In particular, I focus on what a certain philosophical interpretation of the sub-Saharan value of communion entails for appraising development, drawing two major conclusions. One is that a majority of the criticisms that have been made of development by those sympathetic to African values are weak; I argue that, given the value of communion, development should not be rejected because it is essentially, say, overly materialistic and scientistic, or insufficiently spiritual and local. The second conclusion, however, is that three criticisms of development are strong from the perspective of Afro-communalism and are particularly powerful when set in that context. I argue that development theory and practice are characteristically anthropocentric, individualist and technocratic, and that a reading of the sub-Saharan value of communion provides a unitary foundation for rejecting these features and for grounding an alternative, more relational approach to social progress and to what justice demands from the West in relation to Africa

Continuity and Development in Roman Catholic Ecclesiology

An overview of the conceptualizations of the Catholic Church from the theology of Bellarmine to contemporary understanding of the church as communion shows both continuity and development from one concept to the next rather than an abrupt change to a new model that discards the model preceding it. This essay examines the church as perfect society, church as mystical body, church as sacrament, church as people of God, and church as communion, demonstrating that the various conceptualizations represent development, balance, correction, and a deeper penetration in the understanding and articulation of the prior conceptualizations. The church as body of Christ develops the spiritual and Christological dimension of the church as society. The church as sacrament offers a way of differentiating between Christ and the church while at the same time retaining the close correlation between the two. The church as people of God introduces historical consciousness into the definition of the church. The church as communion synthesizes the strong sacramental and spiritual identity of the church with its organizational structure

Serratia marcescens: The Miracle Bacillus

The objectives of this article are to explain the mysterious appearance of crimson-colored bacteria on food and communion bread/wafers, over the centuries, as well as to describe the biological basi

Eskatologiese perspektiewe in die Nagmaal

Eschatological perspectives in Holy Communion. Eschatology reveals various perspectives concerning Holy Communion. Formulation, definition and the context of Holy Communion in the Scriptures have an eschatological setting. Due to the dovetailing of the old and the new aeon Holy Communion contains an eschatological tension; it projects an eschatological prefiguration; there is an eschatological solidity and adherence in Holy Communion, namely, the God of faith; an eschatological maturing process takes place in and through Holy Communion; there is an eschatological dimension with an existential moment in Holy Communion; there is an eschatological paranese in Holy Communion; eschatology projects an alignment with the judgement of God into Holy Communion and eschatology places Holy Communion in a missiological perspective. The remembrance of the perfecta fulfilled by Christ invokes the futura which is yet to come. The commemorative character of Holy Communion is more than a mere in memoriam of Christ’s death as Mediator. It is a remembrance of Jesus Christ, the risen Lord Himself By virtue of its sacramental nature. Holy Communion as a remembrance supper is a token and seal of the body and blood of the Mediator Jesus Christ the Lord - He who is the Eschatos will come as the Elpidos for time and eternity. This sacramental token and seat is also token and seal of the final eschaton when God will be all in all (cf 1 Cor 15:28)

The Politics of Denying Communion to Catholic Elected Officials

Publisher's version made available in accordance with the publisher's policy.In his 2004 presidential campaign, John Kerry, a Catholic, was threatened with being denied Holy Communion because of his pro-choice voting record. This article investigates the extent to which communion denial impacted Catholic elected officials and analyzes public attitudes regarding communion denial for Kerry. The results of our analysis suggest that, despite heavy media coverage, few bishops endorsed the communion denial and few pro-choice Catholic officials were threatened. While the data also indicate there are meaningful political implications for public attitudes on communion denial, the tactic does not command support from many Catholics