Catholic Perspectives On Baptism Eucharist And Ministry

"A study commissioned by the Catholic Theological Society of America.""Co-published by arrangement with The Catholic Theological Society of America"--T.p. verso. Bibliography: p. 187-190.

Professor Gromada has provided fellow-theologians and researchers with a complete and accurate history of the different stages, transitions and influences which lead to the actual text on ministry in 'Baptism, Eucharist, and Ministry' (BEM) produced by the Faith and Order Commission of the World Council of Churches in January 1982 in Lima, Peru. In this serious and methodical exposition, both published and unpublished sources and documentation are utilized as well as the author-participant's own material. In addition, individual theologians and theological perspectives are identified and highlghted and the eventual direction of ecumenical discussions is fully described.

The result of a fifty-year process of study, this text represents the theological convergence that has been achieved, through decades of dialogue, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Historically, what did the Church and theologians mean by apostolicity, apostolic tradition, apostolic churches, and apostolic succession? Theologically, what have important postconciliar theologians taught about apostolicity? How have world views shaped the understanding of apostolicity? How might the thesis of the apostolicity of the whole Church impact other ecclesiological and sacramental issues? Ecumenically, what are the points of agreement in several important ecumenical dialogues? Which points are disputed among the churches? Apostolicity Then and Now addresses these concerns.