San Beda University
1. Church as  The Church is a loving 
Institution mother who guides its
(1974) members to eternal life, 
and the members are
visible, obedient, and mist
participate in the 
sacraments.
 The Church makes a
missionary effort to bring
others into the salvation of
the Church.
 Institutional element is
treated as the main result
in deformation of the true
nature of the Church.
2. Church as  The model contains 
Mystical several images (e.g., Body
Communion of Christ, Church, people
(1974) of God) and concerns
communion of the
members with one another
and with God in Christ.
3. Church as  The model that harmonizes  The model brings forward
Sacrament the human (institutional)
(1974) and the divine aspects of
the Church.
 The Church has a visible
and invisible aspect.
 The Church signifies what  It illuminates the grace
it contains and contains
what it signifies.
It provides a “zone of  A weak basis in Scripture
stability.” and the early Church.
It reinforces a strong sense  A reduction of the laity’s
of identity for Roman roles to passive ones,
Catholics. resulting in a weakened
It is strongly reinforced in apostolate.
Church documents.  A resistance to fruitful
theology.
 A reductionistic legalism.
 A lack of the
understanding of salvation
beyond the Church.
 The model is out of sync
with contemporary
negative views of closed
societies.
The paradigms of the Body  The Body of Christ seems
of Christ and People of to some to be limited to the
God are more democratic visible body (earthly
that hierarchical, church). Some also use it
emphasized the to focus on a body united
relationship of all believers with its head and to
to the Holy Spirit, focus on overemphasize the role of
the direct service of one the magisterium.
member to another, and  Both images tend to exalt
subordinate the good of the Church beyond its due,
one member to the good of limiting it to the official
the whole. Catholic Church
the best of the two
preceding models (i.e.,
Church as Institution,
Church as Mystical
Communion).
beyond the boundaries of
the institution, including
calling forward our loyalty
to the Church while
making room for honest
criticism.
4. Church as  The Word is primary and 
Herald sacrament is secondary –
(1974) the emphasis is on the
Church as gathered and
formed by the Word of
God.  It helps us to develop a
 It provides a clear mission
5. Church as  The Church should be in 
Servant dialogue with the world
(1974) and serve it by fostering
the communion of all.
 The Church’s mission is
not to convert people but,
rather, to help everyone
while offering guidance
and prophetic criticism.
6. Church as  It is a variant of the 
Community communion model, which
of Disciples eliminates the potential
(1986/1987) weaknesses of the ecclesial
communion existing only
for the sake of mutual
gratification.
 The model underscores the
relationship of the Church
to Christ and illuminates
the institutional and
sacramental aspects of the
Church and grounds the
foundation of
evangelization and service
that are central to the
heralds and servants
model.
This model has a good 
biblical foundation in the
prophets of the Old
Testament, in Paul, and
throughout Scripture.  It
rich theology of the Word.
and identity to the Church
as is conducive to
conveying the sovereignty
of God that leads to our
obedience, humility, and
desire to reform.
The model strives to give 
the Church a new vitality
and keep it relevant so that
it can meet the needs of the
time.
The model motivates the 
members of the Church to
imitate Jesus in their
personal lives. It also
makes them feel at home
in a Church that must
always find its way in a
rapidly changing and fluid
situation, a Pilgrim Church
still distance from its goal.
The model is not enough
to speak the word of God,
as the word has been made
flesh.
may focus too
exclusively “on witness to
the neglect of action” and
might include a rejection
of the Church as a guide to
interpreting and applying
the Word.
The model does not have a
strong, direct biblical
foundation.
This model makes  The presence of Jesus was
demands on a Christian. universalized and
discipleship became
accessible to all believers.
References:
 Canaris, M.M. (2021). The Survival of Dulles: Reflection on a Second Century of Influence. 1 st ed. Curran Center for American Catholic Studies
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