Lecture - The Church - by William Henn

31 Reageer [40] The churches have been asked to respond officially to this convergence text. Faith and Order has listed the following the questions in the “Introduction”:  To what extent does this text reflect the ecclesiological understanding of your church?  To what extent does this text offer a basis for growth in unity among the churches?  What adaptations or renewal in the life of your church does this statement challenge your  church to work for?  How far is your church able to form closer relationships in life and mission with those  churches which can acknowledge in a positive way the account of the Church described  in this statement?  What aspects of the life of the Church could call for further discussion and what advice could your church offer for the ongoing work by Faith and Order in the area of ecclesiology? Conclusion [41] One of the important principles of Vatican II regarding ecumenical dialogue states that ‘in Catholic doctrine there exists and order or “hierarchy” of truths, since they vary in their relation the foundation of the Christian faith’ ( UR 11). Might not The Church: Towards a Common Vision reflect the fact that there also exists a hierarchy of ecclesiological truths? Christian divisions often originated in mutual condemnations concerning quite specific issues, usually related more to practice than to doctrine. By situating the origin and raison d’être of the Church in the eternal design of God in creation and redemption, by relating her nature to