Ecclesiastical models of the unity of Christians

Piotr Jaskóła

Uniwersytet Opolski, Wydział Teologiczny
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5387-6669

Abstract

For the development of ecumenical movement we need the ecclesiastical models which define the possibilities of the unity of Christians. The ecumenical dialogues demonstrate that in each Christian Church the imageries of the unity are various. The problem of lack of one vision of the unity triggers another - lack of one idea of the Church, or at least lack of such understanding which would be accepted by all Christians. The third problem is concerned with the former ones and is about the ecumenical hermeneutics which relies on various ecclesial models of unity. The denominational conditionings bring about that there have been different visions of the unity of the Orthodox, the Protestants and still that of the Catholics. The article presents, chiefly on the basis of elaborated materials of the Commission "Faith and Order", the principal contemporary ecclesiastical models of the unity of Christians: the organic union – the model preferred by the Anglican Churches (1), the reconciled diversity – the Evangelical oriented model (2), the conciliar fellowship – the Orthodox model of unity (3), the communion of communions – the Catholic oriented model of the unity (4).

Keywords:

ecumenical movement, models of unity, Commission „Faith and Order”, organic union, reconciled diversity, conciliar fellowship, communion of communions