SEMINAR 4.1

Spirit, Charism & the Church

How does the Spirit constitute and disrupt the church’s visible forms?

THE ARGUMENT
The church is a creature of Word and Spirit whose offices, charisms, and boundaries remain accountable to the eschatological gift it signifies.

The church is studied as a creature of Word and Spirit whose visible forms, offices, and charisms remain accountable to the gift they serve.

By the end of this seminar
  1. 01

    Relate institution and charism noncompetitively

  2. 02

    Evaluate ecclesial practices with theological criteria

  3. 03

    Construct an account of Spirit-led reform

Learning sequence4 lessons
  1. 01

    The Spirit constitutes

    Pentecost gathers a differentiated people through a gift no community controls.

  2. 02

    Word, sacrament, and office

    Visible forms serve durable communion and truthful transmission.

  3. 03

    Charism and discernment

    A claimed gift is judged by confession, fruit, communal testing, and regard for the vulnerable.

  4. 04

    Reform as pneumatology

    The Spirit reforms the church toward the eschatological gift it already imperfectly signifies.