Communion Ecclesiology in a racially polarized South Africa.

I Nell

doi:10.18820/23099089/actat.v39i1.14

Abstract

Communion Ecclesiology in a racially polarized South Africa.

Highlights

The author attempts to contribute to the field of systematic theological ecclesiology by focusing on what he calls “communion ecclesiology”
The author attempts to anchor his understanding of his communion ecclesiology in the African and South African context
Since Vatican II, the intellectual work of a number of scholars has developed an interest in concepts such as “communion” and “relationality”

Summary

INTRODUCTION

The author attempts to contribute to the field of systematic theological ecclesiology by focusing on what he calls “communion ecclesiology”. Since Vatican II, the intellectual work of a number of scholars has developed an interest in concepts such as “communion” and “relationality”. The latter refers to a deep connectedness that we can call the interwovenness of life. New community where the members are relationally linked to one another, it means that theologians have to think differently about anthropology and ecclesiology. The impact of the latter on us as South Africans is huge and disruptive because of the history of apartheid, as this disruption has deeply influenced our theological and ontological insights. We are still sitting today with separate churches that function according to race and this indicates the failure of the history of the churches in our country to be an image of the triune God – a life in communion

OVERVIEW

CRITICAL ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION

CONCLUSION