Beyond Help: diakonia in the Contemporary Church. Issue 8 (17th November 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ritchie, Angus
• Is Part Of: Political theology. Volume 20:Issue 8(2019)
• Page Start: 631
• Page End: 642
• Publication Date: 2019-11-17
• Subjects: Diakonia -- social action -- community organizing -- ecclesiology -- Catholic social teaching -- charity -- mission; Christianity and politics -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; Political theology -- Periodicals; Christian socialism -- Periodicals; 261.7094105
• DOI: 10.1080/1462317X.2019.1695404
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1462-317X

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The argument of this paper is that, partly under the influence of a secularized conception of ethics, diakonia has often also been misconstrued as an activity done by a more privileged group to a needier one. It draws on the witness of the New Testament, and on contemporary Catholic thought, to argue for a vision of diakonia as a ministry exercised by, and not just for, the poorest – and offers Christian engagement in community organizing as an embodiment of that vision.