This book does precisely what its title indicates. It discusses and makes as clear as possible what, in the authors' view, the church is, what are its limits, what should be its doctrine, what is the status of its ministry and the nature of its sacraments, and how in the present state of disunion, confusion and uncertainty we can conceive that the church of Jesus Christ exists. In other words, it offers a theology of the church.
It is addressed primarily to Anglicans, who have every reason to be confused and uncertain. The fact that we live in a period when ecumenical co-operation and...