Icons of Christ

Erscheinungsjahr 2020
ISBN: 978-1-4813-1319-3
Verlag: Baylor University Press

Buch, Englisch, 447 Seiten, Paperback, Format (B × H): 152 mm x 229 mm, Gewicht: 684 g

The pastoral office is one of the most critical in Christianity. Historically, however, Christians have not been able to agree on the precise nature and limits of that office. A specific area of contention has been the role of women in pastoral leadership. In recent decades, three broad types of arguments have been raised against women's ordination: nontheological (primarily cultural or political), Protestant, and Catholic. Reflecting their divergent understandings of the purpose of ordination, Protestant opponents of women's ordination tend to focus on issues of pastoral authority, while Catholic opponents highlight sacramental integrity. These positions are new developments and new theological stances, and thus no one in the current discussion can claim to be defending the church's historic position. Icons of Christ addresses these voices of opposition, making a biblical and theological case for the ordination of women to the ministerial office of Word and Sacrament. William Witt argues that not only those in favor of, but also those opposed to, women's ordination embrace new theological positions in response to cultural changes of the modern era. Witt mounts a positive ecumenical argument for the ordination of women that touches on issues such as theological hermeneutics, relationships between men and women, Christology and discipleship, and the role of ordained clergy in leading the church in worship, among others.Uniquely, Icons of Christ treats both Protestant and Catholic theological concerns at length, undertaking a robust engagement with biblical exegesis and biblical, historical, systematic, and liturgical theology. The book's theological approach is critically orthodox, evangelical, and catholic. Witt offers the church an ecumenical vision of ordination to the presbyterate as an office of Word and Sacrament that justifiably is open to both men and women. Most critically Witt reminds us that, as all Christians are baptized into the image of the crucified and risen Christ, and bear witness to Christ through lives of cruciform discipleship, so men and women both are called to serve as icons of Christ in service of the gospel.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Witt, William G.

Fachgebiete

• Rechtswissenschaften Öffentliches Recht Staats- und Verfassungsrecht Staat und Kirche, Religions- und Kirchenrecht
• Sozialwissenschaften Soziologie | Soziale Arbeit Soziale Gruppen/Soziale Themen Gender Studies, Geschlechtersoziologie
• Geisteswissenschaften Christentum, Christliche Theologie Bibelwissenschaften
• Geisteswissenschaften Religionswissenschaft Sonstige Religionen Sonstige Religionen: Theologie, Doktrine

Inhaltsverzeichnis

- Preface
- Part 1. Introduction
- 1 Preliminaries
- 2 Non-Theological Arguments against the Ordination of Women
- 3 The Argument "from Tradition" Is Not the "Traditional" Argument
- Part 2. Protestant Arguments
- 4 Hierarchy and Hermeneutics
- 5 Beginning with Genesis
- 6 Disciples of Jesus
- 7 Mutual Submission
- 8 Women in Worship and "Headship"
- 9 Speaking and Teaching
- Part 3. Catholic Arguments
- 10 A Presbytera Is Not a "Priestess"
- Old Testament Priesthood
- 11 Women's Ordination and the Priesthood of Christ
- Biblical and Patristic Background
- 12 Women's Ordination and the Priesthood of Christ
- In persona Christi
- 13 The Argument from Symbolism
- God, Priests, Incarnation, and Apostles
- 14 The Argument from Symbolism
- Transcendence and Immanence
- Part 4. The Ministry of Women in the New Testament
- 15 Women's Ministry in the New Testament Office
- 16 Women's Ministry in the New Testament
- Bishops, Presbyters, Deacons
- Conclusion

Über Autor(innen)

William G. Witt is Associate Professor of Systematic Theology and Ethics at Trinity School for Ministry.