Pentecostal Communion Ecclesiology

An Ecumenical Proposal

Series: 

Koinonia has become the standard by which any biblically founded ecclesiology is measured. It serves as the foundation upon which ecumenical dialogue concerning the nature and purpose of the Church is built. Universal communion ecclesiology has emerged as increasingly prominent within the ecumenical movement, and many now consider it the foundation of ecumenism and of ecclesiological discourse. Communion ecclesiology has proven popular not only in Faith and Order Papers on the Church, originating in the World Council of Churches, but also in a number of bilateral dialogues and among noteworthy theologians across the ecumenical spectrum. Unfortunately, Pentecostal theologians have neither readily embraced this concept of the Church nor entered into the theological discourse in meaningful ways of significant impact. Few Pentecostal theologians have entered the conversation at all. The relative lack of attention to the subject by Pentecostal theologians demonstrates the significant need for this study. This study discusses the relevance of communion ecclesiology to both the ecumenical movement and Pentecostalism. It examines the ecclesiological views of Simon Chan, Miroslav Volf, and Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen, exploring how they help facilitate a more robust Pentecostal ecclesiology that has the capacity to engage in ecumenical dialogue.
Copyright Year:
2026
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978-90-04-75074-6
Publication:
13 Apr 2026
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ISBN:
978-90-04-75073-9
Publication:
14 May 2026
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Allison S. MacGregor, PhD (2023), Evangel University, is Associate Dean of Social Sciences and Associate Professor of Core Studies at Redeemer University, with expertise in the areas of Pentecostal ecclesiology and ecumenism. She is currently appointed to a number of ecumenical initiatives, including the national dialogue between the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada and the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, as well as the Faith & Order Commission of the World Council of Churches.
Acknowledgements

Introduction

1 The Community as Koinonia: Biblical Foundations
 1 Theological Challenges and Presuppositions Related to Koinonia
 2 Koinonia in the Beginning
 3 Koinonia in the Covenant(s)
 4 Koinonia in the Qāhāl
 5 Koinonia in the Septuagint
 6 Koinonia in the New Testament: an Introduction
 7 Koinonia in the New Testament: Ecclesia
 8 Koinonia and the Triune Context of John
 9 Koinonia in Acts
 10 Koinonia in Pauline Literature
 11 Images of Koinonia
 12 Imperfect Koinonia
 13 Perfect Koinonia
 14 Conclusion

2 Communion Ecclesiology: Ecumenical Foundations
 1 Lorelei F. Fuchs
 2 Dennis M. Doyle
 3 World Council of Churches
 4 Pentecostals and Ecumenism
  4.1 Lutheran-Anglican Dialogue
 5 Significant Bilateral Dialogues
  5.1 Anglican-Roman Catholic Dialogue
  5.2 Lutheran-Roman Catholic
  5.3 Lutheran-Reformed Dialogue
  5.4 Anglican-Orthodox Dialogue
  5.5 Methodist-Roman Catholic Dialogue
  5.6 Baptist-Roman Catholic Dialogue
  5.7 Pentecostal-Roman Catholic Dialogue
   5.7.1 The First Quinquennium (1972–1977)
   5.7.2 The Second Quinquennium (1978–1982)
   5.7.3 The Third Quinquennium (1985–1989)
   5.7.4 The Fourth Quinquennium (1990–1997)
   5.7.5 The Fifth Quinquennium (1998–2006)
 6 Contemporary Issues

3 Simon Chan
 1 Major Publications
 2 Theological Method
 3 The Foundation of Spiritual Theology
 4 Communion Ecclesiology
 5 Signs of a Sacramental Community
 6 Traditioning
 7 The Liturgical Community
 8 Pentecostal Ecclesiology: “The Last Unexplored Dogmatic Frontier”
 9 Significant Contributions: a Brief Summary
 10 Simon Chan: a Critique
 11 Conclusion

4 Miroslav Volf
 1 Major Publications
 2 Theological Method
 3 Volf’s Free Church Ecclesiology: an Overview
 4 Foundations of Free Church Ecclesiology
 5 Volf’s Dialogue with Ratzinger
 6 Volf’s Dialogue with Zizioulas
 7 Ecclesiality
 8 Individualism versus Collectivism
 9 The Trinity and the Church
 10 The Charismatic Church
 11 The Free Church and Catholicity
 12 Volf’s Free Church Ecclesiology: a Critical Review
 13 Conclusion

5 Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen
 1 Major Publications
 2 Theological Method
 3 Convergence and Divergence in Ecclesiology
 4 Kärkkäinen and Zizioulas: Communion Ecclesiology
 5 Kärkkäinen and Küng: Charismatic Ecclesiology
 6 Kärkkäinen and Moltmann: Contemporary Ecclesiology
 7 Contextual Ecclesiology: the Non-Church Movement in Asia
 8 The Priesthood of All Believers
 9 The Charismatic Community
 10 The Trinitarian Foundation of the Church
 11 The Trinitarian Analogy of the Church
 12 The Nature of Koinonia: Local and Universal
 13 Contextual Communion Ecclesiology
 14 Communion and Mission
 15 The Ecumenical Nature of Mission
 16 Ecumenical Reception
 17 Conclusion

6 Toward a Constructive Pentecostal Communion Ecclesiology
 1 Toward a Constructive Pentecostal Communion Ecclesiology
 2 Koinonia
 3 Trinitarian Foundation
 4 Charismatic Structure
 5 Liturgical Communion
 6 Limitations
 7 Conclusion

Bibliography
Index
Theological Colleges and Universities, Theological Libraries, Humanities Libraries, Theology Students, Theologians, Ecumenists, Church/Denominational Leaders, Ecumenical Organizations.
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Publisher:
Brill
Language:
English
Pages:
x, 273 pp.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004750746

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