Who are members of the Church? This book critiques a foundational Lambeth Conference statement and its claim about who belongs to Christ’s Body.This careful critique examines a published definition of church membership and its implications for believers, Baptism, and communion. It frames the question around the visible Church on earth and the ways in which early and later Christian writers have understood who truly belongs. The work weighs historical testimony from the Church Fathers and later writers to test whether belonging is a matter of belief, ritual, or ecclesial fellowship.
- Clear, tightly argued case against a single definition of membership as the sole gate to the Church
- Historical context drawn from patristic and later authorities to illuminate baptism, schism, and unity
- Plain language that explains complex debates about who remains in communion and why
- Practical reflections on how church leaders and readers should approach questions of belonging
Ideal for readers of church history, theology, and debates about reunion and unity within the Christian tradition.