Читать книгу Amt, Ordination, Episkopé und theologische Ausbildung / Ministry, ordination, episkopé and theological education - Группа авторов - Страница 15

13. The document presented here has the aim of deepening and developing further the basic consensus formulated in earlier CPCE documents. This is especially true of the ‘Statement’ (part 2) which presents a common position of the Protestant churches on ministry, ordination and episkopé. This consensus is naturally a differentiated one. While the basic convictions are common or can be sustained in harmony, the patterns of ministry, the regulations about ordination and other forms of commissioning, and the organisation of episkopé are often very different. Some suggestions for a more consistent practice are made, but without the intention of urging the CPCE churches to abandon convictions which are dear to them. The ‘Recommendations’ at the end of the document (part 3), mainly point out the issues where further study seems necessary.

14. The ‘Resource Material’ (part 4), which accompanies this document, will, in its first part, give an account of the historical development of the understanding and shaping of ministry/ministries, which gives reasons for some of the differences between Protestant churches. On this basis, the second part will analyze some of the differences that still remain, taking note of the theological arguments and rationales between points of disagreement.⁶

15. The issues of ministry and episkopé become all the more urgent as the churches are challenged by recent developments in society, e.g. far-reaching demographic changes, financial restrictions, and religious diversity. Many processes of church reform and renewal, which are now taking place in the Protestant churches of Europe, also have bearing on patterns of ministry and the tasks and exercise of episkopé. These issues, however, claim a more thorough reflection and are a topic of their own.⁷ This document is more concerned with the theological evaluation in a narrower sense.