Six ways of seeing church

Six ways of seeing church

Avery dulles

son of Secretary of State John Foster Dulles (whom the Dulles airport is named after)

Jesuit priest, theologian

Cardinal of Roman Catholic Church

6 models of Church

ways of seeing the church

6 models of the Church.

By model, we mean there are 6 ways that we experience, or understand the Church.

The Church is a mystery. It cannot be fully analyzed or explained.

Analogy

No one model can give us a complete understanding, but each adds to our understanding

Brainstorm

In what ways or images do you see the Church?

What have you heard the Church referred to as, or compared to?

The six models

The Church as Body of Christ or People of God

The Church as Institution

The Church as Sacrament

The Church as Herald of God’s Word

The Church as Servant

The Church as Community of Disciples

2. the church as institution

Clerics (Pope, bishops, priests, deacons) responsible of the laity for teaching, sanctifying, and ruling.

We are organized through formal structures

2. church as institution

Not just a building

Institution- the organized patterns, rules, and social structures that help a group keep order

Most familiar model- The Church as hierarchy is only one dimension

this dimension of the Church is the human way of ensuring that the Church will be maintained and its mission will continue

Matt 16:18 “You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my church.”

The church hierarchyPope Benedict

XVIHead of the Catholic

ChurchCardinalsCardinal DiNardo--

HoustonArchbishops

Some Archbishops are Cardinals, but not all Cardinals are ArchbishopsBishops

Bishop Loverde--Arlington3rd degree of Holy Orders

Priestsreceived 2 degrees of Holy

Orders

MonsignorsPriests, but have a certain

amount of authority & seniorityDeacons

Can be married BEFORE being ordained a Deacon,

1st degree

1. The church as body of christ or people of god

often referred to as the Body of Christ

Body of Jesus on earth.

A worshipping community of believers who by their faith become a sign and instrument of the union of God and man.

1. Body of Christ

We are related to one another as a family.

“We are many parts, we are all one body. And the gifts we have, we are given to share”

St. Paul’s Letter to the Corinthians- all members, each with a different function, are important to the Body of Christ

People of God-a name for the church community that expresses a similar reality as Body of Christ

recalls the identity of the Israelites as the Chosen People of God and that Jesus calls all people to God’s love, thus those who believe become members of God’s own family

4.Church as herald of God’s word

We proclaim the Good News

The Church is the Herald of Jesus Christ.

It is the official messenger to proclaim the Word of God to all people.

4. Herald

Belief in Jesus and his message comes through hearing the word of God preached.

“Where 2 or 3 are gathered in my name, I am there among them.” Matt 18:20

A faithful people who hear the word of God and keep it by putting their faith in Jesus and proclaiming it in their lives--to hear the Good News and pass it on

Mass, publications, programs, tv/radio, missionaries, actions of Christians

5. Church as servant

We are at the service of God and therefore of all humankind.

servants who give themselves and make sacrifices for others

when we serve others with compassion we serve God

5. Servant

Servant- to offer itself to humankind directly and compassionately out of love for God.

a redeemed people who have the mandate to establish in this world Christ’s kingship of peace, justice, love, and reconciliation

look at our own abilities and talents

follow the command to love to correct human sinfulness

3. The church as sacrament

We are a visible, tangible sign of God’s love.

Sacrament- a physical sign of God’s saving love

Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation, Reconciliation, Holy Orders, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick

Church as sacrament

Through the physical sign we are reminded that God’s saving power is present

Vatican II --the church “is a kind of sacrament or sign of intimate union with God, and of the unity of all mankind”

Church is to be a sign of God’s grace in a world needful of redemption. Church called to be saintly while clearly not yet there fully.

Jesus as Christ is the sacrament of God. The Church is the sacrament of Christ.

Seven sacraments flow from this identity.

6. the church as community of disciples

We are followers of Jesus.

follow Jesus, not society

live out the Kingdom of God here on earth

6. community of disciples

Community of Disciples- a people whose lifestyle stands in contrast with the rest of society

Living a life that is not easy, but is fulfilling

may be the most challenging dimension of being church.