Towards Friendship-Shaped Communities: A Practical Theology of Friendship

7 Open Friendship, Becoming Kin, and the Human Vocation

This chapter explores themes of mutuality and open friendship in relation to pneumatology, Christology, and ecclesiology. Theology contributes towards fostering an imagination that promotes friendship through recognizing friendship is inherent to the human vocation implied by the imago Dei motif. The Spirit is identified as being concerned with social relationships and the empowerment of the Spirit as necessary to fulfilling the human vocation. Friendships shaped by the Spirit reflect something of the nature of this life-giving, radically inclusive, and liberating Spirit. The human vocation to function in royal and priestly roles in caring for sacred space and to exercise power in ways that reflect the nature and character of God, is one of theologically inspired civic friendship.

This chapter explores themes of mutuality and open friendship in relation to pneumatology, Christology, and ecclesiology. A theology of the Spirit has potential to expand our understanding of friendship, thus illuminating its power for social change. Looking at friendship through the lens of Christology points towards open friendship and the potential for becoming kin with non-kin. Considering ecclesiology through the lens of friendship suggests that the church is a community of friends of God, called to do the work of God. The following discussion draws on the insights of theologians Jürgen Moltmann, Elisabeth Moltmann-Wendel, Pā (Father) Hēnare ...