Theology of the Church

A New Ecclesiology - A Theology of the Church Today

Introduction
Ecclesiology is the term usually given to our Theology of the Church. When we
encounter this term, it only means a study of what the nature of the Church is
and how it is to respond to the "signs of our times". This new theology of
Church can be found in two of the Vatican's documents: Lumen Gentium and
Gaudium et Spes. The new theology of the Church is found in both
documents with the nature of the Church emphasized in the former document
and mission of the Church in the world emphasized in the latter document.

Before we continue in exploring the meaning of this new theology of the Church,
it is best we redefine theology for our study. By theology, we mean a formal
study of the objective truths of our faith. In the words of many theologians
today, it is "faith seeking understanding". Therefore, if we were to apply
this definition to our study of the nature and the mission of the Catholic
Church, theology of the Church really just simply means seeking to understand
the mystery of the Church in its nature and its mission in the world today.

A Theology From Above, A Theology From Below
In our study of the new theology of the Church, we are called to be aware of
the previous way we understood our faith and the Church and our present
outlook towards the Church, its mystery, nature and mission.

Theology before Vatican II emphasized abstract truths that were derived from
classic scholastic theology. Thus, from these ideal and abstract realities,
this theology came to be known as the "theology from above". That is why in
the past, the emphasis of our faith was on knowing the angels, heaven, hell,
purgatory, limbo, the Church triumphant, the Church militant, the Church
suffering, archangels and devils, principalities and powers, thrones and
dominations, and many other realities that are truths but are abstracted truths.
Thus, the term "theology from above".

The new theology which we are basing our new theology of the Church, is what
the theologians term as "theology from below". This theology is a theology
based on human experiences and the social realities which the whole of mankind
is experiencing now. It is because of this "theology from below" that we now
speak of truths and realities like the option for the poor, justice for the
marginalized, the social responsibility of business, the importance of being
pro-life, liberation from unjust systems and structures, social sin, and many
others.

Although Vatican II theology does not throw the "old" theology away from our
tradition, it now integrates the new theology with what we all know already as
classic to our understanding of the faith. Thus, in our exploration into this
new theology of the Church, we must also be aware that the old theology is and
will be a good reference point to understand better the mystery of the Church
and what its role is in the world today.

Rethinking Our Theology of the Church
With both the above old and new elements in our theology of the Church made
aware to us again, we are called to rethink what theology of the Church will
help us build the Church and make it a leaven of justice, mercy and charity
in the world today. Are we called to involve ourselves in politics in order
to achieve the mission of the Church in the world today? Before we answer this
question, we must note that our theology of the Church needs to find a good
balance between the old theology and the new theology. Too much of one side
is not a good thing. If we stress too much on the old theology, our theology
of the Church will lead us to a very contemplative life. On the other hand, if
we stress too much on the new theology of the Church, we will be led to live a
very active life with so many involvements in the world. Both extremes, if
taken to a high intensity will be very imbalanced and would not be good theology.
What is good is that we take a middle position - something that incorporates
more or less either the old theology of the Church or the new theology of the
Church. We cannot all be contemplatives. And we cannot all be activists. But
we can become men and women who are both contemplative and active in the
world today.

Our Theology of the Church is What We Are as a Church
From our exploration of what this new theology of the Church is and from our
examination of how this theology is within the context of the classic theology
we know of in our faith, we finally came to understand that our theology of
the Church is really not only trying to seek understanding of what the Church
as a body or institution is but what we, as a People of God in the flesh,
really are. It is good to realize that "we are a Church moving within human
history". The Church is not a building or a hierarchical institution. The
Church is made up of real people - a people who are contemplating God's
love for them and acting locally in the world in utter and generous service
to all of God's people through their states of life and personal calling and
vocation. Therefore, if we are called again to rethink our theology of the
Church, we may ask ourselves as a community - what is our present situation
calling us to do? We are called to be contemplatives and activists but what
specific decision that combines both contemplative and active dimensions will
be most suitable and effective in solving the day to day human problems I
encounter daily in families, in our parishes, in the workplace, and in the
communities and neighborhood in which I reside? As we do this, and as we
reflect and rethink as to what our direction will be, our theology of the
Church is one that will bring about change and improvement in the quality
of our Christian life. It could lead us to make better our prayer life or to
make better our active life.

Dennis-Emmanuel Cabrera
January 21, 2005

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