Sobornost

Eph 3:14-21



Sobornost



… you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints… (18).



Russian theologians like Nicolay Berdyaev use two terms to denote the nature of the church: sobornost and symphony. The first denotes the community of faith, which cannot be divided into actors and spectators: clergy and laity. The church as sobornost manifests the active life of the community in which the different organs of the body are necessary and contribute to the well being of the whole organism. The Church is a "divine-human organism" which participates in the life of the world around. Sobornost thus extends to the world and influences its social and political life.

The term symphony comes from Plato, but in Eastern Christianity it means the harmonious concord and cooperation between church and state. In Byzantine times, the symphonic understanding of the relationship of the Church and the state implied that both parties should fulfill their respective functions, in close connection with one another.



However, sobornost, has not been open enough to do justice to women, the transgendered and people with different sexual orientations in the life of the church; and, symphony may result in a state church. Spirit of reformation needs to be bold enough to keep all relationships in the Church true to the word of God.