DOCSLIB.ORG

Extending Story Listening As a Practice of Communal Formation at the Lake Orion Church of Christ Eric R

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Extending Story Listening As a Practice of Communal Formation at the Lake Orion Church of Christ Eric R Abilene Christian University Digital Commons @ ACU Doctor of Ministry Project/Theses Doctor of Ministry Summer 8-2012 Extending Story Listening as a Practice of Communal Formation at the Lake Orion Church of Christ Eric R. Magnusson [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.acu.edu/dmin_theses Part of the Biblical Studies Commons, Christian Denominations and Sects Commons, Christianity Commons, Critical and Cultural Studies Commons, Ethics in Religion Commons, Leadership Studies Commons, Liturgy and Worship Commons, Missions and World Christianity Commons, Organizational Communication Commons, Practical Theology Commons, Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion Commons, Rhetoric Commons, and the Speech and Rhetorical Studies Commons Recommended Citation Magnusson, Eric R., "Extending Story Listening as a Practice of Communal Formation at the Lake Orion Church of Christ" (2012). Doctor of Ministry Project/Theses. 4. https://digitalcommons.acu.edu/dmin_theses/4 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Doctor of Ministry at Digital Commons @ ACU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Doctor of Ministry Project/Theses by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ ACU. ABSTRACT This doctor of ministry thesis presents the results of a project that explores the potential for extending a practice of story listening as a way of forming community across social circles at the Lake Orion Church of Christ in Lake Orion, Michigan. The intervention involved guiding a group of six participant-researchers, each of whom had previous experience in story listening, through six sessions in the fall of 2011. Each phase of the project was informed by a participatory social Trinitarian theology. The first three sessions were designed to empower participant-researcher pairs to facilitate story listening groups of four to five people from different social levels in the congregation. After the first three sessions, the pairs facilitated three weekly meetings of their own story listening groups. The final three sessions were designed for reflection, employing insights from grounded theory and hermeneutic phenomenology to assess the week’s experiences within each story listening group and to discover the emerging theory regarding the potential of story listening at the Lake Orion Church. Evaluation of the project revealed three key insights: (1) story listening leads to solidarity, both by connecting individuals to others and by shattering the judgmental assumptions and preconceptions listeners have about others; 2) listening is vital to communal formation; 3) story listening levels the social playing field in the group and exposes the myth of closeness that persists in congregations. EXTENDING STORY LISTENING AS A PRACTICE OF COMMUNAL FORMATION AT THE LAKE ORION CHURCH OF CHRIST A Thesis Presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School of Theology Abilene Christian University Abilene, Texas In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Ministry By Eric R. Magnusson August 2012 TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION.................................................................................. 1 Title of Project .................................................................................................. 2 Ethnographic History of LOCC........................................................................ 3 1950s-1960s: A Neighborhood Church Plant....................................... 3 1960s-1990s: Growth of a Family Church ........................................... 5 2000-2010: Growth, Transition, and Social Circles ............................. 7 Current Church Situation and Focus: A Church in Revitalization ..... 15 Statement of the Problem/Opportunity........................................................... 19 Statement of the Purpose ................................................................................ 20 Basic Assumptions.......................................................................................... 21 Definitions ...................................................................................................... 21 Delimitations................................................................................................... 24 Conclusion ...................................................................................................... 24 CHAPTER II: THEOLOGY....................................................................................... 25 God’s Life in Trinity, Part 1: Cappadocian Trinitarian Reflections ............... 26 Historical Background to the Cappadocians’ Work ........................... 26 Arius and the Council of Nicaea............................................. 27 The Aftermath of Nicaea ........................................................ 28 Emerging Opponents and Lingering Perspectives.................. 31 Eunomians .................................................................. 32 Sabellians.................................................................... 33 Macedonians ............................................................... 34 The Cappadocians’ Trinitarian Vision................................................ 35 Historical Revelation of God and a Narratival Trinitarian Ontology ................................................................................. 37 Communion and Personhood: The Trinity as Profoundly Interrelated Communion......................................................... 39 The Unity of God in Trinity........................................ 40 The Diversity of God in Trinity.................................. 42 Trinitarian “Relations,” Inseparable Operation, and the Divine Economy ............................................................... 45 God’s Life in Trinity, Part 2: Developing a Contemporary Trinitarian Practice of Participation................................................................................................ 49 Jürgen Moltmann’s Social Doctrine of the Trinity............................. 51 The Trinitarian History of God............................................... 52 Perichoresis and Trinitarian Relations of Fellowship............. 55 God’s Openness to Humanity and the World ......................... 57 Extension to the World ........................................................... 59 A Narrative-Relational Theology of Participation.............................. 59 Story Listening as a Practice of a Trinitarian Theology of Participation ................................................................... 66 Conclusion ...................................................................................................... 68 CHAPTER III: METHODOLOGY ............................................................................ 70 Project Methodology....................................................................................... 71 The Practice of Story Listening: A Methodological Description ....... 73 Study Participants ............................................................................... 73 Inside Group: Participant-Researchers ................................... 73 Non-participant Observer ....................................................... 75 Outside Group: Story Listening Participants.......................... 75 Description of Ministry Intervention .................................................. 76 Session 1: “Knowing the Social God”.................................... 77 Session 2: “Finding Our Life in the Story of God” ................ 80 Session 3: “Story Listening: Empowering to Facilitate, Observe, and Reflect” ............................................................. 82 Sessions 4 through 6: “From Experience to Understanding”................................................................... 83 Evaluation Methodology................................................................................. 85 Procedures for Data Collection........................................................... 86 Researcher Perspective: Personal Field Notes........................ 86 Insider Perspective: Participant-Researcher Field Notes and Reflections .............................................................................. 87 Outsider Perspective: Semistructured Group Interview ......... 88 Procedures for Data Interpretation...................................................... 89 Conclusion ...................................................................................................... 91 CHAPTER IV: FINDINGS AND RESULTS ............................................................ 93 Statement and Description of Evaluation Results........................................... 94 Researcher’s Perspective .................................................................... 94 Solidarity Experienced through Story..................................... 95 Listening and Relational Communal Formation..................... 98 Expanding the Tradition: God-talk and Blessing ................. 101 Participant-Researchers’ Insider Perspective.................................... 102 Solidarity through Story Listening ....................................... 102 Listening and Preconception................................................. 105 Story Listening, the Social Playing Field, and the “Myth of Closeness”............................................................. 105 Story Listening Group Participants’ Outside Perspective ................ 107 Cultivating Relationships God Intends................................
Load more

Recommended publications
  • John Behr, Professor of Patristics, St
    Lecture by John Behr, Professor of Patristics, St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary, Yonkers, NY Saturday, December 7, 2019 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. john behr John Behr is Professor of Patristics at St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary in Yonkers, New York, where he teaches courses in Patristics, Dogmatics and Scriptural Exegesis. He also teaches at Fordham University, where he is the Distinguished Lecturer in Patristics. John hails from England, though his family background is Russian and German. After completing his first degree in Philosophy in London in 1987, John spent a year studying in Greece. He finished his M.Phil. in Eastern Christian Studies at Oxford University where he also completed his doctoral work. While working on his doctorate, he was invited to be a Visiting Lecturer at St. Vladimir's Seminary in 1993, where he has been a faculty member since 1995. Before becoming Dean in 2007, he served as editor of St. Vladimir's Theological Quarterly, and he still edits the Popular Patristics Series for SVS Press. John has been invited to speak all over the world and in all sorts of contexts, from a conference of Coptic bishops outside of Cairo to Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, with parish retreats all around the USA, as well as academic conferences from Oxford to Madrid to Chicago. Behr's early work was on asceticism and anthropology, focusing on St. Irenaeus of Lyons and Clement of Alexandria (2000). He is writing a series of books on "The Formation of Christian Theology," two volumes of which have already appeared: vol.
    [Show full text]
  • Orthodox Books
    Orthodox Books Orthodoxy:Introductions and Overviews Ancient Faith Topical Series Booklets Cclick here^ The Cambridge Companion to Orthodox Christian Theology - Cambridge Companions to Religion, Mary Cunningham & Elizabeth Theokritoff Eastern Orthodox Christianity: A Western Perspective, Daniel B. Clendenin Encountering the Mystery: Understanding Orthodox Christianity Today, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Introducing Eastern Orthodox Theology, Fr Andrew Louth Introducing the Orthodox Church-Its Faith and Life, Fr. Anthony Coniaris The Orthodox Church: An Introduction to its History, Doctrine, and Spiritual Culture, Fr John McGuckin The Orthodox Faith Series, Fr Thomas Hopko The Orthodox Way, Metropolitan Kallistos Ware Doctrine After Death, Vassilios Bakoyiannis The Deification of Man, Georgios Mantzaridis The Mystery of Christ, Fr. John Behr The Mystery of Death, Nikolaos Vassiliadis The Mystical Theology of the Eastern Church, Fr Vladimir Lossky The Nicene Faith, vols 1 and 11, Fr. John Behr Church History The Christian Tradition 2: The Spirit ofEastern Christendom 600-1700,Jaroslav Pelikan The Great Church in Captivity: A Study of the Patriarchate of Constantinople from the Eve of the Turkish Conquest to the Greek War ofIndependence, Steven Runciman History of the Byzantine State, George Ostrogorsky The Lives of Orthodox Saints, Ormylia Monastery The Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Kallistos Ware Liturgy and Sacraments The Divine Liturgy: A Commentary in the Light of the Fathers, Hieromonk Gregorios and Elizabeth Theokritoff The Eucharist:
    [Show full text]
  • The Real Presence of Christ in Scripture: a Sacramental Approach to the Old Testament
    The Real Presence of Christ in Scripture: A Sacramental Approach to the Old Testament by Geoffrey Boyle A Thesis submitted to the Faculty of Wycliffe College and Graduate Centre for Theological Studies of the Toronto School of Theology In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Theology awarded by the University of St. Michael's College © Copyright by Geoffrey Boyle 2019 The Real Presence of Christ in Scripture: A Sacramental Approach to the Old Testament Geoffrey Robert Boyle Doctor of Philosophy in Theology University of St. Michael's College 2019 Abstract Of the various sense-making attempts to understand the relation of Christ to the Old Testament over the last century, there is a noticeable absence of any substantial presence. Christ is prophesied, witnessed, predicted, typified, and prefigured; but apart from a few alleged christophanic appearances, he is largely the subject of another, historically subsequent Testament. This thesis surveys the christological approaches to the Old Testament since the early 20th century breach made within historicism, introduces a patristic mindset, proposes an ontological foundation to a sacramental (real-presence) approach, then demonstrates this through a reading of Zechariah 9-14. The goal is to bring together three arenas of study—exegetical, historical, theological—and demonstrate how their united lens clarifies the substantial referent of Scripture, namely Christ. The character of the OT witness is thus presented in christological terms, suggesting a reading that recognizes the divine person within the text itself, at home in the sensus literalis. By way of analogy to the Cyrillian hypostatic union and a Lutheran eucharistic comprehension, the task is to show how one encounters the hypostasis of Christ by means of the text’s literal sense.
    [Show full text]
  • (In Spirit): Wealth and Poverty in the Writings of the Greek Christian Fathers of the Second Century
    Utah State University DigitalCommons@USU All Graduate Theses and Dissertations Graduate Studies 8-2021 Blessed Are the Poor (in Spirit): Wealth and Poverty in the Writings of the Greek Christian Fathers of the Second Century Jacob D. Hayden Utah State University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd Part of the Ancient History, Greek and Roman through Late Antiquity Commons Recommended Citation Hayden, Jacob D., "Blessed Are the Poor (in Spirit): Wealth and Poverty in the Writings of the Greek Christian Fathers of the Second Century" (2021). All Graduate Theses and Dissertations. 8181. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/8181 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Studies at DigitalCommons@USU. It has been accepted for inclusion in All Graduate Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@USU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. BLESSED ARE THE POOR (IN SPIRIT): WEALTH AND POVERTY IN THE WRITINGS OF THE GREEK CHRISTIAN FATHERS OF THE SECOND CENTURY by Jacob D. Hayden A thesis submitted in partiaL fuLfiLLment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS in Ancient Languages and CuLtures Approved: _______________________ _____________________ Mark Damen, Ph.D. Norman Jones, Ph.D. Major Professor Committee Member _______________________ ______________________ Eliza Rosenberg, Ph.D. Patrick Q. Mason, Ph.D. Committee Member Committee Member ________________________________ D. Richard CutLer, Ph.D. Interim Vice Provost of Graduate Studies UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY Logan, Utah 2021 ii Copyright © Jacob D. Hayden 2021 All Rights Reserved iii ABSTRACT Blessed Are the Poor (in Spirit): Wealthy and Poverty in the Writings of the Greek Christian Fathers of the Second Century by Jacob D.
    [Show full text]
  • The Importance of Athanasius and the Views of His Character
    The Importance of Athanasius and the Views of His Character J. Steven Davis Submitted to Dr. Jerry Sutton School of Divinity Liberty University September 19, 2017 TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter I: Research Proposal Abstract .............................................................................................................................11 Background ......................................................................................................................11 Limitations ........................................................................................................................18 Method of Research .........................................................................................................19 Thesis Statement ..............................................................................................................21 Outline ...............................................................................................................................21 Bibliography .....................................................................................................................27 Chapter II: Background of Athanasius An Influential Figure .......................................................................................................33 Early Life ..........................................................................................................................33 Arian Conflict ...................................................................................................................36
    [Show full text]
  • St Vladimir's Seminary Press
    winter catalog 2011 - 2 0 1 2 q St Vladimir’s Seminary Press Our popular patristics series provides readable and accurate translations of a wide range of early Christian literature to a wide audience—students of Christian history to lay Christians reading for spiritual benefit. Recognized scholars in their fields provide short popular patristics series but comprehensive and clear introductions to the material. number 43 Works on the Spirit new releases a new translation athanasius the great popular patristics series and didymus the blind numbers 44a & 44b Translated by Mark DelCogliano, Andrew Radde-Gallwitz & Lewis Ayres On the Incarnation In the second half of the fourth century the mystery of the Holy Spirit was the subject of fierce debate. Those who fought against the Saint athanasius Nicene creed opposed the idea that the Spirit was God. Even some of Translated by John Behr • Introduction by C. S. Lewis those willing to accept the equality of Father and Son saw the Spirit svs press as more angelic than divine. By any standard, this is a classic of Christian theology. Composed by The first great testament to the Spirit’s divinity—showing how St Athanasius in the fourth century, it expounds with simplicity the the Spirit creates and saves inseparably with Father and Son— theological vision defended at the Councils of Nicaea and Constan- is Athanasius’s Letters to Serapion. Only a few years later, Didymus tinople: that the Son of God himself became fully human, so that we the Blind penned his own On the Holy Spirit, which is here translated might become god.
    [Show full text]
  • Justin Martyr, Irenaeus of Lyons, and Cyprian of Carthage on Suffering: A
    LIBERTY UNIVERSITY JUSTIN MARTYR, IRENAEUS OF LYONS, AND CYPRIAN OF CARTHAGE ON SUFFERING: A COMPARATIVE AND CRITICAL STUDY OF THEIR WORKS THAT CONCERN THE APOLOGETIC USES OF SUFFERING IN EARLY CHRISTIANITY A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF THE RAWLINGS SCHOOL OF DIVINITY IN CANDIDACY FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY THEOLOGY AND APOLOGETICS BY AARON GLENN KILBOURN LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA AUGUST 2017 Copyright © 2017 by Aaron Glenn Kilbourn All Rights Reserved ii APPROVAL SHEET JUSTIN MARTYR, IRENAEUS OF LYONS, AND CYPRIAN OF CARTHAGE ON SUFFERING: A COMPARATIVE AND CRITICAL STUDY OF THEIR WORKS THA CONCERN THE APOLOGETIC USES OF SUFFERING IN EARLY CHRISTIANITY Aaron Glenn Kilbourn Read and approved by: Chairperson: _____________________________ Reader: _____________________________ Reader: _____________________________ Date: _____________________________ iii To my wife, Michelle, my children, Aubrey and Zack, as well as the congregation of First Baptist Church of Parker, SD. I thank our God that by His grace, your love, faithfulness, and prayers have all helped sustain each of my efforts for His glory. iv CONTENTS Acknowledgments……………………………………………………………………………ix Abstract……………………………………………………………………………………….x CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………………..1 Personal Interest………………………………………………………………………8 The Need for the Study……………………………………………………………….9 Methodological Design……………………………………………………………….10 Limitations……………………………………………………………………………12 CHAPTER 2: THE CONCEPT OF SUFFERING IN THE BIBLE AND EARLY APOLOGISTS........................................................................................................................14
    [Show full text]
  • Supporting Papers for the Faith and Order Commission Report, Communion and Disagreement
    SUPPORTING PAPERS FOR THE FAITH AND ORDER COMMISSION REPORT, COMMUNION AND DISAGREEMENT 1 Copyright © The Archbishops’ Council 2016 2 Table of Contents Preface ................................................................................................................................................. 5 1 Communion, Disagreement and Conscience Loveday Alexander and Joshua Hordern ........................................................................................ 6 Listening to Scripture ..................................................................................................................... 6 Conscience: Points of Agreement ................................................................................................ 9 Conscience and Persuasion in Paul – Joshua Hordern .......................................................... 10 Further Reflections – Loveday Alexander .................................................................................. 15 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................ 17 2 Irenaeus and the date of Easter Loveday Alexander and Morwenna Ludlow ................................................................................ 19 Irenaeus and the Unity of the Church – Loveday Alexander ................................................ 19 A Response – Morwenna Ludlow.................................................................................................. 23 Further Reflections – Loveday
    [Show full text]
  • The Promise of the Image
    IMAGO DEI Human Dignity in Ecumenical Perspective EDITED BY THOMAS ALBERT HOWARD THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA PRESS Washington, D.C. 14 THOMAS ALBERT HOWARD awareness, the grace to prepare ourselves, together, to offer this sacrifice of unity? Or, as our Lord Himself prayed: "The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them [ 1] even as you loved me" (Jn 17:21-23, RSV). ~ I would like to express a special thanks to the Lilly Fellows THE PROMISE OF Program at Valparaiso University; a grant from this fine organiza­ THE IMAGE tion helped underwrite this project. In particular, I would like to thank the program's board members and its staff, including Mark Schwehn, Joe Creech, and Kathy Sutherland. These folks com­ JOHN BEHR mand my abiding respect and admiration. I would also like to express ongoing gratitude for the Lilly En­ dowment itself, and specifically its Program for the Theological Exploration of Vocation for helping support this and many other HAT human beings are important is something endeavors of the Critical Loyalty project at Gordon College. T we take for granted, and not only because we are Several Gordon College faculty members, staff, alumni, and human beings (or so we think-more on this later). students deserve a hearty word of thanks for their contributions It is a theme that has provoked reflection since time to this project.
    [Show full text]
  • The Angelic Spirit in Early Christianity: Justin, the Martyr and Philosopher*
    The Angelic Spirit in Early Christianity: Justin, the Martyr and Philosopher* Bogdan G. Bucur / Duquesne University In the conclusion of his article entitled “The Angelic Spirit in Early Judaism,” John R. Levison invited the scholarly community to use his work as “a suitable foundation for discussion of the angelic spirit” in early Christianity.1 A few years later, in his study of angelomorphic chris- tology, Charles A. Gieschen highlighted the need for similar work in the field of early pneumatology.2 The case for angelomorphic pneu- matology has been argued at length with respect to the Book of Reve- lation, the Shepherd of Hermas, and Clement of Alexandria.3 This essay contributes to the discussion by pursuing the occurrence of the “an- gelic spirit” in the writings of Justin Martyr.4 * I am grateful to Fr. Michael Slusser, SJ, for his helpful critique of an earlier draft of this article. 1 “Discussions of the spirit of God in Early Judaism and Christianity . ought to consider . interpretations of the spirit as an angelic presence. The texts included in the present analysis serve . to provide a suitable foundation for discussion of the angelic spirit in the Fourth Gospel, the Shepherd of Hermas, and the Ascension of Isaiah” ( John R. Levison, “The Angelic Spirit in Early Judaism,” Society of Biblical Literature Seminar Papers 34 [1995]: 464–93, 492), and see also The Spirit in First Century Judaism, Arbeiten zur Geschichte des antiken Judentums und des Urchristentums 29 (Leiden: Brill, 1997). 2 Charles A. Gieschen, Angelomorphic Christology: Antecedents and Early Evidence, Arbeiten zur Geschichte des antiken Judentums und des Urchristentums 42 (Leiden: Brill, 1998), 6: “Ig- norance concerning the influence of angelomorphic traditions has also plagued scholarship on early Pneumatology.
    [Show full text]
  • St Vladimir's Theological Quarterly
    ST VLADIMIR’S THEOLOGICAL QUARTERLY A Continuation of St. Vladimir’s Seminary Quarterly Published by THE FACULTY OF ST. VLADIMIR’S ORTHODOX THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY PAUL MEYENDORFF, Editor JOHN BEHR, Book Review Editor VOL. 45 2001 NO. 2 CONTENTS The Paschal Foundation of Christian Theology John Behr . 115 The Ancient of Days: Patristic and Modern Views of Daniel 7:9–14 Wilfred Sophrony Royer . 137 Western Rite Orthodoxy: Some Reflections on a Liturgical Question Gregory Woolfenden . 163 Western Rite Orthodoxy: Brief Response from Within Paul Schneirla . 193 Book Reviews . 199 Notes on Contributors . 223 Announcement . 224 Editorial and Subscription Offices 575 Scarsdale Road, Crestwood, NY 10707 Tel.: +1.914.961.8313 EMail: [email protected] & [email protected] WebSite: www.svots.edu/SVTQ Copyright © 2001 by St Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary Back issues are available on microfilm from University Microfilm YEARLY SUBSCRIPTION $30.00 CANADIAN $30.00 US Funds FOREIGN $40.00 US Funds SINGLE ISSUES $10.00 The views of the authors whose articles appear in St Vladimir’s Theological Quarterly do not necessarily reflect those of the Seminary faculty. Typeset at St Vladimir's Seminary by Glen R.J. Mules Printed by ATHENS PRINTING COMPANY 337 West 36th Street New York, NY 10018-6401 St Vladimir’s Theological Quarterly 45:2 (2001) 115–36 THE PASCHAL FOUNDATION OF CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY John Behr The question of the proper starting point, the “first principles,” is one to which theology, and every discipline it encompasses, must continually return. Without being firmly grounded on its proper foundation, the vast body of reflection developed within theology risks collapsing into dust.
    [Show full text]
  • Filled with the Trinity
    Journal of Eastern Christian Studies 62(1-2), 55-85. doi: 10.2143/JECS.62.1.2056230 © 2010 by Journal of Eastern Christian Studies. All rights reserved. FILLED WITH THE TRINITY THE CONTRIBUTION OF DUMITRU STANILOAE’S ECCLESIOLOGY TO ECUMENISM AND SOCIETY RADU BORDEIANU* Orthodox theologians are constantly finding new ways to make their tradition relevant to contemporary issues such as ecumenism, secularization, deper- sonalization, aggressive market economy, and military conflicts. With these interests in mind, in the present essay I systematize Dumitru Staniloae’s account of the genuine relationship between the Trinity and the Church, as opposed to most other accounts that see them as parallel and mirroring realities. Twentieth century theologians tend to take the relationship between Triadology and ecclesiology for granted.1 Sometimes, because a true relation- ship between the Trinity and the Church has not been carefully established, the Church is seen as a parallel reality, somehow unrelated to the Trinity; it is not always clear how the two intersect.2 Moreover, while seeing the Church as a reflection of the Trinity, some theologians accuse what they perceive to be a distorted Triadology of having catastrophic consequences in the life of the Church. Such is the case of Vladimir Lossky, who considered that the Filioque automatically leads to institutionalism, ‘juridicism,’ clericalism, * Radu Bordeianu is an Orthodox priest and currently Assistant Professor of Systematic Theology at the Theology Department of Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA. His research focuses on Ecumenism and ecclesiology (particularly Staniloae’s contribution to the Orthodox-Catholic dialogue), the relationship between the Trinity and the Church, theology of creation, and environmental issues.
    [Show full text]