COVID-19, the Church, and the Challenge to Ecumenism
The COVID-19 pandemic raises questions how churches respond to an extraordinary situation where not only health and economic issues are at stake, but also the understanding of what church is all about and how ecclesial life is practised. Furthermore, do the current experiences have any bearing about...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Sage
2020
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| In: |
Transformation
Year: 2020, Volume: 37, Issue: 4, Pages: 286-296 |
| RelBib Classification: | KAA Church history KDJ Ecumenism RK Charity work ZG Media studies; Digital media; Communication studies |
| Further subjects: | B
Covid 19
B ecumenical relations B diaconal initiatives B Church History B online ministry B digital resources |
| Online Access: |
Presumably Free Access Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | The COVID-19 pandemic raises questions how churches respond to an extraordinary situation where not only health and economic issues are at stake, but also the understanding of what church is all about and how ecclesial life is practised. Furthermore, do the current experiences have any bearing about the way churches of different traditions relate to each other? This article introduces the issues raised by first reviewing how Christians in past centuries have faced pandemics. Second, the text will look at current responses by large church bodies and organizations. Thirdly, a small survey will focus on the responses by local churches across the globe as to the benefits and challenges associated with the present coronavirus crisis. Finally, the paper addresses what the various reactions tell us about a reassessment of the nature of the church, both in the local context and with regard to the wider Body of Christ. |
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| ISSN: | 1759-8931 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Transformation
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1177/0265378820961545 |