Ecclesiology is the study of the church, its nature and structure. It asks: what is the church? Who belongs to it? How is it governed? What are its marks? The word comes from the Greek ekklesia, meaning assembly. The church is the assembly of God's people. It is the body of Christ. It is the temple of the Holy Spirit. It is the bride of Christ. It is the family of God.

Ecclesiology is important. It shapes how we understand the church. It shapes how we organize it. It shapes how we worship. There are many models of the church. The church as institution. The church as mystical communion. The church as sacrament. The church as herald. The church as servant. Each model emphasizes a different aspect. Each has strengths and weaknesses. Each has implications for ministry and mission.

Marks of the church

• One: the church is unified.
• Holy: the church is set apart for God.
• Catholic: the church is universal.
• Apostolic: the church is founded on the apostles.
• Reformed: the church is always being reformed.

Ecclesiology is not just theory. It is practice. It determines how churches are governed. Episcopal. Presbyterian. Congregational. It determines who can lead. Bishops. Elders. Pastors. It determines who can belong. Baptized. Professing. It determines how the church relates to the world. Separatist. Engaged. Transformational. The church is not a building. It is a people. It is the people of God. It is the called-out ones. It is the assembly. It is the ekklesia. It is the church. And ecclesiology is the study of it. It is the study of who we are. It is the study of what we are called to be. It is the study of the church. It is the study of the body of Christ. It is the study of the bride. It is the study of the family. It is ecclesiology.