Corporate Reconciliation

Abstract The concept of corporate reconciliation is understood through practices of common prayer in the Anglican Communion. The chapter develops theological concepts of corporate reconciliation from Pauline theology, the South African concept of ubuntu, and the Benedictine Rule. Reconciliation (katallage) means the restoration of relationships gone awry between God and humanity through trust in the expiatory death of Christ. Such reconciliation is not simply between individuals but is more akin to the axiom of how the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. To know how to inhabit this synergy of corporate reconciliation, Jesus encourages movement from theoretical meaning into the problem of “re-membering” meaning—especially the maximum meaning, God. Second, the crucial habit of corporate reconciliation is the eucharist. Lastly, the church inhabits corporate reconciliation through a variety of practices of common prayer. Examples from Anglican Prayer Books illustrate this approach to corporate reconciliation.