One of the world's most influential theologians clearly and persuasively outlines a doctrine of the church concerned with Christian unity and the failure of the churches to resolve denom-inational conflicts. In this long-awaited second volume of Wolfhart Pannenberg's Ethik und Ekklesiologie, divisive issues that have persisted for centuries are put into new and hopeful perspective.

Pannenberg considers difficult questions about authority, catho-licity, apostolicity, and the Lord's Supper. Throughout, he maintains the eschatological awareness that distinguishes all of his theologi-cal writing and shows that church unity rests not primarily on unity of doctrine but on common confession of Jesus Christ.

To press the movement toward unity forward, Pannenberg calls for an ecumenical council of Roman Catholics, Protestants, and Orthodox Christians. Ultimately, he foresees a unity grounded in religious freedom, and a Christianity joined with other world religions to articulate the conscience of humanity.