Abstract

STRAUSS, Pieter J.. An ecumenical church polity: A better way?. In Skriflig (Online) [online]. 2013, vol.47, n.1, pp.332-338. ISSN 2305-0853.

The argument is used that church political systems like that of the Roman Catholic, Lutheran and reformed churches were of a transcendental character. By that it is implied that it used one transcendental and unique 'hard principle' from outside to direct a system of church government. Such uniqueness, according to Leo Koffeman who advocates an ecumenical church polity, places it outside the church political discourse and the way of the Holy Spirit. An ecumenical church polity seeks a combined polity between churches and is, by bringing different traditions together, a critical and therefore better undertaking. The author examines these arguments critically in the light of a reformed church polity.

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