The unity of the church : a theological state of the art and beyond / / edited by Eduardus Van der Borght.

• Superior document: Studies in Reformed theology, v. 18
• Author: International Reformed Theological Institute. International Conference
• TeilnehmendeR: Borght, Ed. A. J. G. van der, 1956-
• Year of Publication: 2010
• Language: English
• Series: Studies in Reformed theology ; 18.
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (360 p.)
• Notes: "The articles in this volume stem from contributions to the Seventh Biannual Conference of the academic network of International Reformed Theological Institute (IRTI) held in Cluj-Napoca, Romania from 3 to 8 July 2007."--P.

In contrast to its original name, Ecclesia Reformata, ecclesiology did not develop into a major theme within the Reformed tradition. Notwithstanding the undeniable schismatic tendency and the ecclesial embarrassment about disunity, the unity of the church did not rise to prominence as a theological topic. This volume challenges this traditional low-key attitude towards the unity of the church. It investigates theological aspects that contributed to a weak sensus unitatis, and explores approaches that remedy the disease of division. It discusses the role played by scripture, the sacraments, confessions, and discipline; it searches for the best theological practices within other Christian traditions; it links the unity of the church to the unity of God and reformulates the nature of the church.

Table of Contents

The unity of the church and the Reformed tradition : an introduction / Eduardus Van der Borght -- Pt. 1. Framing unity of the church as a theological problem. Communion : responding to God's gift / Lukas Vischer -- Church unity, territorialism, and state formation in the era of confessionalisation / Wim Janse -- Parallel coexistence of churches : the church in Transylvania : its unity and disunity : a contextualized example / Juhász Tamás -- "Is Christ divided?" : an analysis of the theological justification of a church schism / J.H. (Amie) van Wyk -- Calvinus Oecumenicus : Calvin's vision of the unity and Catholicity of the church / I. John Hesselink -- Pt. 2. The tools for the unity of the church : a theological analysis. One church and the pure preaching of the word : theses and observations on the theme / Alasdair Heron -- A biblical theological hermeneutics, the pure preaching of the word of God, and the unity of the church / Seung-Goo Lee -- The medium and the message : sola scriptura and (dis)unity in the Reformed tradition / Dora Bernhardt -- The unity of the church and the pure administration of the sacraments / Lyle D. Bierma -- Confessions as instruments of (dis)unity? / Dirkie Smit -- Forms of unity or of disunity : the confessions in the recent history of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands / Henk van den Belt -- Gospel discipline and church (dis)unity in the Reformed tradition / Alan P.F. Sell -- Pt. 3. Ecumenical explorations on the unity of the church. The healing of memories : finding one another again in Christ / Jeffrey Gros -- An asymptotic dialogue? : a response to Jeffrey Gros / Leo J. Koffeman -- Ecumenical theology and the unity of the church : a Reformed understanding of ecumenical engagement and the unity of the church / Setri Nyomi -- 'No popery' : a blessing or a curse? : ministry as an instrument of unity within the Reformed tradition / Eduardus Van der Borght -- Office as an instrument of unity / Allan Janssen -- Pt. 4. The theological basis for the unity of the church. One God and one church : considerations on the unity of the church from the perspective of biblical theology / Abraham van de Beek -- One Savior, one church : reconciliation as justification and "new creation" / Philippe Theron -- The reality of the unified church / Annette Mosher -- The church as an echo of the Triune God / Christiaan Mostert -- Is the Triune God a model for the one church? : reply to Christiaan Mostert / Paul Wells -- Trinitarian ecclesiology and the search for unity : a Reformed reading of Miroslav Volf / Gijsbert van den Brink -- The church as sacrament / Martien E. Brinkman.