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Speaking Truth to Power Structures: Integrity and Identity in Ecclesiology

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 January 2025

Martyn Percy
Martyn Percy*
Affiliation:
Prof. Religion and Culture, University of St. Joseph, Macao, China Institut für Christkatholische Theologie, Bern, Switzerland
*
Emails: martyn.percy@unibe.ch; martyn.percy@usj.edu.mo
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Abstract

Speaking truth ought to be normative in churches, and yet when it does, the foundations and structures of power are often shaken to the core. This paper explores the issues of identity and integrity in ecclesiology and is concerned with the ethical paradigms and moral frameworks that need to be in place if churches are to be places where honesty and truthfulness can be normative. Churches often fail as institutions because they presume they can conduct their affairs as organizations might. Churches become anger-averse, resisting the voices and experiences of victims, in order that the flow of power and its structures are unimpeded. At that point, churches become inherently committed to re-abusing victims and are unable to hear their pain and protests, which only leads to the perpetration of further abuse.

Keywords

AbuseAngerEcclesiologyEmotionIdentityPowerScandal
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Anglican Studies , Volume 22 , Issue 2 , November 2024 , pp. 379 - 400
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of The Journal of Anglican Studies Trust

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