Modality (theology)
Encyclopedia
Modality in Protestant
and Catholic
Christian theology
, is the structure and organization of the loca
l or universal church. In Catholic theology, the modality is the universal Catholic church. In Protestant theology, the modality is variously described as either the universal church (that is, all believers) or the local church.
By contrast, parachurch organization
s are termed sodality
. These would include missionary organizations and Christian charities not linked to specific churches. Some theologians would include denominations, schools of theology, and other multi-congregational efforts in the sodality category. Catholic sodalities would include orders, monasteries and convents.
A practical consideration in the modality/sodality dispute is that certain Christian efforts, like translating the Bible
into different languages, are difficult to organize and fund solely by local congregations in the absence of parachurch organizations. Ralph D. Winter
of the US Center for World Mission
has argued that modes of modality and sodality are both necessary and will be most effective if they are supportive of one another.
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
and Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
Christian theology
Christian theology
- Divisions of Christian theology :There are many methods of categorizing different approaches to Christian theology. For a historical analysis, see the main article on the History of Christian theology.- Sub-disciplines :...
, is the structure and organization of the loca
Local church
A local church is a Christian congregation of members and clergy.Local church may also refer to:* Local churches , a Christian group based on the teachings of Watchman Nee and Witness Lee, and associated with the Living Stream Ministry publishing house.* Parish church, a local church united with...
l or universal church. In Catholic theology, the modality is the universal Catholic church. In Protestant theology, the modality is variously described as either the universal church (that is, all believers) or the local church.
By contrast, parachurch organization
Parachurch organization
Parachurch organizations are Christian faith-based organizations that work outside of and across denominations to engage in social welfare and evangelism, usually independent of church oversight. These bodies can be businesses, non-profit corporations, or private associations. Most parachurch...
s are termed sodality
Sodality
In Christian theology, a sodality is a form of the "Universal Church" expressed in specialized, task-oriented form as opposed to the Christian church in its local, diocesan form . In English, the term sodality is most commonly used by groups in the Catholic Church, where they are also referred to...
. These would include missionary organizations and Christian charities not linked to specific churches. Some theologians would include denominations, schools of theology, and other multi-congregational efforts in the sodality category. Catholic sodalities would include orders, monasteries and convents.
The modality versus sodality parachurch dispute
In some Christian circles, particularly among non-denominational evangelicals, there is conflict over whether parachurch organizations are a biblical model for ministry. A minority of pastors and theologians assert that only the modality is a valid model for ministry, and they typically equate modality with the local church structure. Central to the dispute is whether the missionary travels of Paul the Apostle should be categorized as an expression of modality or sodality.A practical consideration in the modality/sodality dispute is that certain Christian efforts, like translating the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
into different languages, are difficult to organize and fund solely by local congregations in the absence of parachurch organizations. Ralph D. Winter
Ralph D. Winter
Ralph Dana Winter was an American missiologist and Presbyterian missionary who became well-known as the advocate for pioneer outreach among unreached people groups. He was the founder of the U.S...
of the US Center for World Mission
U.S. Center for World Mission
The United States Center for World Mission is a place where mission agencies work together to strategize, research and promote ideas that will help to complete the unfinished task of reaching every people group with the Gospel. It has been described as a missions think tank or “missions...
has argued that modes of modality and sodality are both necessary and will be most effective if they are supportive of one another.