The Routledge Companion to the Christian Church

Routledge Companions

by Gerard Mannion

The nature and story of the Christian church is immensely important to theology students and scholars alike. Written by an international team of distinguished scholars, this comprehensive book introduces students to the fundamental historical, systematic, moral and ecclesiological aspects of the study of the church, as well as serving as a resource for scholars engaging in ecclesiological debates on a wide variety of issues. It divides into six Authoritative, accessible and easily navigable, this book is indispensable for everyone interested in the nature and history of the Christian Church.

Genres: Theology

684 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2007

Reviews

[Jeremy Garber · Rating 3 out of 5]

This Routledge Companion provides a comprehensive introduction to the theological focus known as ecclesiology, the nature, story, and study of the church, with an admittedly Roman Catholic focus that may be less helpful to non-Catholic readers. Mannion and Mudge open their volume with a useful survey of the traditional question of ecclesiology – marks of the true church, church governance, the relationship between church and state, etc. Part I: Historical Ecclesiology surveys different theological understandings of the Christian church from the biblical record through the Reformation through the present time. For example, Paula Gooder’s insightful study of the different words for “church” in the New Testament gives us hints about how the early church understood the meaning and role of community. Part II, Ecclesiological Traditions, provides capule versions of the ecclesiologies of many important traditions, including marginal and 21st century understandings of church. Part III then looks at ecclesiologies in various geographical regions, including “Earth, water, fire and wind: Elements of African ecclesiologies,” Steve de Gruchy and Sophie Chirongoma’s interesting (if ever so slightly strained) examination of the intertwining of Christian and Native African religious histories and understandings. Part IV introduces particular areas of concern such as authority, governance, and ministry; this area proved the most heavily Roman Catholic, with some theological emphases that travel less well across denominational markers. The final two sections look at the interdisciplinary study of ecclesiology, with Neil Ormerod’s (unsuccessful in this reader’s opinion) apologia for using the social sciences in theology, and Steven Shakespeare’s brief survey of the use of philosophy in theological concerns more broadly and ecclesiology in particular. This volume is a very helpful orientation for thinkers newly considering ecclesiology, especially the volume’s theoretical framework expressed in its organization; its price tag and Catholic orientation make it less helpful as a primary text for students.