The Church, Authority, and Foucault: Imagining the Church as an Open Space of Freedom

The Church, Authority and Foucault addresses the problem of the Church’s enmeshment with sovereign power, which can lead to marginalisation. Breaking new ground, Ogden uses Foucault’s approach to power and knowledge to interpret the church leader’s significance as the guardian of knowledge. This can become privileged knowledge, under the spell of sovereign power, and with the complicity of clergy and laity in search of sovereigns. Inevitably, such a culture leads to a sense of entitlement for leaders and conformity for followers. All in the name of obedience.

The Church needs to change in order to fulfil its vocation. Instead of a monarchy, what about Church as an open space of freedom? This book then is a theological enterprise, which cultivates practices of freedom for the sake of the other. This involves thinking differently by exploring catalysts for change, which include critique, space, imagination, and wisdom. In the process, Ogden uses a range of sources, analysing discourse, gossip, ritual, territory, masculinity, and pastoral power. In all, the work of Michel Foucault sets the tone for a fresh ecclesiological critique that will appeal to theologians and clergy alike.

The book is a theological enterprise, focusing on authority. The thesis is that sovereign power is the norm in Church life. The aim then is to explore alternative ways of thinking about, and being, Church. This involves thinking differently about the Church by using four catalysts, which are critique, a spatial approach, the imagination, and shared wisdom. In this light, the book is an exercise in pre-ecclesiology, identifying catalysts for ecclesiological critique and praxis. In the process, I am also using interrelated strategies of critical reflection, conceptual critique, case studies, pastoral scenarios, and insights from philosophy, sociology, cultural studies and other disciplines. In the end, I am using the work of Michel Foucault as the main source to develop a fresh ecclesiological critique.