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St Cyprian's Understanding of Synodality As Inclusive of the Laity

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St Cyprian's Understanding of Synodality As Inclusive of the Laity St Cyprian’s Understanding of Synodality as Inclusive of the Laity By Kenneth Tapiwa Macharaga BTheol, GDTheol, MTh A Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Theology (by Research) University of Divinity 2020 ii Abstract Synodality, is an old concept in the Church, but has recently, with the papacy of Pope Francis (2013-), taken centre stage. The Pope is known for his insistence on a synodal Church for the third millennium: a Church in which the pope, bishops, priests, and laity, journey together, listening to what the Holy Spirit is saying to the Church. This thesis approaches the dialogue on synodality from historical and literary lenses by exploring the letters of St Cyprian and examining how the bishop of Carthage (248/9-258) understood the importance of the engagement of all members of the Church in dealing with issues of conflict. The ten years of his exercise of the office of bishop were tumultuous for the Christian Church, and more so for the bishops who had to deal with the disturbances arising from the first universal persecution instigated upon the Church by the Emperor Decius (249- 251). The confusion resulting from the return of those who had lapsed and wishing to be readmitted into the Church, as well as Cyprian’s own personal vendettas with members of his clergy, demanded tact and discernment. This thesis will argue that despite the mounting pressure exerted on Cyprian while in exile and after, as well as his handling of conflicts in neighbouring churches, especially when faced with issues to do with recalcitrant bishops and election of bishops, common consensus took pride of place. Although he does not present a developed theology of the laity, the role he granted them in the synodal process, and the election of bishops marks a distinctive feature in his governance and offers much to contemporary ecclesiology. While our times are different and while Cyprian is regarded as the father of episcopacy par excellence, he was first and foremost a bishop who understood that the Church consisted of the whole people, and as such, resolution of conflicts demanded the participation of all people. iii Declaration of originality I hereby certify that a) the thesis submitted for examination is the result of my own work. b) all sources on which the thesis is based, and any assistance received in completing the thesis have been acknowledged in the scholarly apparatus. c) no material in the thesis has been copied or purchased or written by someone other than me. Kenneth Tapiwa Macharaga. iv To Dr Claire Nyandoro who introduced me to Church History. RIP Gogo. And to my Father, MD Macharaga, who made me love history. v Acknowledgement I would like to thank all those, who, during my program in Australia, have helped me immensely in coming up with a proposal and completing it. My heartfelt thanks go to my supervisors Matthew Beckmann and Adam Cooper, whose tireless efforts ensured a worthwhile completion. I am also grateful for the collaboration between the Redemptorist units of Zimbabwe and Australia-Oceania in allowing me to pursue this path. Thanks also to the ever-vigilant UD librarians, and all members of the Redemptorist Kew community, past and present. Your wisdom, patience and community spirit are greatly appreciated. vi Contents INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................. 1 Key Terms ........................................................................................................................................... 3 Synod/Synodality ................................................................................................................................ 3 Heresy/schism ..................................................................................................................................... 6 Plebs, laici, populus ............................................................................................................................ 8 CHAPTER ONE: HISTORICAL BACKGROUND ............................................................................ 10 Christianity in Roman Carthage ........................................................................................................ 10 Cyprian .............................................................................................................................................. 17 Cyprian’s Corpus .............................................................................................................................. 20 The Decian Edict ............................................................................................................................... 21 The Impact ........................................................................................................................................ 23 And Many Fell .................................................................................................................................. 26 CHAPTER TWO: THE LONG EXILE ................................................................................................ 28 The Decian Correspondence ............................................................................................................. 29 April to July Letters .......................................................................................................................... 32 The Early Summer to Late-summer Letters ...................................................................................... 36 Roman Diplomacy/Enter Rome ........................................................................................................ 36 Along came Lucianus ....................................................................................................................... 41 Consequences of Lucianus’ Actions ................................................................................................. 42 Mob Psychology ............................................................................................................................... 44 What next? ........................................................................................................................................ 48 The Winter Letters: About excommunications, supplements, and visions ....................................... 50 A Homecoming? ............................................................................................................................... 51 An Assessment of the period ............................................................................................................ 53 CHAPTER THREE: THE SYNOD OF 251 ......................................................................................... 56 General Summary of Events ............................................................................................................. 57 Unpacking the Event ......................................................................................................................... 58 Epistle 55 and the Synod ................................................................................................................... 62 Resolutions: A Healthy Compromise ............................................................................................... 63 Process .............................................................................................................................................. 69 The Roman Report ............................................................................................................................ 73 Numbers Matter ................................................................................................................................ 75 An Assessment .................................................................................................................................. 79 CHAPTER FOUR: THE LAITY IN THE ELECTION OF BISHOPS ................................................ 83 The role of the laity in relation to Cyprian’s ecclesiology ................................................................ 84 vii Epistle 43: An appeal to ‘the whole people’ – plebi uniuersae ........................................................ 88 Epistle 44 and 45: The Roman Schism ............................................................................................. 89 Epistle 55: In Defence of Cornelius .................................................................................................. 90 Epistle 66: To Florentius, also called Puppianus .............................................................................. 92 Epistle 68 and 67: Replacing Bishops ............................................................................................... 94 Suffragium ........................................................................................................................................ 99 An Assessment ................................................................................................................................ 101 GENERAL SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION ................................................................................ 103 Bibliography ................................................................................................................................... 107 Table detailing Cyprian’s letters. ...................................................................................................
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