On the Dynamic Relation between Ecclesiology and Congregational Studies

Abstract

The liveliness of the discipline of ecclesiology depends on the cross-referencing between theological doctrines about the church and actual churches. In an intellectual pincer movement these authors argue that the theological discipline of ecclesiology has to be chastened by consideration of the congregations in order to be credible, and that congregational studies needs the input of the formal discipline of ecclesiology to connect the beliefs and practices of each community to the wider tradition.