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.
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
â1 Theological Challenges and Presuppositions Related to Koinonia
â2 Koinonia in the Beginning
â3 Koinonia in the Covenant(s)
â4 Koinonia in the QÄhÄl
â5 Koinonia in the Septuagint
â6 Koinonia in the New Testament: an Introduction
â7 Koinonia in the New Testament: Ecclesia
â8 Koinonia and the Triune Context of John
â9 Koinonia in Acts
â10 Koinonia in Pauline Literature
â11 Images of Koinonia
â12 Imperfect Koinonia
â13 Perfect Koinonia
â14 Conclusion
2 Communion Ecclesiology: Ecumenical Foundations
â1 Lorelei F. Fuchs
â2 Dennis M. Doyle
â3 World Council of Churches
â4 Pentecostals and Ecumenism
ââ4.1 Lutheran-Anglican Dialogue
â5 Significant Bilateral Dialogues
ââ5.1 Anglican-Roman Catholic Dialogue
ââ5.2 Lutheran-Roman Catholic
ââ5.3 Lutheran-Reformed Dialogue
ââ5.4 Anglican-Orthodox Dialogue
ââ5.5 Methodist-Roman Catholic Dialogue
ââ5.6 Baptist-Roman Catholic Dialogue
ââ5.7 Pentecostal-Roman Catholic Dialogue
âââ5.7.1 The First Quinquennium (1972â1977)
âââ5.7.2 The Second Quinquennium (1978â1982)
âââ5.7.3 The Third Quinquennium (1985â1989)
âââ5.7.4 The Fourth Quinquennium (1990â1997)
âââ5.7.5 The Fifth Quinquennium (1998â2006)
â6 Contemporary Issues
3 Simon Chan
â1 Major Publications
â2 Theological Method
â3 The Foundation of Spiritual Theology
â4 Communion Ecclesiology
â5 Signs of a Sacramental Community
â6 Traditioning
â7 The Liturgical Community
â8 Pentecostal Ecclesiology: âThe Last Unexplored Dogmatic Frontierâ
â9 Significant Contributions: a Brief Summary
â10 Simon Chan: a Critique
â11 Conclusion
4 Miroslav Volf
â1 Major Publications
â2 Theological Method
â3 Volfâs Free Church Ecclesiology: an Overview
â4 Foundations of Free Church Ecclesiology
â5 Volfâs Dialogue with Ratzinger
â6 Volfâs Dialogue with Zizioulas
â7 Ecclesiality
â8 Individualism versus Collectivism
â9 The Trinity and the Church
â10 The Charismatic Church
â11 The Free Church and Catholicity
â12 Volfâs Free Church Ecclesiology: a Critical Review
â13 Conclusion
5 Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen
â1 Major Publications
â2 Theological Method
â3 Convergence and Divergence in Ecclesiology
â4 Kärkkäinen and Zizioulas: Communion Ecclesiology
â5 Kärkkäinen and Küng: Charismatic Ecclesiology
â6 Kärkkäinen and Moltmann: Contemporary Ecclesiology
â7 Contextual Ecclesiology: the Non-Church Movement in Asia
â8 The Priesthood of All Believers
â9 The Charismatic Community
â10 The Trinitarian Foundation of the Church
â11 The Trinitarian Analogy of the Church
â12 The Nature of Koinonia: Local and Universal
â13 Contextual Communion Ecclesiology
â14 Communion and Mission
â15 The Ecumenical Nature of Mission
â16 Ecumenical Reception
â17 Conclusion
6 Toward a Constructive Pentecostal Communion Ecclesiology
â1 Toward a Constructive Pentecostal Communion Ecclesiology
â2 Koinonia
â3 Trinitarian Foundation
â4 Charismatic Structure
â5 Liturgical Communion
â6 Limitations
â7 Conclusion