Apostolic and Prophetic: Ecclesiological Perspectives
Ebook
Overview
Apostolic and Prophetic promotes a vision of the church as apostolic, ecumenical, and radical. It explores the meaning of each of these ecclesial marks and their intrinsic connections. The volume thus draws a wide span between the apostolic past (tradition) and a radical perspective on the present and future ecumenical church. The book considers the concept of apostolicity emerging in patristic theology, and it examines this concept as it has been developed in some select Lutheran, Roman Catholic, and Anglican ecumenical documents. Unresolved ecumenical questions concerning ecumenical method and church ministry are frankly discussed, including critical observations on ecumenical praxis. The modern notion of churches as denominations is examined in detail, especially in the Lutheran context. The author also offers a critical assessment of an important ecumenical event, the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. The notion of a radical church--aware of its roots and prophetically committed to faith in the kingdom of God seeking freedom and justice--is explored through an extensive analysis and discussion of the work of Dorothee Solle and Terry Eagleton, two seminal thinkers of our time.
”Gesa Thiessen discusses a broad range of current ecumenical
issues in a manner that is both theoretically lucid and practically
helpful. Her experience as bridge-builder between Lutherans and
Roman Catholics as well as between German and English-speaking
theological traditions allows her to grapple with many contemporary
problems in a creative and forward-looking fashion. Not only
academic theologians, but also ecumenically minded laypeople will
benefit from Thiessen’s sincere and participatory way of engaging
challenging topics."
-Risto Saarinen
University of Helsinki
“This book will challenge, inform, and delight all who are
passionate about the church today. From one of the most committed
and creative Lutheran ecumenists around, it delves deeply into the
history of the church to draw forth empowering and inspiring
ecclesial perspectives for today and tomorrow alike. Seeking to
retrieve an understanding of what lies at the true heart of
apostolicity and the literally radical nature of the Gospel itself,
exploring and explicating the nature and actuality of ecumenical
dialogue, and offering a vision for the church that resonates
loudly with the good news that was proclaimed in first-century
Palestine, this work will be required reading for those involved in
dialogue today and will enhance any course that deals with
ecumenism and contemporary ecclesiology. Gesa Thiessen has
performed an important service to the theological community in
bringing this work into being. It ‘sends forth’ a message of truly
good news concerning the kingdom of God to a world so in need of
such--apostolic and prophetic indeed."
-Gerard Mannion
University of San Diego
Product Details
- Title : Apostolic and Prophetic: Ecclesiological Perspectives
- Author: Thiessen, Gesa E.
- Publisher: Cascade Books
- Publication Date: 2011
- ISBN: 9781630874124
Gesa Thiessen lectures in systematic theology at Milltown Institute of Theology and Philosophy, and Mater Dei Institute, Dublin, and is an Honorary Fellow of the Department of Theology and Religious Studies of the University of Wales, Lampeter. She has published several books including, among others, Ecumenical Ecclesiology (2009), Theological Aesthetics: A Reader (2004), and Theology and Modern Irish Art (1999).