The church is the people of God who have been saved through repentance and faith in
Jesus Christ and have been incorporated into his body through baptism with the Holy Spirit.

Wherever we find the Word of God surely preached and heard, and the sacraments
administered according to the institution of Christ, there, it is not to be doubted, is a church of God.

The church is that assembly of people who
belong to the Lord, who are gathered together for him.

The Church is not a growing number of
people, but a number of people growing.

The church is the only society in the world that
never loses any of its members, even by death.

The church is not a religious community of
worshippers of Christ but is Christ himself who has taken form among people.