The Eucharist and Ecumenism: Let Us Keep the Feast (Current Issues in Theology, Series Number 6)

The theology of the Eucharist has long been the subject of heated debate, particularly since the Reformation. George Hunsinger's book explores ways in which Christians might resolve their differences in this area. With the aim of fostering ecumenical convergence, he tackles three key issues dividing the churches about the Eucharist: real presence, Eucharistic sacrifice, and ordained ministry. Hunsinger, a Protestant theologian in the Reformed tradition, brings Eastern Orthodox views more systematically into the discussion than has been common in the West. He also discusses the social significance of the Eucharist. His detailed conclusion summarizes and clarifies the argument as a whole with an eye to explaining how the views proposed in the book could lead the churches, beginning with the Reformed church, closer to the day when obstacles to Eucharistic sharing are overcome. George Hunsinger has been chosen as the recipient of the 2010 Karl Barth Prize by the jury of the Union of Evangelical Churches in the Evangelical Church in Germany. Cover......Page 1 Half-title......Page 3 Title......Page 5 Copyright......Page 6 Contents......Page 8 Acknowledgments......Page 9 Three types of theology......Page 12 Promoting visible unity as a theological task......Page 18 An ecumenical proposal on the eucharist......Page 22 A word on Karl Barth......Page 26 Part I Real presence......Page 30 1 The bread that we break: controversies......Page 32 Real presence according to Aquinas......Page 34 Real presence according to Luther......Page 39 Real presence according to Calvin and Vermigli......Page 45 Mode of bodily presence......Page 58 Mode of rhetoric......Page 63 Mode of reception......Page 75 Mode of conversion......Page 82 Mode of duration......Page 92 Mode of consecration......Page 98 Conclusion......Page 102 Part II Eucharistic sacrifice......Page 104 A sacrifice of thanks and praise: the Reformers on eucharistic sacrifice......Page 106 The Reformation critique: Zwingli......Page 107 The Reformation critique: Luther......Page 111 The Reformation critique: Calvin......Page 116 Conclusion......Page 120 A bloodless sacrifice: Aquinas and Trent......Page 121 The mass as sacrifice: Thomas Aquinas......Page 122 The mass as sacrifice: the Council of Trent......Page 128 Conclusion......Page 136 4 Christ our Passover: a proposal......Page 139 The mass as sacrifice: Luther and Calvin revisited......Page 143 The meaning of Passover: an interpretation......Page 150 The eucharist as paschal meal: Warfield, Torrance, and Thurian......Page 156 Cracking the deadlock......Page 171 Conclusion......Page 187 Ecumenical implications......Page 190 Liturgical postlude......Page 193 Christ as acting subject: Word and Sacrament (fig. 2)......Page 195 Time/eternity axis (fig. 3)......Page 196 Part III Eucharist and ministry......Page 198 5 Eucharistic ministry: controversies......Page 200 The concept of defectus......Page 202 Five questions about ministry......Page 208 Who has the authority to ordain?......Page 209 Who is qualified to be ordained?......Page 211 What is the nature of ordination?......Page 214 What are the offices of ministry?......Page 216 What are the functions of ordained ministry?......Page 224 Types of theological imagination......Page 229 Apostolic succession: doctrine and defect......Page 231 The future of the papacy......Page 233 The filioque......Page 235 A tendency toward indifference?......Page 237 Apostolic succession: continuity of office......Page 239 A word on women's ordination......Page 242 Conclusion......Page 252 Part IV Eucharist and social ethics......Page 256 Reconsidering Christ and Culture......Page 258 The eucharist as a counter-cultural event......Page 264 The eucharist as Christ transforming culture......Page 274 Conclusion: the eucharist and social ethics......Page 287 8 Nicene Christianity, the eucharist, and peace......Page 290 Nicene Christianity and the eucharist......Page 292 Athanasius and the Incarnation......Page 294 Anselm and the atonement......Page 303 The peace witness of Nicene Christians......Page 316 Conclusion......Page 322 Conclusion: let us keep the feast......Page 324 Points of convergence with the high sacramental churches......Page 326 Points of clarification for the Reformed tradition......Page 327 It is proposed:......Page 328 Points of convergence with the high sacramental churches......Page 329 Points of clarification for the Reformed tradition......Page 331 It is proposed:......Page 332 Points of convergence and divergence with the high sacramental churches......Page 333 Points of clarification for the Reformed tradition......Page 335 Concluding unscientific personal postscript......Page 337 Index......Page 344 Cover 1 Half-title 3 Title 5 Copyright 6 Contents 8 Acknowledgments 9 Introduction: Ecumenical theology 12 Three types of theology 12 Promoting visible unity as a theological task 18 An ecumenical proposal on the eucharist 22 A word on Karl Barth 26 Part I Real presence 30 1 The bread that we break: controversies 32 Real presence according to Aquinas 34 Real presence according to Luther 39 Real presence according to Calvin and Vermigli 45 2 The iron in the fire: a proposal 58 Mode of bodily presence 58 Mode of rhetoric 63 Mode of reception 75 Mode of conversion 82 Mode of duration 92 Mode of consecration 98 Conclusion 102 Part II Eucharistic sacrifice 104 3 The sacrifice we offer: controversies 106 A sacrifice of thanks and praise: the Reformers on eucharistic sacrifice 106 The Reformation critique: Zwingli 107 The Reformation critique: Luther 111 The Reformation critique: Calvin 116 Conclusion 120 A bloodless sacrifice: Aquinas and Trent 121 The mass as sacrifice: Thomas Aquinas 122 The mass as sacrifice: the Council of Trent 128 Conclusion 136 4 Christ our Passover: a proposal 139 The mass as sacrifice: Luther and Calvin revisited 143 The meaning of Passover: an interpretation 150 The eucharist as paschal meal: Warfield, Torrance, and Thurian 156 Cracking the deadlock 171 Conclusion 187 Ecumenical implications 190 Liturgical postlude 193 ADDENDUM: EUCHARISTIC VECTORS The eucharist (fig. 1) 195 Christ as acting subject: Word and Sacrament (fig. 2) 195 Time/eternity axis (fig. 3) 196 Part III Eucharist and ministry 198 5 Eucharistic ministry: controversies 200 The concept of defectus 202 Five questions about ministry 208 Who has the authority to ordain? 209 Who is qualified to be ordained? 211 What is the nature of ordination? 214 What are the offices of ministry? 216 What are the functions of ordained ministry? 224 Types of theological imagination 229 6 Eucharistic ministry: an impending impasse? 231 Questions of ecumenical admonition 231 Apostolic succession: doctrine and defect 231 The future of the papacy 233 The filioque 235 A tendency toward indifference? 237 Apostolic succession: continuity of office 239 A word on women's ordination 242 Conclusion 252 Part IV Eucharist and social ethics 256 7 The eucharistic transformation of culture 258 Reconsidering Christ and Culture 258 The eucharist as a counter-cultural event 264 The eucharist as Christ transforming culture 274 Conclusion: the eucharist and social ethics 287 8 Nicene Christianity, the eucharist, and peace 290 Nicene Christianity and the eucharist 292 Athanasius and the Incarnation 294 Anselm and the atonement 303 The peace witness of Nicene Christians 316 Conclusion 322 Conclusion: let us keep the feast 324 The bread that we break 326 It is proposed: 326 Points of convergence with the high sacramental churches 326 Points of clarification for the Reformed tradition 327 The sacrifice we offer 328 It is proposed: 328 Points of convergence with the high sacramental churches 329 Points of clarification for the Reformed tradition 331 Eucharist and ministry 332 It is proposed: 332 Points of convergence and divergence with the high sacramental churches 333 Points of clarification for the Reformed tradition 335 Concluding unscientific personal postscript 337 Index 344