Title Page -- Copyright -- Table of Contents -- Body -- Foreword to the German Edition -- Editor's Notes -- Preface to the American Edition -- Edmund Schlink (1903-1984): An Ecumenical Life -- Matthew L. Becker -- Early Years and Education -- Initial Teaching and Pastoral Activities -- Heidelberg -- Ecumenical Activities -- Final Years -- Abbreviations -- Book One: The Coming Christ and Church Traditions: Essays for the Dialogue among the Separated Churches -- Introduction: The Task -- Editor's Notes -- Part One: Methodological Considerations -- Chapter One: The Task and Danger of the World Council of Churches -- I. -- II. -- III. -- IV. -- V. -- VI. -- VII. -- Editor's Notes -- Chapter Two: The Structure of the Dogmatic Statement as an Ecumenical Issue[i] -- I. The Dogmatic Statement in the Context of the Basic Forms of the Theological Statement -- 1. The Basic Forms of the Theological Statement -- 2. Structural Problems of the Dogmatic Statement -- II. The Dogmatic Statement in Relation to the Basic Forms of Human Perceiving -- 1. The Basic Anthropological Forms of Perceiving -- 2. Structural Problems in Theological Perceiving -- III. The Complexity of the Problem of the Theological Statement -- IV. The Dogmatic Statement in the Mutual Interaction of the Theological and Anthropological Basic Forms -- V. The Issue of the Unity of Dogmatic Statements -- Editor's Notes -- Part Two: Aspects of the Dogmatic Foundation -- Chapter Three: The Christology of Chalcedon in Ecumenical Dialogue -- Editor's Notes -- Chapter Four: Christ and the Church -- Twelve Theses for an Ecumenical Dialogue between Theologians of the Protestant Church in Germany and the Roman Church -- I. The church is the people of God called by Christ from the world. -- II. The church is the prophetic, priestly, royal people sent by Christ into the world III. The church is the worshiping assembly, in which Christ is actively present. -- IV. The church is the bride waiting for Christ, who already now, in the worshiping assembly, takes part in the coming wedding feast. -- V. The church is the body of Christ, which in the worshiping assembly is being built up for the new universe. -- VI. The church is the fellowship of the gifts of grace in whose multiplicity the one grace of Christ actively manifests itself. -- VII. The church is the congregation led by Christ himself through the pastoral office.[v] -- VIII. The church is "one, holy, catholic, and apostolic" (The Nicene Creed). -- 1. The unity of the church -- 2. The holiness of the church -- 3. The catholicity of the church -- 4. The Apostolicity of the Church -- IX. The church is indestructible. -- X. The church is visible in this world. -- XI. The threat of judgment applies to the church. -- XII. The promise of glorification by the Christ, who is coming again, applies to the church. -- Editor's Notes -- Chapter Five: The Expanse of the Church according to the Lutheran Confession -- I. -- II. -- III. -- IV. -- V. -- Editor's Notes -- Chapter Six: The Cultus in the Perspective of Evangelical-Lutheran Theology -- I. God's Service to the Congregation -- II. The Congregation's Service in the Presence of God -- III. The Ecclesiological Development of God's Service to the Assembled Congregation -- IV. The Cosmological Development of God's Service to the Assembled Congregation -- Editor's Notes -- Chapter Seven: Law and Gospel as a Controversial Issue in Theology -- I. The Issue of Distinguishing between Law and Gospel -- II. The Gospel in the Old Testament Law -- III. The Law in the New Testament Gospel -- IV. The Unity of Law and Gospel -- V. Distinguishing between Law and Gospel -- VI. The Gospel as God's Proper Word VII. The Ecumenical Significance of the Distinction between Law and Gospel -- Editor's Notes -- Chapter Eight: Apostolic Succession[i] -- I. The Church as the Fellowship of Charismata -- II. The Sending into Servant Ministry -- III. The Concept of the Church's Ministerial Office -- IV. The Task and Forms of the Pastoral Office -- V. The Concept of the Apostolate -- VI. The Apostles as Foundation of the Church -- VII. The Apostles as Members of the Church -- VIII. The Servant Ministry of the Apostles in the Fellowship of the Church -- IX. Pastoral Office and the Church -- X. Apostolic Succession -- Editor's Notes -- Chapter Nine: On the Issue of Tradition -- Theses for an Ecumenical Dialogue between Theologians of the German Protestant Church and the Russian Orthodox Church -- I. -- II. -- III. -- IV. -- V. -- VI. -- VII. -- VIII. -- IX. -- X. -- XI. -- XII. -- Editor's Notes -- Part Three: Conciliar Encounter -- Chapter Ten: The Sojourning People of God -- I. -- II. -- III. -- IV. -- V. -- VI. -- VII. -- Editor's Notes -- Chapter Eleven: Christ-The Hope for the World -- I. -- II. -- III. -- IV. -- V. -- VI. -- VII. -- Editor's Notes -- Chapter Twelve: Transformations in the Protestant Understanding of the Eastern Church -- I. -- II. -- III. -- IV. -- Editor's Notes -- Chapter Thirteen: The Significance of the Eastern and Western Traditions for Christendom -- Editor's Notes -- Chapter Fourteen: Ecumenical Councils Then and Now[i] -- I. -- II. -- III. -- Editor's Notes -- Chapter Fifteen: The Resurrection of God's People -- Sermon on the Text of Ezekiel 37.1-14 -- Book Two: After the Council -- Preface -- Editor's Notes -- Chapter I: The Spiritual Awakening of Christendom -- 1. Christendom's Loss of Its Security -- 2. Renewal from the Source -- 3. The Responsibility for the World -- 4. The Ecumenical Movement -- 5. The World Council of Churches Editor's Notes -- Chapter II: The Conciliar Awakening of the Roman Church -- 1. The Announcement and Preparation of the Council -- 2. The Structure of a Council of the Roman Church -- 3. The First Period of the Council[viii] -- 4. The Second and Third Periods of the Council[xviii] -- 5. The Conclusion of the Council[xxv] -- Editor's Notes -- Chapter III: The Resolutions of the Council -- 1. Constitutions, Decrees, Declarations -- 2. An Attempt at Systematically Ordering the Council's Resolutions -- 3. Preliminary Hermeneutical Remarks -- Editor's Notes -- Chapter IV: The Reform of the Worship Service -- 1. The Salvific Action of God -- 2. The Participation of the Congregation -- 3. Enabling the Vernacular -- 4. Enabling Further Accommodations -- 5. Liturgical Rights of the Conferences of Bishops -- 6. New Structures -- Editor's Notes -- Chapter V: The Self-Understanding of the Roman Church -- 1. The Starting Point in Salvation History -- 2. Body of Christ and People of God -- 3. Arranging the Members of the Church -- a) Pope and Bishops -- b) Bishops and Priests -- c) Priests and Deacons -- d) Hierarchy and Laity -- e) Religious Orders -- 4. The Borders of the Church -- 5. Mary and the Church -- Editor's Notes -- Chapter VI: The Council and the Non-Roman Churches -- 1. Openness toward the Non-Roman Churches -- 2. Directives Regarding Ecumenical Conduct -- 3. The Goal -- a) The Renewal of the Roman Church -- b) The Unfolding of the Roman Church's Catholicity -- c) The Unification of the Separated Churches -- 4. Possibilities and Limits of Ecumenism -- 5. Roman Ecumenism -- Editor's Notes -- Chapter VII: The Council and the Non-Christian Religions -- 1. The Opening toward the Non-Christian Religions -- 2. Israel -- 3. Directives Regarding Conduct in Relation to the Non-Christian Religions -- 4. The Goal -- 5. Mission and Ecumenism -- Editor's Notes Chapter VIII: The Council and the World -- 1. Openness toward the Contemporary World -- 2. The Starting Point for Dialogue with the World -- 3. Directives for Servant Ministry in the Contemporary World -- a) Marriage and the Family -- b) Cultural Progress -- c) The Socio-Economic Life -- d) The Life of Political Communities -- e) Peace and the Community of Nations -- 4. Christ and the World -- 5. The Church and the World -- 6. Servant Ministry to the World and Ecumenism -- Editor's Notes -- Chapter IX: Scripture, Tradition, Teaching Office -- 1. The Revelation of God in Jesus Christ -- 2. Scripture and Tradition -- 3. The Interpretation of Holy Scripture -- 4. The Church's Teaching Office -- 5. Directives for the Use of Holy Scripture -- 6. The Ecumenical Significance -- Editor's Notes -- Chapter X: Post-Conciliar Possibilities of the Roman Church -- 1. Openness and Concentration -- 2. Aggiornamento -- 3. The Dialectic of the Council's Resolutions -- 4. Possibilities of Post-Conciliar Activity -- Chapter XI: Pope and Curia -- 1. The Post-Conciliar Position of the Pope -- 2. Objections of the Non-Roman Churches -- 3. The Reform of the Curia -- Editor's Notes -- Chapter XII: The Significance of the Council for the Other Churches -- 1. Unchanged Differences and New Starting Points -- 2. The Significance of Roman Ecumenism -- 3. The Practical Consequences -- 4. The Council as a Challenge to the Other Churches -- Editor's Notes -- Chapter XIII: Anxious Christendom -- 1. Grounds for Angst -- 2. Church Tradition as Protection and Hindrance -- 3. The Relationship between Past and Future -- 4. The Common Norm -- 5. Overcoming the Fear -- Editor's Notes -- Chapter XIV: Necessary Steps -- 1. Wrong-Headed Reactions -- 2. The Necessary Presuppositions -- 3. The Ecumenical Dialogue -- 4. Joint Prayer -- 5. Easing Catholic and Non-Catholic Interaction 6. Joint Work