本書作者為蘇成溢牧師,中華基督教會香港區會總幹事(2005-2021)及香港基督教協進會主席(2015-2021)。作者於2017年畢業於香港中文大學崇基學院神學院,完成其神學博士課程。其論文乃有關自1910年愛丁堡世界宣教會議以來近代普世合一運動的一個核心議題──「可見的合一」。作者透過研究有機聯合會(Organic Union)、議會團契(Conciliar Fellowship)及共融契通(Koinonia)的神學理念,探索如何達致可見的合一。此著作以英文寫成,最主要部份是研究以上三個倡議如何帶來可見的合一,它們的強弱之處,以及挑戰。
Foreword by Yip Ching-wah Francis
Foreword by Chan Ying Shing
Preface
Acknowledgement
Abstract
English
Chinese
Abbreviations
Introduction
1 Background
1.1 The quest for visible unity in the modern ecumenical movement
1.2 Visible unity: Three significant initiatives
1.2.1 Organic unions in Asia
1.2.2 Initiatioves of the World Council of Churches
2 Study thesis
2.1 Study of the initiatives fot visible unity
3 A review of the research on the church unity movement
3.1 Two organic unions in Asia
3.1.1 The Church of Christ in China (CCC)
3.1.2 The Church of South India (CSI)
3.2 Initiative of the Wordl Council of Churches (WCC)
3.2.1 Organic union
3.2.2 Conciliar fellowship and Baptism, Eucharist, Ministry: Common ecclesiological exercises for a visible conciliar fellowship
4 Methodology and approach
4.1 Propositions and inquiries
4.2 Study overview
I A Model of Organic Union in Asia: The Church of Christ in China and Church of South India
1 Missionaries and Asian Christians in the unity movement
2 The Church of Christ in China: An organic union of non-episcopal churches
2.1 Cheng Ching Yi and the organic union initiative
2.2 Forming an organic union in China: The Church of Christ in China (CCC)
2.2.1 Doctrine and government of CCC
a) Doctirne basis of union
b) Government
2.2.2 CCC: Organic union or united church?
a) Non-episcopal membership of CCC
b) Response of the Anglican Church
2.3 Conclusion: Four aspect of the orientation of CCC
2.3.1 Ecumenical aspect
2.3.2 Missiologiacl aspect
2.3.3 Social-political aspect
2.3.4 Theological and ecclesiological aspect
a) Challenges from two types of independence movement
b) Challenges from conservatives and liberals
c) Ecclesiological framework
2.3.5 Concluding remarks
3 Church of South India: An organic union across episcopal and non-episcopal churches
3.1 Social and political factors and the Indian churches
3.1.1 Multi-identity: Religions and castes
a) Religious identity and relationship of Christians
i) Thomas Christians and European Christians
ii) Aggressive missionaries and colonial development
b) Caste identity and division of communities
i) The gap of castes
ii) Division by confession and conflist of interest
3.1.2 Multidimensional separation and a recognized identity
3.1.3 Conclusion
3.2 Indian churches: Unity and diversity
3.2.1 Unity in Christ with diversity in characteristics
3.2.2 Diversity in culture but unity in fellowship for all
3.2.3 Conclusion
3.3 An aspired unity of the Indian churches
3.3.1 South India United Church: A united church with Reformed and Lutheran characteristics
3.3.2 Ecumenical leaders
3.3.3 The Tranquebar Manifesto
3.3.4 Three aspect of the Indian aspiration for church unity
a) Biblical and theological aspect
b) Social and cultural aspect
c) Missiological aspect
3.3.5 Two concerns regarding church union
a) Church union and the contributions of churches
b) Church union and the difference in ministry
3.4 A scheme to amalgamate episcopal and non-episcopal elements
3.4.1 On ministry
3.4.2 On government
3.4.3 Unity in ministry: Supplemental ordination or minister commissioning
3.4.4 Presuppositions of the 1929 Scheme
3.5 Voices of resistance
3.5.1 Lutherans: Doctrines as uncompromised base
3.5.2 Resistant Congregationalists and Anglicans
3.5.3 Methodists: From hesitation to participation
3.5.4 Reasons for resistance and shift
3.6 The 1929 Scheme and The Constitution of the Church of South India (Constitution of CSI)
3.6.1 The articulations of CSI
3.6.2 Strengths and weaknesses of the articulations
a) Strengths
b) Weaknesses
3.7 Conclusion: Significant factors and orientation of CSI
3.7.1 India's social background as a British colony.
3.7.2 Leadership of clergy in the movement
3.7.3 Concentration on ecclesial order and practices
4 Organic union in Asia: Commonality and distinctiveness of CCC and CSI
4.1 Path and approach
4.1.1 Path
4.1.2 Approach
4.2 Commonality
4.2.1 Denominationalism and the division of the church
4.2.2 Unity as a virtue for community life
4.2.3 Witness for Christ with one accord
4.3 Distinctiveness
4.3.1 Contexts and key initiators
4.3.2 Government
4.3.3 Progress
4.3.4 Orientation
4.4 Conclusion
II Alternative Visions of Church Unity Initiated by the World Council of Churches (WCC)
1 The WCC's mandate of unity
2 Church unity and the organic union model
2.1 Organic union: Ideals and limitations
2.2 Conviction in the visible unity of churches
2.3 The shift of approach and internal and external factors
2.4 The quest for unity.
3 Conciliar fellowship: Steps towards visible unity
3.1 Eucharistic community
3.2 Baptism, Eucharist, Ministry (BEM) and the implementation of conciliar fellowship
3.3 Advantages and challenges
3.4 Conciliar fellowship at a crossroads
4 Emerging issues and new threats to the church unity movement.
5 Koinonia: Model of relational unity
5.1 Koinonia: The Triune God and unity in communion
5.2 Theological interpretations of koinonia (communion)
5.2.1 Koinonia as mutual recognition
5.2.2 Churches in communion (koinonia): Divergence in episcopacy and convergence in eucharistic life
5.2.3 Communion (koinonia) ecclesiology
5.2.4 Koinonia and unity
5.2.5 Koinonia: A reunion or a new union?
5.2.6 Koinonia: Unity with diversity
5.3 An overview: Strengths and weaknesses of koinonia
5.3.1 Strengths
5.3.2 Weaknesses
6 Unity movement developments over the last two decades
6.1 Internal and external factors as challenges to visible unity
6.2 Global Christian Forum (GCF)
6.3 The focus on church unity at the recent assemblies of WCC
7 A brief retrospect of the visible unity initiatives of WCC
III Assessing the Visible Unity Initiatives: Organic Union, Conciliar Fellowship and Koinonia
1 Organic union: Unity in government and ministry
1.1 Unified government and ministry
1.2 Challenges
2 Conciliar fellowship: Unity in eucharistic life
2.1 Eucharistic fellowship
2.2 Measures
2.3 Challenges
3 Koinonia: Relational unity
3.1 Unity and love
3.2 Diversity as a challenge
4 Correlation and contribution
4.1 Koinonia and conciliar fellowship
4.2 Koinonia and organic union
4.3 Conclusion
IV A Chinese Contextual Reflection on Visible Unity and the Unity Movement
1 The church unity movement in China and Hong Kong
1.1 The Chinese Protestant Church and the China Christian Council and the Three-Self Patriotic Movement
1.1.1 Implementation of visible unity
1.1.2 Limitations.
1.1.3 Conclusion
1.2 The Protestant churches in Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Council of The Church of Christ in China (HKCCCC)
1.2.1 Christian ecumenical organizations
a) Hong Kong Chinese Christian Churches Union (HKCCCU).
b) Hong Kong Christian Council (HKCC)
c) Conclusion: Visible unity initiated by HKCCCU and HKCC
1.2.2 Church union
a) HKCCCC and the initiative for a united church of Hong Kong
b) Reasons for the failure of the proposed UCHK
c) Conclusion
2 Conclusion: A contextual reflection on visible unity
2.1 An inspired vision of visible unity
2.1.1 The decline of organic union
2.1.2 The ineffectiveness of conciliar fellowship and koinonia
2.2 The significance of visible unity
2.2.1 Unity in diversity: An alternate expression of organic unity
2.2.2 Equality in one body through mutual sharing and fellowship: An alternate expression of conciliar fellowship
2.2.3 Communion of love: An alternate expression of relational unity
2.3 Concluding remarks
Appendices