The Church with a Human Face: A New Expanded Theology of Ministry elaborates historically and theologically the main line of his argument. It further includes reactions and reflections on criticism he received. The work outlines the evolution of ecclesiastical office, starting with Jesus Christ and his messianic community, followed by a description of the practice and theology of ministry in the early Christian communities, and tracing different forms of ministry in the history of the Church. Of particular interest is the section on the ‘Complaints of the People’, which deals with the discontent of many connected with the position of women and married priests. As long as women are not allowed to participate fully in the decisions of the Church, Schillebeeckx argues, they will not be liberated, and their complaints will remain a fundamental charge that challenges the church.
Edward Schillebeeckx was an internationally known theologian and one of the leading progressives at the Second Vatican Council. He was the author of many books, including God is New Each Moment, published by Continuum. He died in 2010.
ContentsAbbreviations Introduction to Collected Works of Edward Schillebeeckx Introduction to the new edition ‘The Church with a Human Face’ Preface 1. Introduction: Why this new book? A test case? 2. Part One: Jesus Christ and his Messianic Communities3. Part Two: The Practice and Theology of Ministry in the Early Communities of Christian Believers4. Part Three: Organization and Spirituality of Ministry in the Course of Church History5. Part Four: Listening to the ‘Complaints of the people’6. Part Five: The Church with a Human FaceBibliography Index of Biblical References Index of Names
