Includes bibliographical references (pages 187-201) and index.

The church as a family in Arendt -- The church as a patriarchal family in Bonhoeffer -- Christian acting in Bonhoeffer -- Christian acting in Stăniloae -- A place of acting: Arendt, Bonhoeffer, and Stăniloae in conversation -- Conclusion: Christian agency and Christian community. 520 This book explores why the metaphor of the church as a family is insufficient. The author engages Arendt's concept of action and criticism of privatizing the public political space by viewing it as a family through Bonhoeffer's ecclesiology and political theology, as well as Stăniloae's triadology and theology of the world. Human action becomes the central theme of the debate -- particularly influenced by the Eastern Orthodox ecumenist Stăniloae and his vision of the communal interactivity of human subjects. Synthesizing Bonhoeffer and Stăniloae, Christian calling is unfolded as acting not only for others, but also with others as Trinitarian participatory response. This study complements the symbolism of the family metaphor with the metaphor of the church as a political community of solidarity.