This is the theme of the third volume in the Explorations series of the Catholic Theological Association.
Eighty years ago, on 9 April 1945, Dietrich Bonhoeffer was murdered in a Nazi concentration camp for standing against what that regime stood for and did on the basis of his identification as a Christian. What made this particular death of a Christian, some would use the category of martyrdom, stand out was that Bonhoeffer had done more than most theologians to examine ‘discipleship’ as an aspect of Christian faith and witness: he can be said to be the theologian of discipleship. Before him, discipleship was merely a category in Christian history – Jesus had disciples, and teachers, magistri, had instructed discipuli – but now it became a central image and aspect of what it is ‘to be a Christian’ and of ‘Christian identity.’
The Catholic Church two decades after Bonhoeffer’s death, at Vatican II, adopted two arch-motifs into its theology that were just as freshly reconsidered as ‘discipleship’: the notion of the Church as ‘the People of God’ and of Christian faith as a ‘pilgrimage.’ Many have noted that these dovetail well with the notion of discipleship – and this link has been given new currency in the recent (November 2024) document by the late pope on synodality (e.g. n. 144).
However, what do we mean by discipleship today? Is there a specific ‘Catholic take’ on discipleship? Is it a theological category in itself or does it belong to a more diffuse understanding of human religious life? Does it have anything to offer to ecumenism? Could it be seen as a category to be rejected – as many conservatives, political and religious, argue? Does it have implications for ministry and ministers? In a church which some perceive as divided into factions, is it a divisive or healing concept? Does it bring with it a distinctive view of spirituality and / or liturgy? What place has discipleship in a synodal church? This list of questions could continue to expand … … … .
We all use the term discipleship – so it should be useful to think through some of the implications for other aspects of our Christian understanding. Thus, we are inviting you to send us a short article on this topic.
The article should be no more than 4300 words – including and notes, bibliography, and apparatus.
If you want to discuss a possible contribution, please feel free to contact one or more of the editors.
Stephen McKinney Stephen.McKinney@glasgow.ac.uk
Thomas O’Loughlin Thomas.Oloughlin@nottingham.ac.uk
Beáta Tóth toth.beata@sapientia.hu