What comes to mind when you think of the word church? In this volume, Gregg R. Allison helps define the church and its mission by presenting an overview of the specific doctrines and practices of different churches and denominations. He lays a basic foundation for better understanding the common practices among local church communities (“mere ecclesiology”) and the ways that they diverge from one another (“more ecclesiology”). Through this systematic primer, you will come away knowing not only how various churches differ but also how they’re ultimately united as the body of Christ and the temple of the Holy Spirit. Part of the Short Studies in Systematic Theology seriesOffers clarity on what the church is and how it is to engage in the worldExplores the principle tenets of church polity held by most churches throughout historyAddresses several theological areas where churches differ, such as infant baptism and believer’s baptism; men and women in ministry; and spiritual gifts