Word: confessionally
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Since the first World War, and especially in the last nine years, our culture has moved away from itself. It has been inwardly and externally transformed. But awareness of this transformation's meaning has not developed into the shared consciousness which a Confession requires. Right now is no time for...
...importance of the exchange within the Church and the Defense Department rests partly in the fact that such experiences transform confessional statements into declaratory acts. Polarization occurs. Conflicts develop. People who were silent begin to speak out. Values that people have held intellectually--about justice, truth, love, and compassion--become acts as well as beliefs. People who until recently led quiet and uninvolved lives are becoming political activists. Some are members of churches and others are not. And as the force of their commitments may chance to coincide with each other's and with some formal statement within the Confession...
If it is true that a manifesto is more appropriate to the summer of 1967 than a Confession, an interesting possibility is raised. Is it possible that committed unbelievers may be of more help to the Church in fulfilling its stated task than many of its members?
...Confession has established a new way of doing and using theology in the church. The church has defined the task of confessional theology as "understanding the gospel." It has broadened the base of historic creeds, catechisms, and declarations to be used as guides to aid in that task, and thus made the discovery of what Presbyterians now believe is both more difficult and more interesting...
Deacons, elders, and ministers of the Presbyterian Church are required to subscribe to the faith of the church at the time of their ordination. The meaning of subscription, however, has been effectively changed. The old form enquired of a candidate for ordination, "Do you sincerely receive and adopt the Confession...