Charting Churches in a Changing Europe : : Charta Oecumenica and the Process of Ecumenical Encounter / / edited by Tim Noble, Ivana Noble, Martien E. Brinkman, Jochen Hilberath.

• Superior document: Currents of Encounter ; 28
• TeilnehmendeR: Noble, Tim,; Noble, Ivana,; Hilberath, Jochen,; Brinkman, Martien E.,
• Place / Publishing House: Leiden; , Boston : : BRILL,, 2006.
• Year of Publication: 2006
• Language: English
• Series: Currents of Encounter ; 28.
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (231 p.)
• Notes: Description based upon print version of record.
• Other title: Charta Oecumenica and the Process of Ecumenical Encounter
• Bibliography: Includes bibliographical references and index.
• ISBN: 9401203024; 1429468068
• Hierarchical level: Monograph
• Statement of Responsibility: edited by Tim Noble, Ivana Noble, Martien E. Brinkman, Jochen Hilberath.

The countries of Europe are seeking to redefine themselves, both individually and in relation to each other. This volume examines the role of the Christian churches at various levels of that process. The Charta Oecumenica , a ground-breaking document from the Conference of Churches in Europe and the Council of European Bishops' Conferences, aimed to set forth the ecumenical response of the European Christian Churches to the living out of faith in today's world. Four theologians, Protestant, Roman Catholic, Orthodox and Lutheran, respond to this document, assessing its strengths and the areas where further development is required. At least implicitly this discussion raises questions about the nature of catholicity and communion, a topic the following four essays address. What is catholicity, what happens when there is too strong an emphasis on the national church, and are there models of gradual church communion to which the churches could assent? Gradual communion sets out to attain full, including sacramental, unity and the final two essays explore how sacramental theology might assist in this process.