1 Corinthians 3:12-15

Ecclesiology: theological doctrine relating to the church

Polity: the form of government of a religious denomination

The Missouri Mid-South Conference of the United Church of Christ recently posted an item on its website that reads (in part):

In 2009, the Rev. Clyde Steckel, Emeritus Professor of Theology at United Theological Seminary, wrote New Ecclesiology and Polity: The United Church of Christ. In it he proposes "that UCC ecclesiology (the doctrine of the church) and its polity (how the church is organized and operates) urgently need to be reexamined and reshaped if the church is to minister faithfully in a postmodern world.” Conference Minister Jeffrey Whitman invites you to join him in a series of conversations about the book's proposals.

I have not read this recent book, but I have read several other articles by Rev. Clyde on this subject. In my view, his discussion reflects a general misunderstanding about the nature of the Church. There is no problem with tinkering with polity, if you like rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic. However, the idea of a denominational ecclesiology is seriously misconceived.

First, Christian ecclesiology is clearly defined by the Bible, especially by Acts and the Epistles. The foundation of this sound ecclesiology is that the Church is the Body of Christ and that Christ is the head of the church. God created his Church and the incarnate God, Jesus of Nazareth rules the Church. Everything that is good in the Church comes from God. The Holy Spirit of God empowers the Church to do ministry and mission. The Word of God sets the standard that those of us trying to live in the Church strive to meet. It is not for us to form committees, draft resolutions, and vote on what the Church should be. The purposes of God for his Church are clear. God will judge us by how well we fulfill his purposes. As always, Paul puts it best.

12 If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person's work. 14 If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames. 1 Corinthians 3:12-15 (Today's New International Version)

Second, although a confessing denomination should include summaries of Biblical ecclesiology in confessions and catechisms, there is no reason any Christian denomination should adopt a unique or novel ecclesiology in an attempt to distinguish itself from other denominations. Theologians are welcome to interpret and explain Biblical ecclesiology but there is no reason for denominations to choose a particular theological expression of this issue. Ecclesiology should unite, not divide.

Third, there is no Biblical basis for denominations. The Church consists of (1) the universal invisible Church and (2) the congregations that are the visible manifestation of that Church in a particular place and time. The statement from the website reflects the common and dangerous error that denominations are the Church. Denominations are merely human-created organizations of religious people. Denominations should exist to serve the local congregations and thereby serve the universal Church. Unfortunately, many local congregations across the board are finding that their denominations are more of a liability than an asset. The services congregations need (in worship, ministry, and mission) are often better provided by nondenominational or parachurch organizations or through local congregations banding together across denominations.

Fourth, denominations are an unfortunate symptom of divisions in the visible Body of Christ. The reformation should have reformed the visible Church. Instead, it split the visible Church and this process of splitting has accelerated to this day. Of course, this split is an illusion because Jesus Christ’s rulership of the Church remains unimpaired. We labor under the illusion that we are dividing the Church and this illusion enslaves us to mere human ends. Historically, denominations have reflected very human (and sometimes very violent) disputes that related to national, ethnic, and class divisions that had nothing to do with the Body of Christ. We should look forward to the coming post-denominational era with a sigh of relief. AMEN!