The term "denomination" is now widely used to describe a Christian community or church. But what is a 'denomination'? In this highly creative collection of essays, representatives of all major Christian traditions give an answer to this question. What does the term mean in their own tradition? And does that tradition understand itself to be a 'denomination'? If so, what is that understanding of 'denomination'; and if not, how does the tradition understand itself vis à vis those churches which do and those churches which do not understand themselves as 'denominations'? In dialogue with the argument and ideas set forth in Barry Ensign-George's essay, each contributor offers a response from the perspective of a particular church (tradition). Each essay also considers questions concerning the current landscape of ecumenical dialogue; ecumenical method and the goals of the ecumenical movement; as well as questions of Christian identity and belonging.

Introduction Paul M. Collins 'Denomination as Ecclesiological Category: Sketching an Assessment' Barry Ensign-George (Reformed/Presbyterian)Anglican 'Denomination: An Anglican Appraisal' Paul AvisBaptist: 'The Ecumenical Dimensions of Baptist Denominational Identity' Steven R. HarmonLutheran: 'The Lutheran Church: Church, Confession, Congregation, Denomination' Gesa ThiessenMethodist: 'United Methodism: Its Identity as Denomination' Russell RicheyOrthodox: 'The Orthodox Church on Denomination' Elena VishnevskayaPentecostal: 'The Denomination in Classical and Global Pentecostal Ecclesiology:A Historical and Theological Contribution' Wolfgang VondeyQuaker: 'Denomination beyond the North Atlantic Ecclesial World' Ann RiggsReformed/Presbyterian: 'Presbyterianism and Denomination' Amy Plantinga Pauw'Is there a future for denominationalism? Reflections from the perspective of Roman Catholic ecclesiology and from the perspective of the future of the ecumenical movement' Peter de Mey'Afterword: A Global Perspective' Kirsteen Kim