Główne nurty eklezjologii Kard. Avery Dullesa

Abstract

Avery card. Dulles is one of the most eminent contemporary theologians. His ecclesiology is world-widely approved as very deep and original reflection upon the Church. Several characteristics of his thought could be distinguished. These are, first of all, a broad, multifocal outlook which develops from his first Dimensions of the Church to the best known Models of the Church. These dimensions and further models create a schema for other analyses. Dulles uses them presenting his view on the notion of catholicity of the Church, the Church adaptation to the changing world and its limits. He distinguishes catholicity as a reflection of Gods pleroma, present even outside the Roman-catholic Church, from Catholicism which he refers to formal structure of the Church. Dulles describes four patterns of Church membership according to mystical, juridical, sociological and personal – communal view. As usual, he declares himself for a comprehensive view combining them all. Thoroughly his whole ecclesiology Dulles emphasizes the symbolic structure of the Church which makes her similar to a sacrament. He insists on the secondary although indispensable importance of the Church institution for the sake of spiritual life and holiness.