Ecclesiology investigates the church as the gathered community in which sacraments are properly ministered and faith is nurtured; it examines the foundations of ordained ministry, ecclesiastical authority, lay participation in worship, and the transmission of faith across generations. The domain unites around core questions: who holds authority in the church, how is it exercised, and how do the church’s concrete practices embody theological realities? What matters is understanding the church not as an institution but as the communion of saints spanning earthly and heavenly realms, where believers encounter transforming grace and are formed in holiness. ## Concepts *1 full, 7 stubs* - [[Ordained Ministry]]: “The role of clergy set apart by ordination to lead worship, proclaim the gospel, and administer sacraments in the church.” ### Stubs - [[Church Militant and Triumphant]]: “The theological distinction between the church on earth engaged in spiritual struggle and the church in heaven in eternal victory.” - [[Communion of Saints]]: “Participating in worship that connects worshippers across centuries with angels, martyrs, and the heavenly church.” - [[Ecclesiastical Authority]]: “The theological and pastoral questions regarding who holds authority to speak and act in the church, particularly in sacramental matters.” - [[Ecclesiology]]: “The theology of the church as the gathered community within which sacraments are properly ministered and faith is nurtured.” - [[Godparents and Sponsors]]: “The role of godparents in standing as trustees of baptismal grace, nurturing the child in faith until they can assume responsibility themselves.” - [[Lay Participation in Liturgy]]: “The accessibility of Morning and Evening Prayer without requiring ordained clergy.” - [[Ordination and the Doctrine of Ministry]]: “The Ordinal’s definition of how ordained ministry is conferred through episcopal laying-on of hands and the theological significance of bishops.” ## Prominent Sources - *How to Use the Book of Common Prayer - A Guide to the Anglican Liturgy* (1 concept) - *How to Use the Book of Common Prayer: A Guide to the Anglican Liturgy* (7 concepts) ## Selected Quotes > ‘There’s a rubric in the Communion service saying there has to be a sermon (p. 247).’ > > *How to Use the Book of Common Prayer - A Guide to the Anglican Liturgy*, p. 83 > ‘Note that some think only a priest can say the absolution. < Others think that when a priest isn’t present, the absolution + in Morning and Evening Prayer may be said by a deacon or lay person.’ > > *How to Use the Book of Common Prayer - A Guide to the Anglican Liturgy*, p. 33 ## Related Domains [[Biblical Theology]] (1 shared) · [[Liturgical Studies]] (1 shared) · [[Pastoral Theology]] (1 shared)