In order to better understand the changes that shaped the Church the ecclesiology of Cardinal Avery Dulles’ interpretations of the mission and nature of the church will be discussed. Cardinal Dulles’ Models of the Church outlines the institution; communion; sacrament; herald; …show more content…
Our local church highlights the institutional and sacramental aspects of the Church encouraging critical thinking on renewal, sense of identity, endorsing traditions of church teaching (in the herald model) and understanding that grace reaches beyond the bonds that unifies each member of the Church (in the servant model).
The characteristics in context with our local church’s mission also embraces the lay culture that links the dialogue with our contemporary context and the multidimensional paradigm highlighting this renewed appreciation of the Catholic Church as a whole community .and as part of the world.
The Second Vatican Council addressed in the first instance the mystery of the church and then the church as the People of God. As ecclesiologists like Yves Congar and Avery Dulles writes that the holy spirit is living with and within the people. As part of the reform they need to adapt and integrate the voice of the people for it cannot be done by one single person, the sovereign pope or a certain number of …show more content…
To engage in the church mission is to serve the whole human family. Prominent women in the life of the church have included Old Testament figures, the Virgin Mary, Mother Therese, and Helena of Constantinople. Engaging and integrating the multidimensional is demonstrated by Anglican, Episcopal, Evangelical Lutheran, United Methodist, Presbyterian (USA), United Church of Christ, having women ordained or having leadership roles
The Roman Catholic and Orthodoxies need to embrace an official shift to Paul's proclamation of equality and Jesus' willingness to defy and accept women into his larger circle of disciples. This should be the guiding principles rather than the customs of the Roman Empire in this ever-changing modern society we live today.
In concluding this paper, it has been an insightful understanding of the complex mystery of the church in all its dimensions. In agreeance with Dulles and Fuellenbach, that there is no one model of the church that is more superior however, this debate between many will continue. The paper highlights my thoughts that the church must embrace and engage relating to community and the world, Gods acceptance and saving goes beyond the boundaries of the church and the role they play in the sociopolitical life of human beings is