Church Authority and Foucault

<p><em>The Church Authority and Foucault</em> addresses the problem of the Church’s enmeshment with sovereign power which can lead to marginalization. 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. </p><p>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. </p>