ABSTRACT
In recent ecumenical discourse1 the notion of the ‘whole household (oikos) of God’ has been employed as a new theological root metaphor. The power of this metaphor lies in its ability to integrate especially three core ecumenical themes on the basis of derivatives of the ancient Greek verb oikein (‘to dwell’) – which forms the etymological root of the modern terms designating the quests for ‘economic’ justice (the nomoi or regulations within the household), for ‘ecological’ sustainability (the logos or underlying principles of the household) and for ‘ecumenical’ fellowship (oikoumene – participating as members of the whole household of God).
