Communion, disagreement and conscience

Report

The second chapter of the FAOC report Communion and Disagreement discussed conscience alongside conflict, consultation and conciliarity with regard to how communion is sustained in the church in the face of serious disagreements. The goal of this supporting paper is to develop that section (§14–42) in order to illumine more fully the significance of conscience for thinking about difference and disagreement in the life of the church, taking Paul’s letters as a starting point. We note from the outset that the language of ‘conscience’ is not straightforward even where it does occur explicitly in Paul. Sometimes the relevant word (syneidesis) or operative concept may be better rendered as ‘consciousness’ or ‘self-consciousness’. Our approach is first to state what we agree about (§§1.1–1.14) and then to engage in conversation together concerning matters about which we at present disagree (§§1.15–1.40). A concluding note (§§1.41–1.43) states our hope of agreement in the future.

Authors: Hordern, J; Alexander, L

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Archbishops' Council
• Host title: Communion and Disagreement: Supporting Papers
• Journal: Diversity, Difference, Serious Disagreement and the Life of the Church
• Pages: 6-17
• Place of publication: London
• Publication date: 2016-06-14
• Paper number: 1
• Keywords: SBTMR