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THEOLOGY IN GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE SERIES

Peter C. Phan, General Editor

ECCLESIOLOGY
FOR A
GLOBAL CHURCH
A People Called and Sent

RICHARD R . GAILLARDETZ
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THEOLOGY IN GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE SERIES

Peter C. Phan, General Editor

Ignacio Ellacura Professor of Catholic Social Thought,
Georgetown University

At the beginning of a new millennium, the Theology in Global Perspective

Series responds to the challenge to re-examine the foundational and doc-
trinal themes of Christianity in light of the new global reality. While tra-
ditional Catholic theology has assumed an essentially European or Western
point of view, Theology in Global Perspective takes account of insights and
experience of churches in Africa, Asia, Latin America, Oceania, as well as
from Europe and North America. Noting the pervasiveness of changes
brought about by science and technologies, and growing concerns about
the sustainability of Earth, it seeks to embody insights from studies in these
areas as well.
Though rooted in the Catholic tradition, volumes in the series are writ-
ten with an eye to the ecumenical implications of Protestant, Orthodox,
and Pentecostal theologies for Catholicism, and vice versa. In addition,
authors will explore insights from other religious traditions with the poten-
tial to enrich Christian theology and self-understanding.
Books in this series will provide reliable introductions to the major the-
ological topics, tracing their roots in Scripture and their development in
later tradition, exploring when possible the implications of new thinking on
gender and socio-cultural identities. And they will relate these themes to
the challenges confronting the peoples of the world in the wake of global-
ization, particularly the implications of Christian faith for justice, peace,
and the integrity of creation.

Other Books Published in the Series

Orders and Ministry: Leadership in a Global Church, Kenan B. Osborne, O.F.M.

Trinity: Nexus of the Mysteries of Christian Faith, Anne Hunt
Eschatology and Hope, Anthony Kelly, C.Ss.R.
Meeting Mystery: Liturgy, Worship, Sacraments, Nathan D. Mitchell
Creation, Grace, and Redemption, Neil Ormerod
Globalization, Spirituality, and Justice, Daniel C. Groody, C.S.C.
Christianity and Science: Toward a Theology of Nature, John F. Haught
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Founded in 1970, Orbis Books endeavors to publish works that enlighten the mind, nour-
ish the spirit, and challenge the conscience. The publishing arm of the Maryknoll Fathers
and Brothers, Orbis seeks to explore the global dimensions of the Christian faith and
mission, to invite dialogue with diverse cultures and religious traditions, and to serve the
cause of reconciliation and peace. The books published reflect the opinions of their authors
and are not meant to represent the official position of the Maryknoll Society. To obtain
more information about Maryknoll and Orbis Books, please visit our website at www.
maryknoll.org.

Copyright 2008 by Richard R. Gaillardetz.

Published by Orbis Books, Maryknoll, New York, U.S.A.
All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means,
electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage or
retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the publishers. For permissions,
write to Orbis Books, P. O. Box 308, Maryknoll NY 10545-0308, U.S.A.

Manufactured in the United States of America.

Library of Congress Cataloguing in Publication Data

Gaillardetz, Richard R., 1958-

Ecclesiology for a global church : a people called and sent / Richard
R. Gaillardetz.
p. cm. (Theology in global perspective)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-1-57075-769-3
1. Church. 2. Catholic ChurchDoctrines. I. Title.
BX1746.G324 2008
262'.02dc22
2007039092
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Contents

Foreword by Peter C. Phan xi

Preface xiii
Abbreviations xxiii
1. A People Called to Community 1
Early Yahwisms UEnderstanding of Community 1
Ambivalence about Monarchy 5
Prophetic Calls to Return to Covenant Community 7
Israels Response to the Exile 9
Israel under Hellenistic and Roman Domination 11
The Beginnings of the Jesus Movement 13
From Jesus Movement to Church 19
Pauls Ecclesiological Vision 19
Other Pauline Ecclesiological Trajectories 22
Other New Testament Visions of Christian Community 23
Structuring of Ministry in the Churches of the
New Testament 28
Questions for Reection 33
Suggestions for Further Reading and Study 34

2. A People Sent in Mission 35

Catholicity in the Biblical Tradition 36
Catholicity and the Early Missionary Orientation
of the Church 39
Catholicity Reduced 42
Early Challenges to the Conquest Paradigm of Church
Mission 43
The Development of the Churchs Siege Mentality 46
The Gradual Recovery of the Churchs Catholicity 47
Early-Twentieth-Century Developments regarding
the Relationship between Church and Culture 48
Vatican IIs Shift to a More Dialogical Conception of
Church 49
Vatican IIs Teaching on the Catholicity of the Church 51
Postconciliar Developments 57
Catholicity in a Postmodern Church 63
Whose Religion Is Christianity? 64
vii
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viii Contents

Catholicity as Intercultural Dialogue 68

The Asian Church as a Laboratory for the Becoming
of a Dialogical Church 75
Feminist Perspectives on the Catholicity of the Church 80
Questions for Reection 83
Suggestions for Further Reading and Study 83

3. A People Called to Communion 85

Church Local and Universal 86
Christian Unity at Risk in the First Millennium 89
Developing Church Structures in Service of the
Communion of the Churches 91
The Medieval Transition in Ecclesiological Foundations 94
The Devolution of a Eucharistic Ecclesiology 94
The Lay Investiture Controversy 96
Gratian and the Rise of Canon Law 97
The Emergence of a Hierocratic Ecclesiology 98
Conciliarism 99
Failed Attempts at Reunion between East and West 100
The Reformation and New Challenges to the Unity
of the Church 101
The Reformation and the Re-Imagination of Christian
Unity 102
Roman Catholic Unity from Trent to Vatican I 103
The Modern Impetus toward Christian Unity 105
The Second Vatican Council on the Unity of the Church 106
Other Ecumenical Contributions 115
The Church as a Global Communion of Local
Churches: Postconciliar Developments 117
An Important Debate on the Theology of the Local Church 118
Rediscovering a Theology of Local Church in the Global
South 119
The Global Signicance of Basic Ecclesial Communities 122
An African Ecclesiology of Communion: Church as
Family of God 126
Questions for Reection 130
Suggestions for Further Reading and Study 130

4. A People Called to Ministry 132

Teaching of Vatican II and Implications for Theology
of Ministry 132
Liturgical Ecclesiology of Vatican II and Implications for
Theology of Ministry 133
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Contents ix

The Rediscovery of Charism as a Ministerial Concept 136

A Basic Reorientation of Ordained Ministry 137
The Contributions and Limits of the Councils Theology
of Ministry 141
Ecumenical Developments toward a Common Theology
of Ministry 142
Ministry in a Postmodern Church 144
New Features in the Structure and Practice of Ministry 145
New Ministries in a Global Context 154
Toward a Constructive Theology of Ministry for a
Global Church 162
All Ministry Is Relational 162
Ministry and Mission 164
Complete Dismantling of the Cursus Honorum 167
Ministerial Accountability 168
Questions for Reection 171
Suggestions for Further Reading and Study 172

5. A People Called to Discipleship 173

Foundations of Christian Identity in the Early Church 173
The Origins and Development of the Lay/Clergy
Distinction 177
The Rise of Two Kinds of Christians 177
Late Medieval and Reformation Developments 180
Status of the Laity in Eastern Christianity 182
Catholic Views of Laity on the Eve of Vatican II 183
Recovery of the Priority of Baptism, Discipleship, and
Mission at Vatican II 184
Reimagining a Holy Church 184
Baptismal Ordering of the Community of Disciples 186
The Priesthood of the Faithful 188
Baptism and Mission 189
The Church Is the New People of God 190
Discipleship in a Global Church 190
One Vocation or Many? 196
The Community of Disciples as a Pilgrim Church 202
Conclusion 205
Questions for Reection 206
Suggestions for Further Reading and Study 206

6. A People Sustained by Memory 208

Apostolicity and a Theology of Tradition 210
Vatican II on Tradition 212
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x Contents

Vatican II on the Sensus Fidei 215

Apostolicity and Communal Memory 218
Biblical Conceptions of Memory 219
Transmission and Reception of Memory in the Life
of the Church 220
Apostolicty as Eschatological Memory 229
The Dangerous Memories of Jesus 230
Dogma and Doctrine in a New Key 233
The Functions of Creedal Statements in Early
Chrisianity 235
Finding Our Way between Consumer Catholicism and
Creeping Infallibility 236
Conclusion: Las Abejas and the Witness to the Power
of Christian Memory 243
Questions for Reection 247
Suggestions for Further Reading and Study 248

7. A People Led by a Ministry of Memory 249

The Emergence of an Apostolic Oce 249
Apostles in the New Testament 250
Emergence of a Stable Apostolic Oce in
the Postbiblical Period 252
Collegial Exercise of Apostolic Oce 255
Ecumenical Councils 256
Emerging Papal Oce 258
Medieval Shifts in the Nature of Apostolic Oce 259
Renewal of Apostolic Oce in the Modern Church 261
Vatican II on the Episcopate 262
Postconciliar Developments 264
Ecumenism and Apostolic Oce 267
The Oce of the Bishop in Service of the Catholicity of
the Churchs Memory 274
Strengthening Bonds Between Bishop and Local Church 276
Contemporary Examples of Bishops Serving the
Catholicity of the Churchs Memory 278
Regional Expressions of Episcopal Collegiality 281
Petrine Ministry in a Global Church 284
Questions for Reection 289
Suggestions for Further Reading and Study 289
Conclusion 290
Select Bibliography 295
Index 307