Academic literature on the topic 'Particular Synod'

Christians have had centuries of experience with a wide variety of synods or councils, and the establishment by Pope Paul VI in 1965 of the Synod of Bishops is one of the latest examples. It is already clear that with Pope Francis the Synod will increase its already great impact on the life and mission of the Church. This article will begin by presenting the current canon law governing the Synod, mainly from the 1983 Code of Canon Law. Particular attention will then be given to the ecclesial dynamics within which the Synod operates. This will involve considering papal primacy, episcopal collegiality, Ecumenical Councils, the College of Cardinals and the Roman Curia. While accepting that the Synod must be understood on its own terms, the concluding reflections will illustrate the need to state as a matter of theology and of history the foundations on which synodality and conciliarity rest.

The Second Vatican Council shaped a new model for a diocesan synod, which was adopted, among others, in Poland, and is characterised by a departure from making the norms of particular law and the popularisation of the council teaching in particular Churches. On the other hand, after the promulgation of the new Code of Canon Law in 1983, the diocesan synods adjusted the diocesan law to the code norms. When this period of the reception of the code law to the diocesan legislation achieved its result, the final resolutions of the subsequent diocesan synods, which were usually extensive, do not meet — to a large extent — the requirements set by the documents of the Holy See: Instruction of the Congregation for Bishops and the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Nations of 1997 and the Directory of the Congregation for Bishops Apostolorum successores of 2004. The author calls for the use of these enunciations so that diocesan synods can be an effective tool for the renewal of a particular Church.

In the coming months, the General Synod and then the diocesan synods will be considering legislation enabling bishops of the Church of England to ordain women to the office of priest, and making related provisions as to the manner and effect of this change in the law and practice of the Church of England. The purpose of this article is not to examine that draft legislation, which at the time of writing is still being subjected to line-by-line scrutiny in a Revision Committee of the General Synod, but to sketch in some of the legal background against which it was prepared. In particular, there is a fundamental issue: why is legislation needed? To which may be added: why is Parliamentary authority, expressed by the approval of a Measure, required for any necessary change in the Canons?

Papież Franciszek zwrócił Kościół w kierunku nadania mu charakteru synodalnego, dlatego też kolejny synod biskupów zajmuje się już zagadnieniem synodalności i ma szukać jej właściwego kształtu. Ważne jest, aby dobrze znać genezę tego zagadnienia, gdyż tylko w ten sposób będzie można je właściwie podjąć i ukierunkować w służbie misji zbawczej, którą Kościół pełni. W nauczaniu papieża Franciszka znajdujemy jasno określone pryncypia, na których można budować poprawnie rozumianą synodalność i włączać ją w życie Kościoła na różnych poziomach jego funkcjonowania. Stanowią one właściwe przygotowanie do obecnego synodu biskupów oraz prawidłowe ukierunkowanie jego procesu i podejmowanych konkretnie prac. The origins and the preparations for a new Synod of Bishops concerning synodality Pope Francis has guided the Church so as to make her more synodal in character, which is why another Synod of Bishops already deals with the issue of synodality and is committed to find its appropriate shape. It is vital to analyse thoroughly the origins of this matter since only then it will be possible to deal with it correctly and to apply it in the mission of salvation pursued by the Church. In the teachings of pope Francis we can find clearly defined principles which may constitute a foundation for correctly understood synodality which can be incorporated in the life of the Church on different levels of her activity. These principles constitute an appropriate preparation for the present Synod of Bishops and the appropriate orientation for its proceedings and particular undertakings.

On March 19, 1997, an instruction entitled ‘De Synodis Dioecesanis Agendis‘ was issued jointly by the Congregation for Bishops and the Congregation for Evangelization of Peoples. This Instruction is based on the regulations of the Code of Canon Law published in 1983. In the light of the new Instruction, a Diocesan Synod is to be an instrument of renewal of religious life, pastoral ministry and of the particular Church Law. The entire community of Gods People should be envolved in the works of a Diocesan Synod: its priests, the religious and the laity. They should participate in its works on all stages - in praparations, deliberations and in fulfilment of the resolutions. A Diocesan Synod, understood like this, has the pastoral character and its legislative function is utilized for the pastoral ministry. While a Synod is in session, the Diocesan bishop is the only legislator; other participants -through their advisory voice - take part in preparing the synodal law.

This article looks at the background to the Synod of Dort (1618–1619) and examines the debate there on the issue of particular redemption or definite atonement, with a specific focus on the use of the classic distinction between sufficiency and efficacy made famous by Peter Lombard’s Sentences. It also looks at the variety of Reformed responses to the Remonstrants, including those on the death of Christ that might be categorized as hypothetical universalist. It calls into question the usefulness of the terminology of “four-point Calvinists” to describe delegates such as John Davenant.

The General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada normally meets every three years for a session lasting several days. It held its 41st session from 7 to 12 July 2016 in Richmond Hill, Ontario. Although much media attention focused on one particular motion, a lot of other work was accomplished during the session.

This article studies the mechanism of interaction of the Synod, its institutions and bodies of the central church administration with the Secret Chancellery during the first half of the 1720s. The analysis is based on the documents of the Synod containing correspondence with the Secret Chancellery. This study is a continuation of the research on the relationship between the Secret Chancellery and the Russian Orthodox Church, whose resluts had been published earlier. A deeper immersion in the topic provided greater insights into the joint activities of the synodal institutions and Russia’s main penal body at the time, as well as revealed the details of the most important contacts and pertinent problems. Of particular importance is the activity of the Chancellery of the Most Holy Synod, through which official correspondence with the Secret Chancellery and control over the implementation of its decisions as well as defrocking of priests before the start of investigation were carried out. Further, the paper describes the categories of convicts who were sent to the Synod from the Secret Chancellery and looks into the differences in their position. Contrary to the prevailing opinion about the absence of relations between the Synod and the Secret Chancellery, the author concludes that in practice there was a certain mechanism of interaction, which concerned investigations regarding the accused from among the clergy and their commital, as well as granting official requests from both parties, sending ecclesiastical experts, and enforcing sentences of the Secret Chancellery. In addition, facts are considered that testify to extremely complex and contradictory relations between the Synod and the Secret Chancellery. The author concludes that the relationship between these institutions was not systemic, but developed in the context of the state’s general advance on the church and subordination of the latter and the clergy to state interests. The mechanism of interaction between the Synod and the Secret Chancellery was formed in line with this trend as well.

Between April 1649 and July 1650, over 500 people were accused of witchcraft in Scotland. This period represented one of the five "peaks" in witch-hunting in early modern Scotland identified by Christina Larner in her landmark work on the Scottish witch-hunts, Enemies of God (1983). To this date there has been no in depth study of the 1649-50 Scottish witch-hunt. This thesis offers an examination of the 1649-50 witch-hunt, considering the response of the central authorities to the outbreak of witch-hunting in the localities and the efforts to organise and control the witch-hunt. It also considers the actions of the local presbyteries and kirk sessions in the Synod of Lothian and Tweeddale in responding to community pressure for action on suspected witches. A unique approach has been adopted in considering the nature of Covenanting government and how it shaped the central response to the witch-hunt and the attempts to control the witch-hunt "from above". This thesis combines an examination of the volatile political situation in 1649-50 with an analysis of the complex social nature of witchcraft accusations. This thesis brings together the social and political history of the period in the context of explaining the 1649-50 witch-hunt, with particular regard to the synod of Lothian and Tweeddale.

Racism as legislated by the government of South Africa, found its way into every sphere of South African life, political, social, economic and religious. Racism became another culture. It was in this culture that the Church of the Province of Southern Afiica (Anglican) and the diocese of Johannesburg found itself. To be credible and true to its calling, this church in its social teachings taught against racism on the grounds that it is anti-Christian and denies the essential truths of the gospel. However a contradiction in its teachings presented itself. Racism came to be found to be alive in its life and structures. The church came to not practice what it preached. Its practice did not follow its theory. For this church to be the church, racism needs to be purged from its life, practice and structures. A new way of life in the church has to be created and followed.
M.Th. (Systematic Theology)

AAaJohn Davenant’s hypothetical universalism has consistently been misinterpreted and misrepresented as a via media between Arminianism and Reformed theology. This study examines Bishop Davenant’s hypothetical universalism in the context of early modern Reformed orthodoxy. In light of the various misunderstandings of early modern hypothetical universalism, including English hypothetical universalism, as well as the paucity of studies touching on the theology of Davenant in particular, this book gives a detailed exposition of Davenant’s doctrine of universal redemption in dialogue with his understanding of closely related doctrines such as God’s will, predestination, providence, and covenant theology and (2) defends the thesis that Davenant’s version of hypothetical universalism represents a significant strand of the Augustinian tradition, including the early modern Reformed tradition. In service of these two aims, this book examines the patristic and medieval periods as they provide the background for the Lutheran, Remonstrant, and Reformed reactions to the so-called Lombardian formula (“Christ died sufficiently for all; effectually for the elect”). Moreover, it traces how Davenant and his fellow British delegates at the Synod of Dordt shaped the Canons of Dordt in such a way as to allow for their English hypothetical universalism. A careful exposition of the various theses found in Davenant’s De Morte Christi makes up the central core of this book. Finally, this study explores Davenant’s covenant theology and doctrine of the divine will.

TOWARDS THE NEW LIFE Theology and Importance of Christian Initiation for the Life of Faith The book is in equal parts a presentation and an invitation. The subject matter of both is the mystagogical initiation leading to the personal encounter with God and eventually to the union within the Church in Christ, which happens initially and particualry in the sacramental liturgy. Mystagogy was the essential experience of life in the early Church and now is being so intensely discussed and postulated by the ecclesial Magisterium and through the teaching of the recent popes and synods. Within the ten chapters of this book the reader proceeds through the aspects strictly associated with Christian initiation, noticeable in catechumenate and suggestive for further Christian life. It is not surprising then, that the study begins with answering the question about the sense of dealing with catechumenate at all. The response developed in the first chapter covers four key points: the contemporary state of our faith, the need for dialogue in evangelization, the importance of liturgy in the renewal of faith and the obvious requirement of follo- wing the Church’s Magisterium, quite explicit in the subject undertaken within this book. The introductory chapter is meant to evoke interest in catechumenate as such and encourage comprehension of its essence, in order to keep it in mind while planning contemporary evangelization. For doing this with success and avoiding pastoral archeology, we need a competent insight into the main message and goal of Christian initiation. Catechumenate is the first and most venerable model of formation and growth in faith and therefore worth knowing. The second chapter tries to cope with the reasons and ways of the present return to the sources of catechumenate with respect to Christian initiation understood to be the building of the relationship with God. The example of catechumenate helps us to discover, how to learn wisely from the history. This would definitely mean to keep the structure and liturgy of catechumenate as a vehicle of God’s message, which must be interpreted and adapted always anew and with careful and intelligent consideration of the historical flavour on particular stages within the history of salvation and cultural conditions of the recipients. For that reason we refer to the Biblical resources and to the historical examples of catechumenate including its flourishing and declining periods, after which we are slowly approaching the present reinterpretation of the catechumenal process enhanced by the official teaching of the Church. As the result of the latter, particularly owing to the Vatican Council II, we are now dealing with the renewed liturgy of baptism displayed in two liturgical books: The Rite of Baptism for Children and the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA). This version for adults is the subjectmatter of the whole chapter, in which a reader can find theological analyses of the particular rites as well as numerous indications for improving one’s life with Christ in the Church. You can find interesting associations among the rites of initiation themselves and astounding coherence between those rites and the sacraments of the Eucharist, penance and other sacraments, which simply means the ordinary life of faith. Deep and convincing theology of the process of initiation proves the inspiring spiritual power of the initial and constitutive sacraments of baptism and confirmation, which may seem attractive not only for catechumens but also for the faithful baptized in their infancy, and even more, since they might have not yet had a chance to see what a plausible treasure they have been conveying in their baptismal personality. How much challenge for further and constant realization in life may offer these introductory events of Christian initiation, yet not sufficiently appreciated by those who have already been baptized and confirmed! We all should submit to permanent re-evangelization according to this primary pattern, which always remains essential and fundamental. Very typical and very post-conciliar approach to Christian formation appears in the communal dimension, which guards and guarantees the ecclesial profile of initiation and prepares a person to be a living member of the Church. The sixth chapter of the book is dealing with ecclesial issues in liturgy. They refer to comprehending the word of God, especially in the context of liturgy, which brings about a peculiar theological sense to it and giving a special character to proclaiming the Gospel, which the Pope Francis calls “liturgical proclamation”. The ecclesial premises influence the responsibility for the fact of accompanying the candidates, who aim at becoming Christ’s disciples. As the Church is teaching also in the theological and pastoral introduction to the RCIA, this is the duty of all Christians, which means: priests, religious and the lay, because the Church is one organism in whose womb the new members are conceived and raised. As this fact is strongly claimed by the Church the method of initiation arises to great importance. The seventh chapter is dedicated to the analysis of the catechumenal method stemming from Christ’s pedagogy and His mystery of Incarnation introducing a very important issue of implementing the Divine into the human. The chapter concerning this method opens a more practical part of the book. The crucial message of it is to make mystagogy a natural and obvious method which is the way of building bonds with Christ in the community of the people who already have these bonds and who are eager to tighten them and are aware of the beauty and necessity of closeness with Christ. Christian initiation is the process of entering the Kingdom of God and meeting Christ up to the union with Him – not so much learning dogmas and moral requirements. This is a special time when candidates-catechumens-elected mature in love and in their attitude to Christ and people, which results in prayer and new way of life. As in the past catechumenate nowadays inspires the faithful in their imagination of love and mercy as well as reminds us about various important details of the paschal way of life, which constitute our baptismal vocation, but may be forgotten and now with the help of catechumenate can be recognized anew, while accompanying adults on their catechumenal way. The book is meant for those who are already involved in catechumenal process and are responsible for the rites and formation as well as for those who are interested in what the Church is offering to all who consciously decide to know and follow Christ. You can learn from this book, what is the nature and specificity of the method suggested by the Rite itself for guiding people to God the Saviour and to the community of His people. The aim of the study is to present the universal way of evangelization, which was suggested and revealed by God in His pedagogy, particularly through Jesus Christ and smoothly adopted by the early Church. This way, which can be called a method, is so complete, substantial and clear that it deserves rediscovery, description and promotion, which has already started in the Church’s teaching by making direct references to such categories as: initiation, catechumenate, liturgical formation, the rereading the Mystery of Christ, the living participation in the Mystery and faith nourished by the Mystery. The most engaging point with Christian initiation is the fact, that this seems to be the most effective way of reviving the parish, taking place on the solid and safe ground of liturgy with the most convincing and objective fact that is our baptism and our new identity born in baptismal regenerating bath. On the grounds of our personal relationship with God and our Christian vocation we can become active apostles of Christ. Evangelization begins with ourselves and in our hearts. Thinking about the Church’s mission, we should have in mind our personal mission within the Church and we should refer to it’s roots – first to our immersion into Christ’s death and resurrection and to the anointment with the Holy Spirit. In this Spirit we have all been sent to follow Christ wherever He goes, not necessarily where we would like to direct our steps, but He would. Let us cling to Him and follow Him! Together with the constantly transforming and growing Church! Towards the new life!

This chapter discusses Prideaux’s public career from 1612 to 1624. Opening with an account of his relationship with Isaac Casaubon, whose good name and scholarship he defended in his first publication, it goes on to describe his work as regius professor of divinity and to analyse his early Act lectures on the central Calvinist doctrines of grace and predestination. Continuing with this religious theme, it emphasises his high regard for the anti-Arminian decrees of the Synod of Dort. Next comes an account of Prideaux’s relations with the many foreign students and scholars, such as Sixtinus Amama and Matthias Pasor, who were attracted to Exeter by Prideaux’s outstanding reputation as a theologian and teacher. The chapter goes on to outline his and his College’s long conflict with William Lord Petre over nomination to fellowships, and the importance of the earl of Pembroke’s support in securing a favourable outcome for the College. It concludes by surveying Prideaux’s role in the university, particular as the university’s vice-chancellor under Chancellor Pembroke, and by indicating his sources of wealth and attempting to estimate his annual income. These years marked the most satisfying and successful phase in his long career.

This article is devoted to the study of the organizational structure of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (hereinafter UGCC) as the largest Eastern Catholic Church of the Byzantine rite in the world. The UGCC belongs to religious organizations (hereinafter RO), which form a separate subgroup in the general structure of non-profit organizations (hereinafter NGOs) and, accordingly, constitute the third sector of the economy along with government agencies and commercial organizations. When considering the theoretical issues, the article presents the development and evaluation of scientific thought, the theory of research and the functioning of organizational structures. The essence of organizational management structures is revealed, in particular their basic elements, interrelations, as well as the fundamentals of formation and designing. In what follows, the system of general ecclesiastical administration of the Catholic Church is presented, where the power of leadership, or administration, is divided into three categories: legislative, judicial and executive, combined as a whole in the person of the pope and at the level of the Bishop’s Particular Church. The article also reveals the place and status of the Eastern Catholic Churches in the general structure of the Catholic Church, where synodal administration is considered to be a usual form of government. This form of government operates through an episcopal system based on the hierarchy of bishops and their unification into a college (synod) headed by the head of the church. In the analysis of statistical data on the development of structures and personnel of the UGCC for the last two decades, the quantitative growth of the clergy and the quantitative growth of parishes for this period are graphically presented, which testifies to the stable and professional development of organizational structures and personnel (clergy) of the UGCC in the world. When analyzing church documents (normative – legal acts) regulating the activities of the UGCC and comparing them with theoretical developments in the field of management of organizational structures, it should be noted that OSU UGCC belongs to bureaucratic structures with decentralized operational management at the local level. From the point of view of the analysis of the hierarchy of power, the main governing bodies of the UGCC are described, where the status of each governing body and official is clearly regulated by church canons and job descriptions of the UGCC.

This chapter examines the early life, education, and theological foundations of Scipione de’ Ricci (1741–1810) up to the eve of the Synod of Pistoia, in 1786. It explains the reformist milieu Ricci experienced as a young student in Rome and in his early career in Florence. The importance of the late eighteenth-century convergence of Habsburg Erastian reform, international Jansenism with its focal point in Utrecht, philo-Jansenism and anti-Jesuitism in Italy, and the legacy of Muratori is profiled. Then, the reform agenda Ricci sought to implement as the bishop of Pistoia-Prato (1780–91) is described: an anti-ultramontane and synodal ecclesiology (buttressed by Erastianism and, particularly, Grand Duke Peter Leopold’s fifty-seven Punti ecclesiastici), the importance of Ricci’s international (especially Francophone) Jansenist contacts, his propaganda campaign, and the Riccian drive to reform the liturgy and devotional life in his diocese, including an encouragement of vernacular Bible reading.

Religious congregations regularly take buildings not originally intended for religious use and convert them to spaces for worship and fellowship. This chapter includes five case studies: a Guatemalan evangelical megachurch that worships in a parking garage; a suburban Anglican congregation that transformed a former manufacturing plant; a group in Vermont that turned a former US Army horse barn into a mosque; a suburban non-denominational church that meets each week in a high school auditorium; and an Orthodox Christian congregation that altered a Missouri Synod Lutheran building for their use. The authors argue that a number of religious groups can make spaces work for them, particularly if they have constrained resources and are willing to be creative in changing the interior of structures.

This chapter is concerned with the formal characteristics of Greek inscribed writing and their variety and evolution in the multicultural context of Ptolemaic Egypt. The palaeography of Ptolemaic inscriptions is considered in relation both to indigenous written traditions and to the development of documentary scripts in the papyri. The development of lettering styles in decrees and dedications is traced over the course of the Hellenistic period. The particular case of the lengthy multilingual decrees of Egyptian priestly synods is examined separately. Two concluding sections consider, respectively, a small number of inscriptions, for the dating of which palaeographical considerations may provide clarification, and the possibility of identifying individual stonecutters’ hands within the Corpus of Ptolemaic Inscriptions.

This chapter offers a historical survey of conciliar documentation in its varied forms, starting from the earliest gatherings in councils or synods in the second century, and leading up to the sixth century; some particularly illuminating later examples are also included. After a discussion of the mostly indirect and piecemeal transmission of relevant documents from the earlier centuries, the examination identifies the key sources for the present study: the sets of acts containing records that present the interactions of participants during the sessions in purported direct speech. Such records survive mainly from a period beginning in the early fifth century.