"A marvelous volume on ecclesiology in the contemporary setting. I have not read a better introduction to ecclesiology and hope that it becomes a standard textbook in college and seminary classes as well as finding a wide readership outside of the academy. It is a splendid example of theology in service to the church."--__John R. Franke__, Yellowstone Theological Institute  
  
"This is an important new book. Evangelicals have often emphasized individual faith in Christ at the expense of the corporate character of the Christian community. This book shows why that dichotomy is false by pointing us toward a more holistic ecclesiology--the church biblical, trinitarian, sacramental, missional, and eschatological. This book needs to be read and heeded!"--__Timothy George__, Beeson Divinity School, Samford University  
  
"Harper and Metzger provide evangelical Protestants an ideal entrée into what has been the long-neglected stepsister of systematic theology in North America. A must-read for evangelicals who intuitively know that the church is not incidental or just instrumental to the Christian life."--__Barry Harvey__, Baylor University  
  
"Harper and Metzger have written an important evangelical and ecumenical introduction to ecclesiology. Being evangelicals themselves, they have managed to incorporate into their vision of the church important insights from both the Roman Catholic and the Orthodox theology and tradition. I believe that this is a book from which Orthodox students, theologians, and pastors have much to learn."--__Rev. Dr. Demetrios Bathrellos__, Institute for Orthodox Christian Studies, Cambridge  
  
"An evangelical ecclesiology that takes the counter-cultural notion of divine communio as its starting point merits reading. That this book also examines race, sacraments, and Christian art will really grab the attention of a serious and plentiful readership. Metzger and Harper deserve the highest praise for pushing the envelope."--__Peter Casarella__, DePaul University

__Brad Harper__ (PhD, St. Louis University) is professor of theology at Multnomah University in Portland, Oregon. He is the college adviser for The Institute for Theology of Culture: New Wine, New Wineskins and the book review editor for Cultural Encounters: A Journal for the Theology of Culture. He has also worked as a pastor and church planter. __Paul Louis Metzger__ (PhD, King's College London) is professor of Christian theology and theology of culture at Multnomah Biblical Seminary and director of its Institute for the Theology of Culture: New Wine, New Wineskins. He is the editor of the journal Cultural Encounters and the author of Consuming Jesus: Beyond Race and Class Divisions in a Consumer Church.

In this introduction to ecclesiology, respected scholars Brad Harper and Paul Louis Metzger offer a solidly evangelical yet ecumenical survey of the church in mission and doctrine. Combining biblical, historical, and cultural analysis, this comprehensive text explores the church as a Trinitarian, eschatological, worshiping, sacramental, serving, ordered, cultural, and missional community. It also offers practical application, addressing contemporary church life issues such as women in ministry, evangelism, social action, consumerism in church growth trends, ecumenism, and the church in postmodern culture. The book will appeal to all who are interested in church doctrine, particularly undergraduates and seminarians.

This evangelical and ecumenical ecclesiology survey text provides a comprehensive biblical, historical, and cultural perspective and addresses contemporary issues in church life.

Introduction  
1\. The Church as a Trinitarian Community: The Being-Driven Church  
2\. The Trinitarian Church Confronts American Individualism  
3\. The Church as an Eschatological Community  
4\. Eschatology, the Church, and Ecology  
5\. The Church as a Worshipping Community  
6\. The Worshipping Church Engages Culture  
7\. The Church as a Sacramental Community  
8\. Sacraments and the Search for the Holy Grail  
9\. The Church as a Serving Community  
10\. Church Discipline--The Lost Element of Service  
11\. The Church as an Ordered Community  
12\. The Role of Women in the Ordered Community  
13\. The Church as a Cultural Community: Christ, Culture, and the Sermon on the Mount Community  
14\. Getting Past the Ghettoizing of the Gospel in Today's Culture  
15\. The Church as a Missional Community: The Being-Driven Church  
16\. From Building Programs to Building God's Missional Kingdom  
A Postmodern Postscript  
Recommended Readings  
Appendix: Types of Ecclesiology

Harper, Brad ;Metzger, Paul Louis

Cover

Title Page

Copyright

Endorsements

Dedication

Acknowledgments

Introduction

1. The Church as a Trinitarian Community: The Being-Driven Church

2. The Trinitarian Church Confronts American Individualism

3. The Church as an Eschatological Community

4. Eschatology, the Church, and Ecology

5. The Church as a Worshipping Community

6. The Worshipping Church Engages Culture

7. The Church as a Sacramental Community

8. Sacraments and the Search for the Holy Grail

9. The Church as a Serving Community

10. Church Discipline—The Lost Element of Service

11. The Church as an Ordered Community

12. The Role of Women in the Ordered Community

13. The Church as a Cultural Community: Christ, Culture, and the Sermon on the Mount Community

14. Getting Past the Ghettoizing of the Gospel in Today’s Culture

15. The Church as a Missional Community: The Being-Driven Church

16. From Building Programs to Building God’s Missional Kingdom

A Postmodern Postscript

Appendix: Types of Ecclesiology

Notes

Subject Index

Scripture Index

An evangelical survey of eccelesiology with ecumenical sensibilities.

Brad Harper (PhD, St. Louis University) is professor of theology at Multnomah University in Portland, Oregon. He is the college adviser for The Institute for Theology of Culture: New Wine, New Wineskins and the book review editor for Cultural Encounters: A Journal for the Theology of Culture. He has also worked as a pastor and church planter. Paul Louis Metzger (PhD, King's College London) is professor of Christian theology and theology of culture at Multnomah Biblical Seminary and director of its Institute for the Theology of Culture: New Wine, New Wineskins. He is the editor of the journal Cultural Encounters and the author of Consuming Jesus: Beyond Race and Class Divisions in a Consumer Church.

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