User:A.J.A./Tohu&Bohu/Ecclesiology
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[edit] Ecclesiology
For most of the history of Christianity episcopal polity has been the only form known, and it remains the polity of the majority of the world's Christians. Churches practicing episcopal polity are governed by bishops, who have authority over dioceses. Their leadership of the diocese is both sacramental and administrative; as well as performing ordinations, confirmations, and consecrations, the bishop supervises the clergy of the diocese and represents the diocese to both the secular world and the rest of the church. It is usually believed that the bishops derive their position from Apostolic Succession from the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. Bishops in this succession are known as the historic episcopate.
Bishops in this system may be subject to higher ranking bishops called archbishops, metropolitans, or patriarchs. They may also meet in councils or synods. These synods, subject to presidency by higher ranking bishops, may govern the dioceses which are represented in the council, though the synod may also be purely advisory. Some authority may be held, not only by synods and colleges of bishops, but by lay and clerical councils. Further, patterns of authority are subject to a wide variety of historical rights and honors which may cut across simple lines of authority.
The Catholic and Orthodox have an episcopal government, as do the Oriental Orthodox, Assyrian, Anglican, and some Lutheran[1] and Methodist churches.
Many Protestant churches are organized by either congregational or presbyterian church polities, both influenced by the writings of John Calvin. Non-episcopal polities generally believe all Christian people together are the priesthood (see Priesthood of all believers), on behalf of whom church officers are called to serve. Most recognize two offices, those of elder and deacon. "Pastor" and "bishop" (Koine Greek "episcopos") are considered synonyms for "elder", which is considered the highest office of the church and not itself ranked, so that there are no archbishops, Patriarchs, or Popes.
In Presbyterian polity churches the elders govern together as a group through a system of councils. Presbyterians usually recognize two kinds of elders based on function, teaching elders and ruling elders. The lowest level governs a single local church and is called the session. The session sends representatives to the next level higher council, called the presbytery. In some Presbyterian churches there are higher level councils (synods and/or general assemblies). Each council has authority over its constituents, and the representatives at each level are expected to use their own judgement. Hence higher level councils act as courts of appeal for church trials and disputes, and it is not uncommon to see rulings and decisions overturned.
Congregational polity is the theory the local church is the full institutional successor of the New Testament church and that the church on earth, besides the local church, can only be invisible and ideal. Congregational polity is usually practiced by Congregationalists, Baptists, and baptistic evangelicals. In most contemporary congregational churches the pastor is the sole elder, although larger churches will usually have one or more "associate" pastors, often with a specific area of responsibility such as music, answering to the "senior" pastor. Some Baptists, especially Reformed Baptists, believe in a plurality of elders; the elders together are the equivalent of a session in a Presbyterian church, but there are no synods or assemblies over the local church.
[edit] Heresy and schism
In Christianity, "heresy" is teaching that arises or spreads within the Christian tradition but which is considered a deviation from orthodoxy.[2] In the New Testament, Christian leaders were already warning believers against corruptions of the beliefs they had been taught.[3]
In Catholicism the definition and classification of heresy is a formal part of canon law. The church makes several distinctions as to the seriousness of an individual heterodoxy and its closeness to true heresy. Only a belief that directly contravenes an Article of Faith, or that has been explicitly rejected by the church, is labelled as actual "heresy." A heretic who is aware that his belief is at odds with Catholic teaching and yet continues to cling to his belief pertinaciously is a formal heretic. Material heresy, on the other hand, is a heretical opinion whose holder is unaware that his views contradict, in the words of Canon 751, "some truth which is to be believed by divine and Catholic faith." A belief that the church has not directly rejected, or that is at variance with less important church teachings, is given the label, sententia haeresi proxima, meaning "opinion approaching heresy." A theological argument, belief, or theory that does not constitute heresy in itself, but which leads to conclusions which might be held to do so, is termed propositio theologice erronea, or "erroneous theological proposition." Finally, if the theological position only suggests but does not necessarily lead to a doctrinal conflict, it might be given the even milder label of sententia de haeresi suspecta, haeresim sapiens, meaning "opinion suspected, or savoring, of heresy."
The penalty for a baptized Catholic above the age of 18 who obstinately, publicly, and voluntarily manifests his or her adherence to an objective heresy is automatic excommunication ("latae sententiae") according to Can. 1364 par.1 C.I.C..
The words schism and schismatic have found perhaps their heaviest usage in the History of Christianity, to denote splits within a church or religious body. In this context, schismatic as a noun denotes a person who creates or incites schism in a church or is a member of a splinter church, and schismatic as an adjective refers to ideas and things that are thought to lead towards or promote schism, often describing a church that has departed from whichever communion the user of the word considers to be the true Christian church. These words have been used to denote both the phenomenon of Christian group splintering in general, and certain significant historical splits in particular.
Thus, within Christianity the word schism may refer to:
- The offense of inciting divisions among Christians.
- The event of two groups of Christians ceasing to be in communion with each other, so that, whereas they formerly could worship together, they decide they must worship separately because of disagreements between them. See also orthodoxy and orthopraxy.
- Any Christian communion or sect that has left the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. Which church constitutes the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church has long been disputed: for instance, the Roman Catholic Church claims that title and considers the Eastern Orthodox Communion to be in schism, while the Eastern Orthodox Communion also claims that title and holds that the Catholic Communion is schismatic and heretical; meanwhile, the Protestant movement considers them both to be in error, as does the Restorationist movement, also including Protestants (and in many cases, each other) in that error. See also Great Apostasy.
[edit] Notes
- ^ Encyclopedia of Religion and Society, William H. Swatos, Jr. Editor Lutheranism Hartford Institute for Religion Research, Hartford Seminary. Retrieved on September 4, 2006.
- ^ Thomas Aquinas said:
- "Therefore heresy is a species of unbelief, belonging to those who profess the Christian faith, but corrupt its dogmas."
- ^ E. g., Acts 20:29-31; Galatians 1:8-9; 2 Timothy 3-4; 2 Peter 2
