Trzy czy cztery podstawowe funkcje Kościoła? Pastoralnoteologiczny spór o koinonię

The doctrine of the three offices of Christ was initiated by the Protestant Reformation. Later it became the theological basis for the distinction of the three fundamental functions of the Church – martyria (the prophetic office), diakonia (the royal office) and leiturgia (the priestly office). In post-conciliar publications in Pastoral Theology, however, koinonia appeared among the “basic gestures” of the Church as an additional fourth function. This fact is the subject of dispute among theologians who do their research in the field of the Pastoral Theology. The addition of the koinonia to the triad: martyria, diakonia and leiturgia is criticized by some theologians as an excessive focus on the inner life of the Church, an overestimation of the importance of social and institutional structures, lack of consistency in the application of the principles of Christology and reduction of the salvific mission of the Church to one of her basic functions. However, pastoral reflection on the koinonia proves that neither Christology nor Ecclesiology is a hindrance to rating the koinonia among the basic functions of the Church. Adding the koinonia to the martyria, diakonia and leiturgia shows the concern of the Church for the lives of the faithful and their inner identity. The existence of the Christian communities, which are developing in the spirit of koinonia, is the basis for the reliable transmission of the Gospel, for a social solidarity free from any ideology and for a unanimous adoration of God who sends the Church to introduce all people into communion with Him and to participate in His divine life.