Kenrick-Glennon Seminary Evaluation of Avery Dulles' Models of the Church by Andrew J. Walsh Fr. Gregory Lockwood LST 511: Fundamental Theology and Biblical Hermeneutics 7 October 2010
Within the Church, a model of ecclesiology and identity is desperately needed and would be indispensable in our day. This modern ecclesiology would, express as adequately as possible the unity between the interior reality (the Church as community, or communion, or life in the Trinity) and the exterior reality (the Church as institution or means of grace) without confusing these two different but complementary aspects of the one mystery. 1 Writing shortly after the Second Vatican Council, Avery Dulles composed an immensely important book seeking to contribute to the discussion of modern ecclesiology entitled Models of the Church. Dulles was responding to this important issue that was discussed vigorously in the Council and in this way, we might describe Dulles as a contextual theologian, one who addresses the theological questions of the day. 2 In his book, Avery Dulles does not attempt to explicate comparative ecclesiology which he believes to be too diachotomus but instead proposes five models of ecclesiology. The use of models arises from the difficulty of considering the mystery of the Church which forces us to speak using analogies from experience. Dulles initially proposes five analogies, or models: institutional, mystical communion, sacrament, herald of the Gospel, and servant. All of these models must be incorporated within a balanced theology of the Church since no one model can be the exclusive and adequate depiction of the mysterious reality of the Church. 3 The institution model of the Church, towards which Dulles is critical, views the Church primarily from its external and visible structures, specifically including the Church hierarchy. 1 J. R. Lerch, Ecclesiology. in New Catholic Encyclopedia, 2nd ed., vol. 5, ed. Berard L. Marthaler et al. (New York: Gale, 2003), 39. 2 John Ford, Cardinal Avery Dulles. in New Catholic Encyclopedia, 2nd ed., 2009 Supplement, ed. Robert L. Fastiggi et al. (New York: Gale, 2010), 244. 3 Jerome P. Theisen, review of Models of the Church, by Avery Dulles, Worship 48, no. 8 (October 1, 1974), 501. 1
This model provides a strong corporate identity and a stability between past and present. However, at times it can be clerical and triumphalistic. This model does not enjoy much scriptural or patristic support, which often emphasizes prophetic roles and it tends to emphasize obedience at the exclusion of other virtues. Further problems with this model include impeding ecumenical dialogue 4 because it views the missionary role as bringing outsiders into the Church. 5 Theologian Yves Congar identifies two aspects of the Church: the vital inner reality of Church as the community of salvation and the outer reality of the Church as the institution of salvation. 6 Dulles' second model, the Church as mystical communion, typifies the importance of the Church as a community of salvation. This model utilizes the two pervasive biblical images of the Body of Christ and the People of God. The latter image was the principle paradigm of Vatican II which emphasized the People of God as those animated by supernatural faith and charity. This model is both ecumenically and sociologically fruitful since it fulfills the human need for community and also leaves open pathways of mutual agreement between traditions. The community model however, tends to obscure the relationship between the spiritual and the visible aspects of the Church, failing to give members an identity and mission and tending to exalt and divinize the Church beyond its due. The Church as sacrament, the third model, sees the Church as a sign and instrument of unity, union, and grace. It seeks to combine the divine and the human within the Church which can never be disassociated, just as the spirit and the body of a human never can. The model has 4 Ecumenism is a very important topic for Dulles, who studied under prominent ecumenist Gustave Weigel at Woodstock College. See W. J. Burghardt, Weigel, Gustave. in New Catholic Encyclopedia. 2nd ed., vol. 14, ed. Berard L. Marthaler et al. (New York: Gale, 2003), 670. 5 Robert C. Dixon, and Dean R Hoge. "Models and priorities of the Catholic Church as held by suburban laity," Review of Religious Research 20, no. 3 (March 1, 1979), 152. 6 Yves Congar, Lay People in the Church, Westminster, Md.: Newman, 1965, quoted in Avery Dulles, Models of the Church, Garden City, N.Y.: Image, 1991. 2
the distinct ability to integrate ecclesiology with other traditional theological fields including sacramentology and Christology. The Church as sacrament finds little scriptural or patristic support and it can be very difficult to explain and unpack. This model, Dulles believes, is the first and foremost model for understanding the Church within a total interpretation of the Church as mystery. 7 The Church, which has received the Word and been commissioned to pass it on, can be seen, in the fourth model, as the herald of the Gospel. In this model, faith binds the Church under one Gospel and empowers the members to proclaim boldly the Good News of Salvation. In Dei verbum this model is given its foundation and goal, Therefore Christ the Lord... commissioned the Apostles to preach to all men that Gospel which is the source of all saving truth and moral teaching. 8 This rich theology of the Word has strong scriptural basis and gives the Church a strong mission and identity. Unfortunately, this model focuses on witness and preaching to the neglect of action and charity. It also lacks proper reflection on the incarnation of the Word and on the Church as an institution through history. In the last of his initial models, the Church as servant, Dulles develops the idea of the Church which serves the world not only in word, through preaching and proclamation, but more particularly in service to others. In this way, the primary beneficiaries are not the members of the Church but those whom the Church serve serves. This model is important to modern society and to the Church because it gives a new sense of mission and it allows the world to benefit from the Church's values and beliefs. This model lacks scriptural support because, as Gerard O'Collins 7 D W D Shaw, review of Models of the Church, by Avery Dulles, Scottish Journal of Theology 31, no. 1 (January 1, 1978): 78. 8 Second Vatican Council, Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation Dei Verbum (18 November 1965), 7, at The Holy See, www.vatican.va. 3
notes, nowhere in scripture are people called to the Kingdom without also being called to the Church. 9 In a summative chapter, Dulles seeks to answer the problem at hand: to what extent are the models compatible or incompatible? Noting that the process of evaluating the models is impeded by personal commitments and beliefs about ecclesiology, Dulles gives seven criteria for accurately evaluating the models. Using these criteria and other principles, Dulles finds each model to have useful and complementary aspects but also contradictory aspects. He proposes that we use these various models as a hermeneutical tool for interpreting the mystery of the Church and responding to each important aspect of them. Decades after the initial publishing of his book, Dulles revisited the issue of ecclesiology and added an additional chapter and appendix to his book. In these additions, as Thomas Baima notes, Dulles thought develops significantly over the years. While he, himself rejects the idea that his thought has changed per se, still there is clear evidence for development. 10 In 1994 speech, Dulles defends his orthodox position on doctrine saying, Christianity would dissolve itself if it allowed its revealed content, handed down in tradition, to be replaced by contemporary theories. 11 Dulles notes in the final chapter that he was too critical to the institutional model and that he defined the models somewhat narrowly, so as to delineate them as sharply as possible in mutual contrast. These issues led to some confusion and a lack of systematic development. To remedy this lack of systematization, Dulles proposes a model of the Church as a 9 G. C. C. O'Collins, "Notes and Comments: On R. P. McBrien's Do We Need the Church?", Heythrop Journal 10, 1969, quoted in Avery Dulles, Models of the Church, Garden City, N.Y.: Image, 1991. 10 Thomas A. Baima, Biblical images of the Church in Lumen Gentium, Chicago Studies 47, no. 3 (Fall-Wint 2008), 329. 11 Robert McFadden, Cardinal Avery Dulles, Theologian, Is Dead at 90, New York Times, accessed September 29, 2010, http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/13/us/13dulles.html. 4
community of disciples based on a passing remark of Pope John Paul II in his first encyclical. In this variant of the community model, Dulles attempts to view the Church using the term 'disciple'. Within the Gospel, the term is very rich and analogous and is used to describe everyone from Mary, the chief disciple, the apostles, and the less important followers of Christ. The term 'disciple' includes wide implications for each person and specific roles for certain disciples and therefore incorporates both the interior and exterior reality of the Church. In the final analysis however, we must stand with silent appreciation for the mystery and grandeur of the Church. 5
Bibliography Baima, Thomas A. "Biblical images of the Church in Lumen Gentium." Chicago Studies 47, no. 3 (Fall-Wint 2008): 328-347. Burghardt, W. J. Weigel, Gustave. In New Catholic Encyclopedia. 2 nd ed., vol. 14, ed. Berard L. Marthaler et al., 669-670. New York: Gale, 2003. Congar, Yves. Lay People in the Church. Westminster, Md.: Newman, 1965. Quoted in Dulles, Avery. Models of the Church. Garden City, N.Y.: Image, 1991. Dixon, Robert C., and Dean R Hoge. "Models and priorities of the Catholic Church as held by suburban laity." Review of Religious Research 20, no. 3 (March 1, 1979): 150-167. Dulles, Avery. Models of the Church. Garden City, N.Y.: Image, 1991. Ford, John. Cardinal Avery Dulles. In New Catholic Encyclopedia. 2 nd ed., 2009 Supplement, ed. Robert L. Fastiggi et al., 243-245.New York: Gale, 2010. Lerch, J. R. Ecclesiology. In New Catholic Encyclopedia. 2nd ed., vol. 5, ed. Berard L. Marthaler et al., 36-40. New York: Gale, 2003. McFadden, Robert. Cardinal Avery Dulles, Theologian, Is Dead at 90. New York Times. Accessed September 29, 2010. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/13/us/13dulles.html. O'Collins, G. C. C. "Notes and Comments: On R. P. McBrien's Do We Need the Church?". Heythrop Journal 10. 1969. Quoted in Dulles, Avery. Models of the Church. Garden City, N.Y.: Image, 1991. Second Vatican Council. Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation Dei Verbum (18 November 1965). At The Holy See, www.vatican.va. Shaw, D W D. Review of Models of the Church, by Avery Dulles. Scottish Journal of Theology 31, no. 1 (January 1, 1978): 78-80. Theisen, Jerome P. Review of Models of the Church, by Avery Dulles. Worship 48, no. 8 (October 1, 1974): 500-501. 6