'... the essayists (...) are right to keep the question of authority in the forefront of discussion. If we are to make any progress on the ecumenical front, authority has to be one of the main questions.' The Catholic Herald 'Very many Catholics are seriously disenchanted with the way authority is functioning at present in the life of the Church. The contributors to this book aim to foster new approaches so as to make the practice of authority as life-giving as possible... The wide-ranging expertise of the 12 contributors ensures the high standard of their reflections on various issues of authority and governance... The book reveals love for the Church, faith in Jesus Christ and openness to the Holy Spirit. The contributors join in praying and planning for a Church which might more evidently be the icon of the Trinity in the world. Readers have many reasons for being grateful for their stimulating and challenging arguments.' The Tablet 'The fruit of their research and debate, edited and framed by Hoose, is an exceptionally strong and coherent collection of articles treating various aspects of the essence and exercise of authority in and beyond the Roman Catholic Church... [The] chapters, which range in complexity from the academic to the popular, give the volume the necessary depth and breadth to make it of interest not only to theologians but also to graduate students of ecclesiology.' Theological Studies 'Bernard Hoose of Heythrop College has, [...] done the Church good service in editing this interesting volume.' Theology 'With fifteen chapters from twelve authors, this timely and impressive collection makes a major contribution to the debates about the nature, scope and use of authority within the Catholic Church... this book should prove to be extremely valuable for those who seek to engage critically and creatively with questions about the nature, self-understanding and effective witness of the Church today... The publisher, Ashgate, is making a signi

• Contents: Introducing the main themes, Bernard Hoose; Authority and the Church: What do we mean by authority?, Gerard Mannion; Spiritual authority and governance: a historical perspective, Hugh Lawrence; Authors, authority and authorisation, Nicholas Lash; Ordination and governance, Hugh Lawrence; The Role of the Faithful: Sense of faith, sense/consensus of the faithful, Francis A. Sullivan; The reception of doctrine: new perspectives, Richard Gaillardetz; Ecumenical dimensions: Trinity, Church and State, Paul McPartlan; The ARCIC Statements, Nicholas Sagovsky; The same but different, Paul McPartlan; Organisational culture and authority: The experience of religious orders, James Sweeney; Communio models of Church: rhetoric or reality?, David B. McLoughlin; Marginalisation and Authority: Language for God, gender and authority, Margaret Fraser; The authority of the poor, John O’Brien; A Step Beyond: Where do we go from here?, Bernard Hoose; Index.

'... the essayists (...) are right to keep the question of authority in the forefront of discussion. If we are to make any progress on the ecumenical front, authority has to be one of the main questions.' The Catholic Herald 'Very many Catholics are seriously disenchanted with the way authority is functioning at present in the life of the Church. The contributors to this book aim to foster new approaches so as to make the practice of authority as life-giving as possible... The wide-ranging expertise of the 12 contributors ensures the high standard of their reflections on various issues of authority and governance... The book reveals love for the Church, faith in Jesus Christ and openness to the Holy Spirit. The contributors join in praying and planning for a Church which might more evidently be the icon of the Trinity in the world. Readers have many reasons for being grateful for their stimulating and challenging arguments.' The Tablet 'The fruit of their research and debate, edited and framed by Hoose, is an exceptionally strong and coherent collection of articles treating various aspects of the essence and exercise of authority in and beyond the Roman Catholic Church... [The] chapters, which range in complexity from the academic to the popular, give the volume the necessary depth and breadth to make it of interest not only to theologians but also to graduate students of ecclesiology.' Theological Studies 'Bernard Hoose of Heythrop College has, [...] done the Church good service in editing this interesting volume.' Theology 'With fifteen chapters from twelve authors, this timely and impressive collection makes a major contribution to the debates about the nature, scope and use of authority within the Catholic Church... this book should prove to be extremely valuable for those who seek to engage critically and creatively with questions about the nature, self-understanding and effective witness of the Church today... The publisher, Ashgate, is making a signi

• Contents: Introducing the main themes, Bernard Hoose; Authority and the Church: What do we mean by authority?, Gerard Mannion; Spiritual authority and governance: a historical perspective, Hugh Lawrence; Authors, authority and authorisation, Nicholas Lash; Ordination and governance, Hugh Lawrence; The Role of the Faithful: Sense of faith, sense/consensus of the faithful, Francis A. Sullivan; The reception of doctrine: new perspectives, Richard Gaillardetz; Ecumenical dimensions: Trinity, Church and State, Paul McPartlan; The ARCIC Statements, Nicholas Sagovsky; The same but different, Paul McPartlan; Organisational culture and authority: The experience of religious orders, James Sweeney; Communio models of Church: rhetoric or reality?, David B. McLoughlin; Marginalisation and Authority: Language for God, gender and authority, Margaret Fraser; The authority of the poor, John O’Brien; A Step Beyond: Where do we go from here?, Bernard Hoose; Index.

'... the essayists (...) are right to keep the question of authority in the forefront of discussion. If we are to make any progress on the ecumenical front, authority has to be one of the main questions.' The Catholic Herald 'Very many Catholics are seriously disenchanted with the way authority is functioning at present in the life of the Church. The contributors to this book aim to foster new approaches so as to make the practice of authority as life-giving as possible... The wide-ranging expertise of the 12 contributors ensures the high standard of their reflections on various issues of authority and governance... The book reveals love for the Church, faith in Jesus Christ and openness to the Holy Spirit. The contributors join in praying and planning for a Church which might more evidently be the icon of the Trinity in the world. Readers have many reasons for being grateful for their stimulating and challenging arguments.' The Tablet 'The fruit of their research and debate, edited and framed by Hoose, is an exceptionally strong and coherent collection of articles treating various aspects of the essence and exercise of authority in and beyond the Roman Catholic Church... [The] chapters, which range in complexity from the academic to the popular, give the volume the necessary depth and breadth to make it of interest not only to theologians but also to graduate students of ecclesiology.' Theological Studies 'Bernard Hoose of Heythrop College has, [...] done the Church good service in editing this interesting volume.' Theology 'With fifteen chapters from twelve authors, this timely and impressive collection makes a major contribution to the debates about the nature, scope and use of authority within the Catholic Church... this book should prove to be extremely valuable for those who seek to engage critically and creatively with questions about the nature, self-understanding and effective witness of the Church today... The publisher, Ashgate, is making a signi

• Contents: Introducing the main themes, Bernard Hoose; Authority and the Church: What do we mean by authority?, Gerard Mannion; Spiritual authority and governance: a historical perspective, Hugh Lawrence; Authors, authority and authorisation, Nicholas Lash; Ordination and governance, Hugh Lawrence; The Role of the Faithful: Sense of faith, sense/consensus of the faithful, Francis A. Sullivan; The reception of doctrine: new perspectives, Richard Gaillardetz; Ecumenical dimensions: Trinity, Church and State, Paul McPartlan; The ARCIC Statements, Nicholas Sagovsky; The same but different, Paul McPartlan; Organisational culture and authority: The experience of religious orders, James Sweeney; Communio models of Church: rhetoric or reality?, David B. McLoughlin; Marginalisation and Authority: Language for God, gender and authority, Margaret Fraser; The authority of the poor, John O’Brien; A Step Beyond: Where do we go from here?, Bernard Hoose; Index.