How do you define church?

[tkhwong2005]

How do you define "church"? How does the definition(s) of church affects our view(s) of its functions, visions and missions?:)

[kit]

How do you define "church"? How does the definition(s) of church affects our view(s) of its functions, visions and missions?:)
I found this old classic book very helpful: Models of the Church (1974) by Avery Dulles, a Catholic Cardinal, teaching at Fordham in New York. His biographical info: http://www.fordham.edu/dulles/bio.htm

The TOC of the book:

1. The Use of Models in Ecclesiology
2. The Church as Institution
3. The Church as Mystical Communion
4. The Church as Sacrament
5. The Church as Herald
6. The Church as Servant
7. The Church and Eschatology
8. The True Church
9. The Church and the Churches
10. Ecclesiology and Ministry
11. The Church and Revelation
12. The Evaluation of Models

[tkhwong2005]

I found this old classic book very helpful: Models of the Church (1974) by Avery Dulles, a Catholic Cardinal, teaching at Fordham in New York. His biographical info: http://www.fordham.edu/dulles/bio.htm

The TOC of the book:

1. The Use of Models in Ecclesiology
2. The Church as Institution
3. The Church as Mystical Communion
4. The Church as Sacrament
5. The Church as Herald
6. The Church as Servant
7. The Church and Eschatology
8. The True Church
9. The Church and the Churches
10. Ecclesiology and Ministry
11. The Church and Revelation
12. The Evaluation of Models


It is quiet comprehensive in the definition of church. As I read this list, I realize it does not include church as missional community. Of course, this book is written by Catholic priest in the 70's. He might have different perspective on mission and church. However, I want to read this book first before I give any conclusions.

As I read these definitions, I can see different people can define church differently. It is rather interesting to see someone using same term with different or overlapping definition of this term. :D

[ABC]

It is quiet comprehensive in the definition of church. As I read this list, I realize it does not include church as missional community. Of course, this book is written by Catholic priest in the 70's. He might have different perspective on mission and church. However, I want to read this book first before I give any conclusions.

As I read these definitions, I can see different people can define church differently. It is rather interesting to see someone using same term with different or overlapping definition of this term. :D


我也讀過這書。我認為值得推介，第一章談論如何去談論教會，幾有趣。整體上這書很易讀。這書並非完全沒有談及Mission，我記得它好似在The Church as a Servant一章有提及，不過它卻出奇地沒有提到及教會面對靈界的爭戰例如驅魔等等事宜。這方面，靈恩運動就十分著重。

[kit]

It is quiet comprehensive in the definition of church. As I read this list, I realize it does not include church as missional community. Of course, this book is written by Catholic priest in the 70's. He might have different perspective on mission and church. However, I want to read this book first before I give any conclusions.

As I read these definitions, I can see different people can define church differently. It is rather interesting to see someone using same term with different or overlapping definition of this term. :D
我也讀過這書。我認為值得推介，第一章談論如何去談論教會，幾有趣。整體上這書很易讀。這書並非完全沒有談及Mission，我記得它好似在The Church as a Servant一章有提及，不過它卻出奇地沒有提到及教會面對靈界的爭戰例如驅魔等等事宜。這方面，靈恩運動就十分著重。I am glad that someone also likes this book. Even though Dulles is a Cardinal, his understanding of protestant thought is quite thorough. The book is actually about models of the Christian Church.

In terms of Mission, many chapters actually talk about it. Mission is viewed as a function of the church, but not as a model so there is no specific chapter to talk about it.

For example:

Ch. 2 The Church as Institution:
“On the contrary, the institutional model gives strong support to the missionary effort by which the Church goes out to nonmembers. But it seeks to save their souls precisely by bringing them into the institution.” (Image book, 1978, p.47)

Ch. 5. The Church as Herald – The whole chapter is about Mission.
“The model is kerygmatic, for it looks upon the Church as a herald – one who receives an official message with the commissioner to pass it on. The basic image is that of the herald of a king who comes to proclaim a royal decree in a public square… [quotes Richard McBrien] The mission of the Church is one of proclamation of the Word of God to the whole world. The Church cannot hold itself responsible for the failure of men to accept it as God’s Word; it has only to proclaim it with integrity and persistence. All else is secondary…” (ibid, p.81) The chapter is based on Karl Barth and Bultmann. Talking about Barth on Church, Han Kung’s The Church is another must-read book for those who are serious about Church.

“In his book, The Church, Kung has a very characteristic section entitled, ‘The Eschatological Community of Salvation’. He finds that the biblical term ekklesia means those summoned by a herald, those who have been called out (ek-kletoi).” (ibid., p. 83)

Note: Kung’s Ph.D. dissertation is on Barth’s Justification by Faith.

Other chapters: The Church as Servant (ch. 6); The Church and Eschatology(ch. 7); Ecclesiology and Ministry(ch. 10). All have some discussion about Mission.

I bought this book in New York for about $2 in mid-80s. In Edmonton, I have been some used bookstores where you might be able to find this book. All in all, it’s a classic, highly recommended.