Includes bibliographical references (p. 467-471) and indexes.

Introduction: The content and scope of ecclesiology -- What is ecclesiology? -- What is the church? -- Where ecclesiology fits -- The ecumenical and interfaith dimensions of ecclesiology -- The pastoral dimension of ecclesiology -- The controversial character of ecclesiology -- Models and methods in ecclesiology -- Ecclesiological development -- Ecclesiology in the New Testament -- The history of ecclesiology and the history of the church -- The ecclesiologies of the New Testament -- Summary and synthesis -- Ecclesiology from the postbiblical period to the mid-nineteenth century -- The scope of the problem -- The history of postbiblical ecclesiology: An overview -- Ecclesiology from Vatican I to the threshold of Vatican II -- Peter and the papacy: the ecclesiological context for Vatican I -- Vatican I (1869-70) -- Post-Vatican I developments -- Pre-Vatican II ecclesiology -- Pope John XXIII -- The ecclesiology of the Second Vatican Council -- Introduction and overview -- The announcement of and preparations for the council -- Pope John XXIII's opening address -- The first days of the council -- Vatican II in historical and theological perspective -- The ecclesiology of Vatican II: six basic themes -- The "Twin pillars" of Vatican II's ecclesiology: Lumen gentium and Gaudium et spes -- Vatican II: continuity or discontinuity? -- The style of Vatican II -- Approaches to the interpretation of conciliar texts -- Pope Paul VI's Ecclesiam Suam (1964) -- Concluding reflections --

Post-Vatican II ecclesiology: the church ad extra -- The church and the kingdom, or reign of God -- The church and the world -- The church and salvation -- Catholic social teaching -- The church and politics -- The church and liberation -- The church and the holy spirit -- Post-Vatican II ecclesiology: the church ad intra -- The church as a communion -- Authority in the church -- Reception -- Ministry -- An excursus on sacraments and liturgy -- Mary and the church -- Feminist and nonfeminist ecclesiology by Catholic women -- Hispanic and Latino/a ecclesiologies -- African and African American ecclesiologies -- New movements in the church -- The emerging world-church -- Brief summation -- The future of the church and its ecclesiologies -- Synthesis of the book -- Ten pastoral applications -- The future of the church and its ecclesiologies.

Reveals the evolution of the Church's relationship to the divine, its leadership of the faithful, and its role as a global religion.