Whether, and how, a church ought to repent for a historical wrong
This article proposes a framework for churches that are discerning whether, and how, to publicly repent or apologize for a particular historical wrong. Biblical resources from both testaments, recent developments in theology, reflection on instances of ecclesial repentance, and multidisciplinary wor...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Sage Publ.
[2016]
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| In: |
Theology today
Year: 2016, Volume: 73, Issue: 2, Pages: 129-148 |
| IxTheo Classification: | CH Christianity and Society KAJ Church history 1914-; recent history KBQ North America |
| Further subjects: | B
Forgiveness
B Holy Spirit B Church B RELIGION & history B Indian Residential Schools (Canada) B church apology B Reconciliation B Apologizing B ecclesial repentance B Repentance B Reconciliation Religious aspects B collective apology |
| Online Access: |
Presumably Free Access Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | This article proposes a framework for churches that are discerning whether, and how, to publicly repent or apologize for a particular historical wrong. Biblical resources from both testaments, recent developments in theology, reflection on instances of ecclesial repentance, and multidisciplinary work on apologies suggest how penitent churches may hear what the Spirit is saying to them. An act of repentance by a church entails confession of sin, public acknowledgment, commitment to a future, and public witness. Churches are challenged to engage in repentance to the extent that they resist seeking to control the process and attend to the particulars of repair and renewal. |
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| ISSN: | 2044-2556 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Theology today
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1177/0040573616643362 |