The Nature and Purpose of the Church : a stage on the way to a common statement

Notes: "The main purpose of this study is to give expression to what the churches can now say together about the nature and purpose of the Church and within that perspective to state the remaining areas of disagreement. Thus, in the style of BEM, this document seeks to evolve into what could be called a convergence text. The present text is a first attempt to state that convergence. It is offered for study and discernment". -- Intro. p. 7.; Contents divided into six main sections: The Church of the Triune God -- The Church in History -- The Church as Koinonia (Communion) -- Life in Communion -- Service in and for the Word -- Following Our Calling : From Converging Understandings to Mutual Recognition.; Scattered throughout the report are inset statements/summaries on a variety of topics i.e. the Holy Spirit, Sin, Sacrament, Koinonia, Diversity, the Local Church, Apostolic Faith, Baptism, Eucharist, Ministry, Episcopacy, Hierarchy, Conciliarity and Primacy, Faith and Ethics.

Subjects: Church; Church and Christian union; Christian union; Ecumenical movement - 20th century; Holy Spirit and Christian union; Sacraments and Christian union; Sin; Koinonia; Diversity; Baptism and Christian union; Lord's Supper and Christian union; Ministry and Christian union; Conciliar theory and Christian union; Christian ethics and Christian union