It is generally accepted in all church constitutions that Holy Scripture and Confession are the condition for the church being the church. This is, therefore, the undisputable basis for any decision and for church unity. Without this agreement, decisions taken by whomsoever are null and void, even if they are taken by a 100% majority. There are, however, in recent years several decisions from church government and synods where the agreement with Scripture and Confession is at least questionable. The reason for this is to be found not only in different interpretations of Scripture, but more deeply in a different understanding of how Scripture and God's word are related to each other. Three positions may be distinguished: either the Bible is understood to be the word of the Triune God, as it is in conservative theology; or two sources, such as written andoral traditions, are connected under the church's magisterium, as it is in the Roman Catholic Church; or the Bible is God's word in human words, as itis in liberal Protestantism. The different understanding of Scripture leadsinevitably to different and often contradictory consequences, endangering church unity. A series of theses finally explains the principle that Holy Scripture is the Word of the Triune God who is present and acting in and through this word.

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Personen: Slenczka, Reinhard

Schlagwörter: Bekenntnis Kirchenleitung Exegese Bibelverständnis

Interessenkreis: Referat