Should Baptism Be Considered As Full Initiation Into The Church The Liturgical Implications Of This Understanding

Essay from the year 2008 in the subject Theology - Systematic Theology, grade: 1, Durham University, course: Theology BA, language: English, abstract: Traditional sacramental models have understood that Christian initiation is undertaken through the sacraments of baptism, confirmation and Eucharist, and is only fully complete after the conferral of all three sacramental actions. However, since the Reformation, and particularly over the last century, there has been a movement towards a baptismal ecclesiology which suggests that baptism, in and of itself, represents full initiation into the Church and the Christian faith. This essay will analyse the role of baptism in Christian initiation, and suggest liturgical implications for understanding baptism as fully initiatory into the Christian Church.

Shows how Christian worship in its many and changing forms interacts in significant and interesting ways with its varying contexts - cultural, social, political, economic. Giving special attention to Scotland, this title also challenges the Churches and believers to renewal of the worship of God in spirit and in truth.

This book documents the Episcopal Church's developing focus on baptism within the context of the liturgical movement, the emerging understanding of the eucharist, prayer book revision, and the confirmation dilemma. Drawing on historical and contemporary sources, the author presents a credible case in support of her belief that a baptismal ecclesiology is emerging from these events that have enabled people to accept a radically different initiatory pattern in the church. This book exhibits clarity on the issues discussed with the support of solid scholarship and lucid writing.

Our common belonging to Christ through baptism creates a bond that transcends the historic and theological differences among the churches; and the mutual recognition of baptism has emerged as a cornerstone of the modern ecumenical movement. Yet significant differences--some threatening the search for the unity of the Church--remain. This book explores the significance of baptism for the churches, and the ecumenical movement, today. Descriptive articles explain the understanding and practice of baptism within a wide range of Christian churches and confessions; these are complemented by baptismal liturgies from many churches, examples of mutual recognition agreements, and reflections on topics such as the role of baptism in increasingly secularized societies. The volume is enhanced by survey articles by prominent liturgists, reviewing the current opportunities--and challenges--facing the churches in the area of baptism. This book will be an important resource for all who wish to explore the understanding and practice of baptism, and its role in the life of the churches and of the ecumenical movement today.

Klara Tammany is a professional Christian educator who goes about her calling with a joyous urgency. This book demonstrates her impassioned approach to religious instruction. She starts with the premise that ongoing Christian education must be central to a life of faith, and then proceeds from the corollary that baptism must be central to all Christian education. Eight group sessions focus repeatedly on water, first as a natural element necessary to life, then as a symbolic element necessary to spirituality. Gradually, through prayer, song, scripture, silence, poetry, visual arts, storytelling, group discussion, and personal reflection, water--as baptismal element--gains ascendancy. No longer mere, occasional refreshment, Living Water inundates, becomes life's very medium. This text makes for excellent catechumenal preparation but is intended for use by all Christians--those who are years into their journeys as well as those who are beginning. Designed for small groups of adult Episcopalians, the program is easily adaptable to other denominations, to one-on-one spiritual mentoring, to children, young adult, or intergenerational groups, and even to individuals for private meditation.

What does a common baptism mean for the unity of the churches? Do the churches in fact share in a common baptism? This volume is the first comprehensive study of the meaning of baptism for church unity to be written by an ecumenical group of theologians -- Orthodox, Catholic, Lutheran, Reformed, Anglican, and Baptist. These essays explore such themes as how baptism relates to the communion shared by the churches and the relationship of baptism and church unity as found in the New Testament, in the ecumenical dialogues, and in the liturgies of the churches.

This is a survey of the history of the 'Book of Common Prayer', and its descendants throughout the world. The guide shows how a classic text for worship and devotion has become the progenitor of an entire family of religious resources that have had an influence far beyond their use in Anglican churches.

This book is a general reader's abridgement of five reports by diocesan ecumenical officers from the Episcopal and Roman Catholic diocese in America. Feelings of church leaders about such topics as eucharistic sharing, ministry, authority, theology, pastoral care, ecumenics, and shared responsibility were investigated. Contributors: Ernest R. Falardeau, Robert S. Ervin, Raymond A. Barton, George A. Kilcourse, Donald W. Gross, Richard W. Townley, Jr., William D. Nix, Jr., G. Donald Ferree, Jr., Monica K. Hellwig, Louis Weil, John T. Ford, Marianne H. Micks, V. Nelle Bellamy, Frederick M. Jelly, Patrick R. Granfield and James E. Griffis. Written for the general reader, this study should be of interest to theologians. Co-published with the National Association of Diocesan Ecumenical Officers.