<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p> This paper critiques the framing of the pneumatological underpinning of ecclesiology as an Orthodox-Catholic conversation. The context for the Joint Commission for Orthodox-Catholic dialogue warrants the use of the metaphor “two lungs of the church” by official church leaders, ecclesiologists and theologians to speak of the Spirit’s work in and between both communions. However, I want to call attention to the pneumatological and ecclesiological problems in the use of the image “two lungs of the church.” If the Holy Spirit breathes upon and through the Body of Christ, reading the Spirit’s operation in the church (pneumatological-ecclesiology) cannot ignore, and much less dismiss or absorb (either explicitly or implicitly), the charismas outside of the Roman Catholic Church and Orthodoxy. Protestant denominations, such as Baptists, Brethren, Evangelicals, Presbyterians, Pentecostals and Charismatics are also contexts for studying the Spirit’s work in the churches. The paper concludes by proffering a mapping of recent pneumatological contributions of other Christian denominations and churches to invite theologians to assist in reframing or reconceptualizing a more appropriate anatomic metaphor for the Spirit’s work in and among the churches together.</p></abstract>

This paper critiques the framing of the pneumatological underpinning of ecclesiology as an Orthodox-Catholic conversation. The context for the Joint Commission for Orthodox-Catholic dialogue warrants the use of the metaphor “two lungs of the church” by official church leaders, ecclesiologists and theologians to speak of the Spirit’s work in and between both communions. However, I want to call attention to the pneumatological and ecclesiological problems in the use of the image “two lungs of the church.” If the Holy Spirit breathes upon and through the Body of Christ, reading the Spirit’s operation in the church (pneumatological-ecclesiology) cannot ignore, and much less dismiss or absorb (either explicitly or implicitly), the charismas outside of the Roman Catholic Church and Orthodoxy. Protestant denominations, such as Baptists, Brethren, Evangelicals, Presbyterians, Pentecostals and Charismatics are also contexts for studying the Spirit’s work in the churches. The paper concludes by proffering a mapping of recent pneumatological contributions of other Christian denominations and churches to invite theologians to assist in reframing or reconceptualizing a more appropriate anatomic metaphor for the Spirit’s work in and among the churches together.

Towards a Pneumatological-Ecclesiology: Outside the “Two Lungs of the Church”

PhD, Adjunct Lecturer, Regent University School of Divinity, Virginia Beach, VA, USA.; Tutor in Theology, King’s Evangelical Divinity School, University of Chester, UK; Faith and Order Commission Member, Virginia Council of Churches, VA, USA. Adress: 1000 Regent University Drive, VA Beach, Virginia 23464

Review of Ecumenical Studies Sibiu

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

This paper critiques the framing of the pneumatological underpinning of ecclesiology as an Orthodox-Catholic conversation. The context for the Joint Commission...

Towards a Pneumatological-Ecclesiology: Outside the “Two Lungs of the Church”

Published Online: Oct 29, 2015

Page range: 211 - 229

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/ress-2015-0016

Keywords
Believers’ Church (Baptist and Brethren) Pneumatology, Evangelical Pneumatology, Presbyterian/Reformed Pneumatology, Pentecostal/Charismatic Renewal Pneumatology, Orthodox-Catholic Pneumatological-Ecclesiology as the Two Lungs of the Church, Pneumatological- Ecclesiology

© 2015

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Towards a Pneumatological-Ecclesiology: Outside the “Two Lungs of the Church”

Published Online: Oct 29, 2015

Page range: 211 - 229

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/ress-2015-0016

KeywordsBelievers’ Church (Baptist and Brethren) Pneumatology, Evangelical Pneumatology, Presbyterian/Reformed Pneumatology, Pentecostal/Charismatic Renewal Pneumatology, Orthodox-Catholic Pneumatological-Ecclesiology as the Two Lungs of the Church, Pneumatological- Ecclesiology

© 2015

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Keywords
Believers’ Church (Baptist and Brethren) Pneumatology, Evangelical Pneumatology, Presbyterian/Reformed Pneumatology, Pentecostal/Charismatic Renewal Pneumatology, Orthodox-Catholic Pneumatological-Ecclesiology as the Two Lungs of the Church, Pneumatological- Ecclesiology