IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE SYNOD RESCUE OF THE SYNODAL ECCLESIOLOGY OF THE ORIGINS

Abstract

The proposal of Pope Francis, in view of an ecclesial and ecclesiastical renewal, to build a synodal path for the Church, sounded as a great novelty and even aroused criticism from some sectors of the Church and Theology, accustomed as they are to a deeply hierarchical conception of Church, crystallized in its structures and little participatory. This reality, inherited from centuries of our history, occurs above all in the lay spheres, but also in the institutional norms. However, we can consider that the Church is synodal since its origins and the ways of conducting its evangelization, celebration and decisions have always witnessed the "walking together", including its organizational and celebratory issues. To illuminate the ecclesial renewal within the purpose of synodality, we seek to search for the conceptual forms of this style of being Church. In the sequence, we rescue the relational and participative forms of Christians, understanding their ministerial functions and vocations. Understanding better the genuine communion and participation of the Christians of the first centuries, we will have more foundations and experiences to renew our Church of our times within the synodal spirit.