Church Laws and Ecumenism: A New Path for Christian Unity

This book compares the legal regimes of Christian churches as systems of religious law and evaluates the Statement of Principles of Christian Law against the laws of these individual ecclesial communities. It is a valuable resource for scholars, theologians, and policy-makers.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 322 pages
Publication date: 29 April 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This comprehensive book, written by experts from within their respective communities, delves into the intricate legal regimes of Christian churches as intricate systems of religious law. While the ecumenical movement, with its historical theological emphasis, has yet to adequately address the role of church law in fostering inter-church relations and promoting greater mutual understanding, theologians and jurists from diverse traditions have not collaborated extensively on a fully ecumenical appreciation of the potential value of church laws in achieving greater Christian unity. To rectify this ecumenical deficiency, this book takes into account the recent formulation of a Statement of Principles of Christian Law by an ecumenical panel, which has received enthusiastic endorsements from Pope Francis and the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, the leader of the Orthodox Church worldwide. This statement recognizes the significance of canon law in the ecumenical dialogue, making this book a valuable resource for scholars of law and religion, theology, and sociology. Moreover, it will be of immense interest to those working in religious institutions and policy-makers, as it offers a critical evaluation of the Statement against the laws of these individual ecclesial communities.

Weight: 600g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367540609