REED 4 | Module I: Introductory Lesson kind of hired-help, at the whim of the
majority
5 MODELS/VIEWS OF THE CHURCH
*both must be equal in importance and
1. The Church as Institution (People of God) deciding power in order to provide the
2. The Church as Mystical Communion (Body of Christ) best service to the community.
3. The Church as Sacrament (Temple of the Holy Spirit)
2. The Church as Mystical Communion
4. The Church as Herald (Bride of Christ)
5. The Church as Servant (Kingdom in Mission Communion, defined
o own personal relationship to God, the
INTRODUCTION
“I-Thou” relationship that is an essential
Fr. Avery Dulles – wrote many popular and influential part of religion.
theological books that traced the 5 Models of the o fellowship or mutual bonding, based on
Church. grace
The signs and instruments of union between
THREEFOLD THRUSTS OF THE CHURCH
God and Man, saints and sinners
1. Kerygma (Proclamation of the Good News) – the good A new awareness of the mystical,
news of Jesus Christ, his incarnation, death, and contemplative, and more personal aspect of our
resurrection, and his sending of the Spirit, proclaimed by relationship with God
the Church in word and in deed. Permits degrees of fellowship and relationships,
2. Koinomia (Community) – elements which build up the which strive for complete communion even
body of Christ, the Church, and which create the new when the structural aspects of such union are
Israel, the new covenant, the new people of God. not yet totally clear.
Worship and the sacramental life are at the basis of this
3. The Church as Sacrament
operation of the Spirit within the Church and form its
unity. Sacrament, defined
3. Diakonia (Service) - extends the action of the Spirit to o a sign and instrument of the union of
the world. It is service, which keeps the Church from which the human family possesses with
becoming turned in on itself, which helps it grow in love God and with one another
and charity. o reveals a fundamental Catholic
perception of how God relates to us and
**without any one of the thrusts, it is not considered a
interacts with our history
church.
o symbolic acts signifying something
FR. DULLES’ 5 MODELS OF THE CHURCH present – albeit that something is
invisible
1. The Church as Institution
Visible realities become mediators or bearers of
The Church has a sacramental system, which is something beyond our immediate perception
unique to it and requires ordained ministers and Theologians call Christ the First Sacrament – the
a hierarchy. visible sign of God’s self-gift of love to us. He is
Ordained ministry and the hierarchy are not the “image of the invisible God,” revealing the
places of honor, but functions to maintain the Father to us.
inner life of the whole group, unity of worship, Issue:
and fidelity to Christ’s teaching. o the imperfect nature of the visible
Church leader’s help the continuity of passing of Church in representing a perfect
tradition. invisible fact
Issues: o it is always “becoming” and never the
o Clericalism – authority is monopolized complete image of the divine.
by the priests
o Congregationalism – authority is solely
from the people; reduces the clergy to a
4. The Church as Herald sacramental and action centered. It has the structure and
order (or hierarchy) needed for any society but it also is
Kerygma, defined
fellowship and service
o “the apostolic proclamation of salvation
through Jesus Christ.” OTHER POINTS TO PONDER
o means both the message and the act of
1. The 5 Models of the Church is a direct response to
proclaiming that message.
the Structuralist View of the Church
The proclaiming of God’s word becomes a
saving event for those who hear it and accept it. Structuralist Church View – sees the church as merely
Following Christ’s footsteps of teaching and the building that houses sculptures, a place to worship,
spreading the Word of the Lord etc.
In the Catholic tradition the proclamation of the
2. 60% of scientists are faithful/believe in God
word, the celebration – sacramentally – of the
saving events, and living out the Gospel message Shroud of Torin – a linen cloth believed to be the burial
in life are all necessary components of Church shroud of Jesus bearing a negative image of him.
Issues:
*this is one of the studies trying to prove the
o Literalism and Oversimplification –
resurrection.
ignore history and the cultural
presuppositions that are at the basis of
all language which lead to “cheap
grace”.
o Not balanced with the other centers
around the relationship between God’s
word and the truths about the humanity
and knowledge.
5. The Church as Servant
Serving God by serving people through
charitable acts and organizations all over the
world.
Acts as an antidote to triumphalist, highly-
structured views or to inward-looking stances
which the Church took in the past.
Avoids the Marxist criticism that religion worries
only about the next life and dulls people’s
strivings for a better life here and now.
Issues:
o it is only a partial view and dependent
on previous models as it could reduce
Church to what has been called the
“social gospel” and neglect other
aspects of living the faith.
CONCLUSION
The Dulles models rise out of this age-old distinction and
try to show the many ways of looking at a single,
complicated, and rich form of life. The Church is both of
this world and not of this world; it is both natural and
supernatural; it is both material and spiritual; it is both
