Truth We Owe Each Other
Mutual Accountability in the Ecumenical Movement
Truth We Owe Each Other
Mutual Accountability in the Ecumenical Movement
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Publisher: World Council of Churches (WCC Publications)
ISBN: 9782825416815
Number of Pages: 364
Published: 31/07/2016
Width: 15.2 cm
Height: 22.9 cm
At the heart of the ecumenical fellowship stands a moral imperative, a kind of pledge by the churches to hold themselves and one another accountable in their faithfulness. Olav Fykse Tveit argues that this commitment binds each of the churches in fidelity to the larger communion, to the great Tradition, to scripture and the apostolic faith, as well as to the people they serve in the contemporary world.
An underappreciated dimension of the perennial quest for unity, mutual accountability functions as a key criterion for the quality of relations within the Christian fellowship. It defines the attitude of active responsibility and openness that churches bring to their fellowship and to their ecclesial self-understanding and renewal. It is a benchmark of their authenticity as churches in the ecumenical age.
Tveit’s rich study of the evolving concept of mutual accountability, especially as it figures in the work of Faith and Order over a fifty-year period, traces the growing conviction that ecumenism entails churches’ not simply being together and working together but also holding each other accountable for their genuineness as members of the body of Christ. “Attitudes of openness, constructive critical and self-critical approaches, repentance, reliability, commitment to the common calling and tasks, faithfulness, sharing, and indeed hope—these are all genuine and necessary attitudes in a fellowship that follows the crucified and risen Christ. The truth we owe one another lies in both our insights and our true life in community. . . .”
The Truth We Owe Each Other offers a theological underpinning to the work of church renewal and to the continued relevance for the churches’ work in the world.
An underappreciated dimension of the perennial quest for unity, mutual accountability functions as a key criterion for the quality of relations within the Christian fellowship. It defines the attitude of active responsibility and openness that churches bring to their fellowship and to their ecclesial self-understanding and renewal. It is a benchmark of their authenticity as churches in the ecumenical age.
Tveit’s rich study of the evolving concept of mutual accountability, especially as it figures in the work of Faith and Order over a fifty-year period, traces the growing conviction that ecumenism entails churches’ not simply being together and working together but also holding each other accountable for their genuineness as members of the body of Christ. “Attitudes of openness, constructive critical and self-critical approaches, repentance, reliability, commitment to the common calling and tasks, faithfulness, sharing, and indeed hope—these are all genuine and necessary attitudes in a fellowship that follows the crucified and risen Christ. The truth we owe one another lies in both our insights and our true life in community. . . .”
The Truth We Owe Each Other offers a theological underpinning to the work of church renewal and to the continued relevance for the churches’ work in the world.
Prologue
Chapter 1. Introduction1
The Scene, Perspective, and Focus of This StudyThe Thesis
Mutual Accountability: Toward a Preliminary Definition
Summary
Chapter 2. Ecumenical Attitudes and Premises for Ecumenical Ecclesiology: From Amsterdam (1948) to Montreal (1963)
The Significance of Attitudes in the Premises for the World Council of Churches
The Ecumenical Attitude of “The Fully Committed Fellowship”: The Statement on Unity (New Delhi 1961)
The Significance of Ecumenical Attitudes in the Preparations and Reports from Montreal (1963)
Summary: Ecumenical Attitudes as Premises in the Pioneer Phase of the WCC
Chapter 3. Mutual Accountability and Conciliar Fellowship: From Montreal (1963) to Canberra (1991)
A Universal Council, Conciliarity, and Conciliar Fellowship
Authoritative Teaching in Mutually Accountable Relations
Giving Account of Hope—in Accountability to Other Churches
The Convergence of the Document Baptism, Eucharist and Ministry (BEM): A Result of a Mutually Accountable Process
Toward a Manifestation of Mutual Accountability to the One, Apostolic Faith
Ecumenical Attitudes and the Unity of Church and Humankind
Conclusion: Mutual Accountability—An Intrinsic Element of Conciliar Fellowship
Chapter 4. Mutual Accountability and the Church as Koinonia (until 1998)
Mutual Accountability and the Coherence of Ecumenism
Mutual Accountability and Unity as Koinonia
The Role of Mutual Accountability in the Faith and Order “Ecclesiology” Study (1998)
The Report from the Faith and Order Study on Hermeneutics (1998)
The Common Understanding and Vision of the World Council of Churches
Summary: Mutual Accountability as Required Attitude toward Unity as Koinonia
Chapter 5. A Systematic-Theological Evaluation
A Brief Evaluation of the Outcome of the Analysis
Mutual Accountability as Ecumenical Attitude
“Relation” as Supplement to “Faith” and “Order”
A Definition of Mutual Accountability as Ecumenical Attitude
Bibliography
Chapter 1. Introduction1
The Scene, Perspective, and Focus of This StudyThe Thesis
Mutual Accountability: Toward a Preliminary Definition
Summary
Chapter 2. Ecumenical Attitudes and Premises for Ecumenical Ecclesiology: From Amsterdam (1948) to Montreal (1963)
The Significance of Attitudes in the Premises for the World Council of Churches
The Ecumenical Attitude of “The Fully Committed Fellowship”: The Statement on Unity (New Delhi 1961)
The Significance of Ecumenical Attitudes in the Preparations and Reports from Montreal (1963)
Summary: Ecumenical Attitudes as Premises in the Pioneer Phase of the WCC
Chapter 3. Mutual Accountability and Conciliar Fellowship: From Montreal (1963) to Canberra (1991)
A Universal Council, Conciliarity, and Conciliar Fellowship
Authoritative Teaching in Mutually Accountable Relations
Giving Account of Hope—in Accountability to Other Churches
The Convergence of the Document Baptism, Eucharist and Ministry (BEM): A Result of a Mutually Accountable Process
Toward a Manifestation of Mutual Accountability to the One, Apostolic Faith
Ecumenical Attitudes and the Unity of Church and Humankind
Conclusion: Mutual Accountability—An Intrinsic Element of Conciliar Fellowship
Chapter 4. Mutual Accountability and the Church as Koinonia (until 1998)
Mutual Accountability and the Coherence of Ecumenism
Mutual Accountability and Unity as Koinonia
The Role of Mutual Accountability in the Faith and Order “Ecclesiology” Study (1998)
The Report from the Faith and Order Study on Hermeneutics (1998)
The Common Understanding and Vision of the World Council of Churches
Summary: Mutual Accountability as Required Attitude toward Unity as Koinonia
Chapter 5. A Systematic-Theological Evaluation
A Brief Evaluation of the Outcome of the Analysis
Mutual Accountability as Ecumenical Attitude
“Relation” as Supplement to “Faith” and “Order”
A Definition of Mutual Accountability as Ecumenical Attitude
Bibliography
