Towards an Adventist Version of Communio Ecclesiology Remnant in Koinonia

This book explores how Seventh-day Adventists, like other Christians, can benefit from generating their own version of communio ecclesiology. It starts by offering a critical analysis of the status quo of the existing Adventist portrayal of church as remnant, and suggests potential ways of moving this tradition forward. To articulate a more rounded and comprehensive vision of the church’s rich and multifaceted relational nature, this book draws on the mainstream Christian koinonia-based framework. Consequently, it provides possible solutions to some of the most divisive ecclesial issues that Christian communities face today regarding church structure, ministry, mission, communal interpretation, and reform. As it sets on a new footing the conversation between Adventism and other mainstream Christian traditions, the methodology of this book serves as a pathway for any Christian community to use when revisiting and enhancing its own current theologies of the church.

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION      

(I) The context of this research 

(II) The purpose, method and significance of this research          

(III) The ecumenical setting of this research        

(IV) The structure of this research           

(V) The limitations of this research          

PART I:  CHURCH AS REMNANT: SETTING THE STAGE

CHAPTER 2:  SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISM AT A CROSSROADS        

(I) Origins and development of an Adventist theological identity              

(II) The Adventist quest for truth: Christ in the sanctuary as the main hermeneutical horizon      

(III) The need for further ecclesiological engagement in Adventism         

CHAPTER 3: ADVENTIST REMNANT ECCLESIOLOGY: A BRIEF HISTORICAL   AND BIBLIOGRAPHICAL SURVEY            

 (I) Adventism as God’s end-time remnant church           

(II) Other foundational concepts              

(III) Organized to proclaim          

(IV) Consolidation of the remnant outlook          

CHAPTER 4: A CRITICAL ASSESSMENT OF ADVENTIST UNDERSTANDING  OF THE CHURCH AS REMNANT                                                                       

(I) The first inadequacy: The lack of systematic reasoning                                                 

(II) The second inadequacy: The neglect of ontological definition                                    

(III) The third inadequacy: The reductionist concept of truth                                           

(IV) The fourth inadequacy: The pneumatological deficit                                                 

(V) A way forward                                                                                                        

PART II: CHURCH AS KOINONIA: ENHANCING THE VISION

CHAPTER 5: COMMUNIO ECCLESIOLOGY: A NEW ECCLESIOLOGICAL  OPPORTUNITY        

(I) The communio trend in mainstream modern ecclesiology      

(II) Basic features of communio ecclesiology      

(III) Reasons for incorporating the concept of koinonia into Adventist remnant ecclesiology        

(IV) Koinonia as the new centre of Adventist ecclesiological discourse   

CHAPTER 6:  THE TRINITY AND THE CHURCH: TOWARDS A PARTICIPATORY  ECCLESIOLOGICAL VISION     

(I) The Imitatio Trinitatis approach           

(II) The Participatio Trinitatis approach  

(III) The Spirit-laden account of koinonia: Beyond the pneumatological deficit    

(IV) Truth as koinonia: The essential role of the church in God’s Self-revelation 

PART III: REMNANT IN KOINONIA: CONFRONTING THE ISSUES

CHAPTER 7: OVERCOMING ADVENTIST ECCLESIOLOGICAL IMPASSES      

(I) Some general criteria for implementing the communio approach       

(II) Structure     

(III) Ministry      

(IV) Interpretation         

(V) Mission        

(VI) Reform       

CHAPTER 8: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS    

Tihomir Lazic  works as a Lecturer in Systematic Theology at the Newbold College of Higher Education in England, and as the Director of Public Campus Ministry (or Student Ministry) at the Trans-European Division of the Seventh-day Adventist church.