Models in Ecumenical Dialogue

Abstract

Dr. Kuncheria Pathil CMI has succeeded in writing a most inter- esting and valuable doctoral dissertation. It is divided into two parts. In part I he treats the Historical Background and Development in the Faith and Order Movements and makes an extensive study of the use of the comparative method in three vital concerns of Faith and Order: ecclesiology, the sacraments and ministry at the conference of Lau- sanne, Edinburgh and Lund. In part II the author first offers a critique on the comparative method, pointing out its basic merits and demerits. As the latter were also experienced by the members of Faith and Order. they shifted-mainly under the influence of Karl Barth -to the dialectical scholarship, under the impact of the develop- ments in biblical scholarship to the Christological method and when the World Council of Churches rose above intra-ecclesial concerns, to the inter-contextual method. Dr. Pathil modestly but critically evaluates the achievements as well as the shortcomings of all these methods, concluding his study by pointing out that each of them should continue to play its role, complementing and correcting the others; in other words, we cannot really speak of the ecumenical methodology. The comprehensive bibliography, covering about 50 pages, list of leaders of Faith and Order Movement with brief biogra- phical details, and index of names and subjects greatly enhance the value of the book.