The articles in this volume stem from contributions to the Seventh Biannual Conference of the academic network of International Reformed Theological Institute (IRTI) held in Cluj-Napoca, Romania from 3 to 8 July 2007.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Preliminary Material / E. Van Der Borght -- The Unity Of The Church And The Reformed Tradition — An Introduction / Eduardus Van Der Borght -- Chapter One. Communion — Responding To God’s Gift / Lukas Vischer -- Chapter Two. Church Unity, Territorialism, And State Formation In The Era Of Confessionalisation / Wim Janse -- Chapter Three. Parallel Coexistence Of Churches. The Church In Transylvania: Its Unity And Disunity. — A Contextualized Example / Juhász Tamás -- Chapter Four. \'Is Christ Divided?\'— An Analysis Of The Theological Justification Of A Church Schism / J.H. (Amie) Van Wyk -- Chapter Five. Calvinus Oecumenicus — Calvin’s Vision Of The Unity And Catholicity Of The Church / I. John Hesselink -- Chapter Six. One Church And The Pure Preaching Of The Word — Theses And Observations On The Theme / Alasdair Heron -- Chapter Seven. A Biblical Theological Hermeneutics, The Pure Preaching Of The Word Of God, And The Unity Of The Church / Seung-Goo Lee -- Chapter Eight. The Medium And The Message — Sola Scriptura And (Dis)unity In The Reformed Tradition / Dora Bernhardt -- Chapter Nine. The Unity Of The Church And The Pure Administration Of The Sacraments / Lyle D. Bierma -- Chapter Ten. Confessions As Instruments Of (Dis)unity? / Dirkie Smit -- Chapter Eleven. Forms Of Unity Or Of Disunity—The Confessions In The Recent History Of The Protestant Church In The Netherlands / Henk Van Den Belt -- Chapter Twelve. Gospel Discipline And Church (Dis)unity In The Reformed Tradition / Alan P.F. Sell -- Chapter Thirteen. The Healing Of Memories—Finding One Another Again In Christ / Jeffrey Gros -- Chapter Fourteen. An Asymptotic Dialogue? A Response To Jeffrey Gros / Leo J. Koffeman -- Chapter Fifteen. Ecumenical Theology And The Unity Of The Church — A Reformed Understanding Of Ecumenical Engagement And The Unity Of The Church / Setri Nyomi -- Chapter Sixteen. ‘No Popery’: A Blessing Or A Curse? Ministry As An Instrument Of Unity Within The Reformed Tradition / Eduardus Van Der Borght -- Chapter Seventeen. Office As An Instrument Of Unity / Allan Janssen -- Chapter Eighteen. One God And One Church—Considerations On The Unity Of The Church From The Perspective Of Biblical Theology / Abraham Van de Beek -- Chapter Nineteen. One Savior, One Church—Reconciliation As Justification And \'New Creation\' / Philippe Theron -- Chapter Twenty. The Reality Of The Unified Church / Annette Mosher -- Chapter Twenty-One. The Church As An Echo Of The Triune God / Christiaan Mostert -- Chapter Twenty-Two. Is The Triune God A Model For The One Church? — Reply To Christiaan Mostert / Paul Wells -- Chapter Twenty-Three. Trinitarian Ecclesiology And The Search For Unity — A Reformed Reading Of Miroslav Volf / Gijsbert Van Den Brink -- Chapter Twenty-Four. The Church As Sacrament / Martien E. Brinkman -- List Of Contributors / E. Van Der Borght -- Index / E. Van Der Borght.

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In contrast to its original name, Ecclesia Reformata, ecclesiology did not develop into a major theme within the Reformed tradition. Notwithstanding the undeniable schismatic tendency and the ecclesial embarrassment about disunity, the unity of the church did not rise to prominence as a theological topic. This volume challenges this traditional low-key attitude towards the unity of the church. It investigates theological aspects that contributed to a weak sensus unitatis, and explores approaches that remedy the disease of division. It discusses the role played by scripture, the sacraments, confessions, and discipline; it searches for the best theological practices within other Christian traditions; it links the unity of the church to the unity of God and reformulates the nature of the church.