Conciliarism A History of Decision-Making in the Church [Paperback]

A comprehensive introduction to conciliarism, decision-making and conflict-resolution in the history of the Christian church.This history of councils and decision-making in the Christian Church draws extensively upon conciliarism scholarship from the last fifty years. Valliere brings a broad ecumenical perspective to bear and shows how the conciliar tradition of the Christian past can serve as a resource for resolving conflicts in the Church today.This history of councils and decision-making in the Christian Church draws extensively upon conciliarism scholarship from the last fifty years. Valliere brings a broad ecumenical perspective to bear and shows how the conciliar tradition of the Christian past can serve as a resource for resolving conflicts in the Church today.Conciliarism is one of the oldest and most essential means of decision-making in the history of the Christian Church. Indeed, as a leading Orthodox theologian Alexander Schmemann states, 'Before we understand the place and the function of the council in the Church, we must, therefore, see the Church herself as a council.' Paul Valliere tells the story of councils and conciliar decision-making in the Christian Church from earliest times to the present. Drawing extensively upon the scholarship on conciliarism which has appeared in the last half-century, Valliere brings a broad ecumenical perspective to the study and shows how the conciliar tradition of the Christian past can serve as a resource for resolving conflicts in the Church today. The book presents a conciliarism which involves historical legacy, but which leads us forward, not backward, and which keeps the Church's collective eyes on the prize  the eschatological kingdom of God.Introduction; 1. The conciliar testament; 2. The conciliar tradition; 3. The conciliar theory; 4. Conciliarism in Anglican experience; 5. The Pan-Anglican Council; Conclusion; Bibliography. Paul Vallieres impressive and engaging Conciliarism: A History of Decision-Makinlƒ«