Church Structure

Theses A and B below represent the complementary pair, Unity and Diversity, as they apply to Church structure. The upper theses offer a moderate synthesis that can be affirmed without contradiction. The lower theses, -B and -A, represent exaggerations of A and B respectively that are commonly stated. Click the 'more' links for more details on each of the views. This is one of three complementary pairs linked by the left and right arrows. Overview of this diagram.
Also see 3-D Overview.

	Unity and Diversity
	A: Unity: Christ is the singular Head of the Church. The Church is a single body. Its people should reflect that. more	B: Diversity: The Church is a collection of diverse persons with diverse spiritual gifts, as the Scriptures teach. more
	-B: Exaggeration of unity may lead to conformity, in which only certain kinds of persons or gifts are accepted. more	-A: Exaggeration of diversity leads to pluralism. There is no need for fellowship: rejection of community. more

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Church Structure

Theses B and C below represent the complementary pair, Diversity and Equality, as they apply to Church structure. The upper theses offer a moderate synthesis that can be affirmed without contradiction. The lower theses, -C and -B, represent exaggerations of B and C respectively that are commonly heard. Click the 'more' links for more details on each of the views. This is one of three complementary pairs linked by the left and right arrows. Overview of this diagram.

Also see 3-D Overview.

	Diversity and Equality
	B: Diversity: The gifts given to the Church differ in priority. Some gifts are more helpful and more desirable than others, but all are to be accepted and used for edification. more	C: Equality: The essential equality of all persons in the church is to be maintained by mutual care and by compensation of the weaker members. more
	-C: Exaggeration of diversity may lead to a hierarchy of levels or ranks among the members that breaks equality. more	-B: Exaggeration of equality may lead to conformity, in which only certain persons or certain gifts are accepted. more

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Church Structure

Theses C and A below represent the complementary pair, Equality and Unity, as they apply to Church structure. The upper theses offer a moderate synthesis that can be affirmed without contradiction. The lower theses, -A and -C, represent exaggerations of C and A respectively that are commonly heard. Click the 'more' links for more details on each of the views. This is one of three complementary pairs linked by the left and right arrows. Overview of this diagram.

Also see 3-D Overview.

	Equality and Unity
	C: Equality: "Whether Jews or Greeks, whether slave or free, whether male or female, all are one in Christ." more	A: Unity: Christ prayed that the Church, his disciples, would be one, as God is one. more
	-A: Exaggeration of equality may lead to a rejection of the authority of leaders whom God has called according to their gifts. more	-C: Exaggeration of unity may lead to attempts by one part of the body to dominate and swallow up another. more

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