From The Dean of Chapel

One Church?

"There is one body and one Spirit--just as you were called to one hope when you were called--one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."

Early in July of this summer, just as things were beginning to heat up, Pope Benedict issued a document reaffirming the Church of Rome as the only true church "established here on Earth" by Christ. Orthodox congregations are granted the status of true churches, but deficient and 'wounded' in their lack of acknowledgement of the Pope; Protestant and other non Roman Catholic congregations, however, are not 'true' churches according to the document. Ouch! And yet, in spite of this document, there are some very sound reasons to believe that when my family and I gather with others who call upon Jesus as savior to hear scripture read, sing praises, pray, and remember Christ's death and resurrection through the breaking of bread and sharing the cup, we are right in believing ourselves part of the Christian Church.

The statement from the Vatican raises some interesting questions about the nature of the Church: What are the marks of a 'true church'? What makes an assembly of believers part of the 'true church'? What did Christ intend for the corporate life of his followers? How should ecumenical conversation move forward?

The church has been defined in many ways over the past 2000 years. Isidore of Pelusium offers this definition of the church: it is "the assembly of saints joined together by correct faith and an excellent manner of life." I wonder which of our local congregations would meet these criteria? Are not disagreements about what constitutes "correct faith" and an "excellent manner of life" the very cause of church schisms and splits?

The Apostles' Creed affirms two characteristics of the church: "holy" and "catholic." To these two marks, the Nicene Creed adds two more: "one" and "apostolic." It is this last mark--apostolicity--that Pope Benedict has in mind when denying protestant congregations the status of 'true churches;' only the church of Rome can trace a direct line of succession from Christ's disciples to contemporary church leaders.  

Howard Snyder, Professor of Theology at Asbury Theological Seminary, makes the observation that if we affirm the Church as One, Holy, Catholic (universal) and Apostolic, we must also affirm that it is Diverse, Charismatic (dynamically gifted), Local and Prophetic. This great observation is one that highlights the tension between the constraints of concrete, particular, historic institutions and the openness of dymanic, transcendent, spiritual creatures; constraint without openness leads to ossified orthodoxy while openness without constraint can lead to a loss of the treasure entrusted to the followers of Jesus.

Every useful definition identifies a thing by what it is and what it is not--exclusion seems inherent in the very nature of identity. Is there, however, the possibility in Christ of an exclusive definition that is marked by its radical and universal accessibility? A fellowship open to "all who are weary and heavy laden?" Or is there one narrow gate administered by one historic institution?

I like what Cyril of Jerusalem says when he writes concerning the universality of the Church: "The church is called "catholic" because it extends through all the world, from one end of the earth to another; and because it teaches completely, and without any omission, all the doctrines which ought to be known to humanity concerning both things that are visible and invisible, and things that are earthly and heavenly; and because it brings all kinds of people--whether rulers or subjects, learned or ignorant--under the influence of true piety; and because it universally treats and cures every kind of sin, whether committed by the soul or the body; and possess in itself every kind of virtue which can be named relating to words, deeds or spiritual gifts of every kind" (Cathechetical Lecture XVIII). This sounds like the type of universal relevance and accessibility of the Good News that marked the life of Jesus in the gospels and the ministry of the Holy Spirit in Acts.

These matters leave much to think about--and think about them we will this autumn in the Chapel program. Our theme is Ekklesia: the People of God and we will be exploring the biblical doctrine of the Church. It is my prayer that our time praying, singing and listening together in chapel will help us grow more fully into vision of Ephesians 4 where Paul encourages believers to "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit--just as you were called to one hope when you were called--one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."

G.W. Carmer, Dean of Chapel
July 2007