Models of the Church

Jesuit priest (later cardinal) who developed the Models of the Church

_ helps us understand the Church's identity as well as her mission in the world throughout history.

a representation, an example, a symbol, and a pattern used to explain a larger concept; offer some useful information for understanding the subject at hand

No one _____ is complete in itself; all ______ offer unique perspectives and must be used together to deepen our understanding of the subject.The subject is always bigger than the ______ describe.

Church as Institution

Church as Mystical Body or Communion

Church as Herald

Church as Servant

Church as Sacrament

Focus: church as visible society with formal structures and organization (official teachings, Sacrament system, etc.)

Strength: provides strong sense of identity for members, clarity of beliefs, and sense of stability and continuity in the midst of a changing world

Weakness: can put too much emphasis on rules and traditions, can seem too concerned about status quo, can be slow to change

Focus: relationships of person who are gathered in God through Jesus: horizontal (with others) and vertical (with God) dimensions maintained

Strengths: faith life in the Holy Spirit developed through strong, intimate relationships, gives evidence of the enduring Body of Christ image of Church

Weakness: can become too inwardly focused on relationships and without a sense of outreach to others, can minimize need for appropriate Church leadership

Focus: power of the Word of God to challenge, comfort, heal, and encourage the world that God's Word (Jesus) is active in the world, Church as messenger of Jesus that brings his Gospel to all

Strength: clear mission for the Church to proclaim and live out the Word of God in the world, especially in creative use of media and the arts

Weakness: can be perceived as too "preachy" and too focused on getting to know just the text of the Word of God (the Bible) and not the Word of God as Jesus in our lives.

Focus: Church's identification with Jesus as the one who was "[among us] as one who serves" (Luke 22:27); direct service to all people is how the Church most embodies Christ

Strength: clear sense of mission to transform human society into an image of the Kingdom of God through direct service (corporal and spiritual works of mercy)

Weakness: could obscure the ultimate meaning of the service as preparation for the spiritual work for the coming Kingdom of God

Focus: summarizes other models; brings together the Church's institutional sense of itself as being a special sign to the world of Christ's faithful, transforming presence; Church celebrates those unique signs of Christ's presence called Sacraments so she can herself become a better Sacrament of Jesus in the world through her heralding, servant, and Spirit-led community building. We are called to become more and more what Christ is forming here to be.

Strength: a strong sense of Christ's gift of himself in the Sacraments for the life of the Church and for the world, Church meant to be visible manifestation of Christ to the world

Weakness: can become too ritualistic or formulaic in its Sacraments, can focus too much on the sign or gesture and miss the point of the Sacraments as meant to nourish the Church

teach, sanctify, govern, Magisterium, The Church authority comes from Apostolic Tradition

Pope, bishops, priests, Catechism of the Catholic Church, Canon Law, diocesan directories

all those who formally recognize themselves in relationship to an official Church community and Church teachings

Matthew 16: 13-20

Acts of the Apostles 6: 1-7

People of God, fellowship, unity and diversity of gifts in community, Christ is the Head, Church is the Body

prayer groups, intimate relationships

all who share in the body of Christ through the grace of the Holy Spirit

John 15: 5

Acts of the Apostles 4: 32-37

Word of God, conversion, witness, salvation

Bible studies, evangelization, missions, media

all those who give witness to their life in Christ and see the Word of God as key

Matthew 28: 16-20

Acts of the Apostles 2: 37-41

service to the world, dialogue, liberation, justice, peace, prophetic

hospitals, Saint Vincent de Paul Society, Catholic Campaign for Human Development, Habitat for Humanity, Catholic Relief Services

all who serve the needs of others as Christ did; "Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me." (Matthew 25: 40)

John 13: 3-15

Acts of the Apostles 5: 12-16

grace, nourished by the Sacraments, "Be what you have received."

liturgy, light and salt for the world (to be a sign of Christ), communal prayer, source of grace

all who share in the liturgical life of the Church so as to be transformed by grace to be a sign of Christ in the world

Luke 21: 19-20

Acts of the Apostles 2: 42-47