Questioning Authority - The Theology and Practice of Authority in the Episcopal Church and Anglican Communion

Questioning Authority analyzes current conflicts concerning authority in the Anglican church and offers a new framework for addressing them. It argues that authority in the church is fundamentally relational rather than juridical. All members of the church have authority to engage in discerning the church's identity, direction, and mission. Most of this authority is exercised in personal interactions and group practices of consultation and direction. Formal authority in the church confers power so responsibilities can be fulfilled. Church relations always include conflict, which may be creative and helpful rather than divisive. Conflict arises because persons and groups follow Christ in ways related to their own cultural context while also being in communion with others. Communion in the church requires embracing diversity, recognizing and respecting others' perspectives, and working together to discover and create common ground. Today's church needs more participatory forms of governance and decision-making that are conciliar and synodal.

List of contents

Michael B. Curry: Foreword - Acknowledgments - Abbreviations - Introduction: Communion Challenged - Impaired Communion - The Highest Degree of Communion Possible - Questioning Authority - Power, Responsibility, and Authority - Differentiated Authority - Relational Theology - Catholicity and Conciliarity - Conclusions and Prospects - Index.

Report

"Ellen K. Wondra has done us an enormous service by taking on the vexing issue of Authority in the Anglican Communion. The theology, history, and contemporary story of Anglicanism's love-hate relationship with authority are carefully woven together in this substantial volume. Dr. Wondra argues for an understanding of authority which is relational and dispersed rather than juridical and focused. In such a system communion is experienced in diversity not in spite of it. This is a catholicity ordered in a 'conciliar economy' in which authority enhances communion while involving the whole body of the church in taking responsibility for its mission." Rt. Rev. C. Christopher Epting, Presiding Bishop's Deputy for Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations (Ret.)

Product details

• Authors: Ellen K Wondra, Ellen K. Wondra, Wondra Ellen K.
• Assisted by: C.K. Robertson (Editor), C.K. Robertson (Editor of the series)
• Publisher: Peter Lang
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 26.09.2018
• EAN: 9781433132162
• ISBN: 978-1-4331-3216-2
• No. of pages: 300
• Dimensions: 150 mm x 22 mm x 225 mm
• Weight: 522 g
• Series: Studies in Episcopal and Anglican Theology
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Religion/theology > Miscellaneous; RELIGION / General, Authority, Practice, Simpson, RELIGION / Institutions & Organizations, RELIGION / Theology, RELIGION / Christianity / History, RELIGION / Christian Ministry / Missions, RELIGION / Christian Ministry / Preaching, RELIGION / Christian Theology / Ecclesiology, Theology, Ellen, Communion, Church, Questioning, Christian leaders & leadership, Religious and spiritual figures, Anglican and Episcopalian Churches, Anglican & Episcopalian Churches, Church of England, Anglican, Meagan, Robertson, Episcopal, Wondra