The Church as an Institution

This model emphasizes the importance of the constitution or formal structures of the Church.
Such formal structures maintain order. However, this structure is often misunderstood by many
as a social chaste or hierarchy. The hierarchy exists but is limited to the celebration of the
mysteries of Christ, in particular the Liturgy and Sacraments. These are called functions or
offices. These offices are bestowed in a special way, through the laying on of hand, or the
sacraments of Holy Orders to qualified ordinandi or candidates for diaconate and priesthood.
The bishops who received the fulness of this sacrament, oversees his diocese with the help of his
fellow priests, and deacons. Their mission is threefold: Kingly, prophetic, and priestly. With the
third, bestowed unto them through the sacrament of ordination. The lay people or laity, however,
also participate in these three missions. One is also a priest, but this priesthood is a royal
priesthood, not a ministerial one. Following this line of thought, the mission bestowed by Christ
or by way of being a Christian unto us, belongs to all of us and not just a work limited to the
ordained.

The Church as a Mystical Communion

The Church as a mystical communion recognizes that the institutional element of the Church is
needed for organization or order. A deeper source of unity or bond however was identified.
Informal structures such as the community is the real goal of the institutional church. Its
institutional elements are geared towards the realization of a community closer to the Kingdom
of God. The Institution/ visible Church should never be equated to the Kingdom, all else it
results to extra ecclesiam nulla salus. Yves Congar in his works gave the idea that the Church
has two inseparable aspects. He made it clear that the Church is the totality of the means by
which fellowship or communion is produced and maintained. The Church guards the faith, as
well as the people who have faith in God. In other words, communion has two dimensions:
Vertical and Horizontal. Communion with God makes possible and vitalizes our communion as
persons. Communion with God has an inseparable social dimension.

The Church was likened in various documents to images found in the scriptures such as the
people of God, and the Body of Christ. These are organic images moved, and united by the
communion and working together of its members.

The Church as Sacrament

The next models, Sacrament, Servant and Herald are closely related. They explain the
relationship between the Church and the world.

The Church is a sacrament, that is, it is a sign and it brings or aids men to the Kingdom of God
by means of its visible sacraments, the liturgy, and most especially by witness through which it
can be most effective in its mission.

The Church as Servant

The Church as servant emphasizes that the Church is sent ad intra and ad extra. The Church
rather than a passive institution that watches over people’s moral actions and acts as judge, is an
active agent of change and evangelization. The lives of individuals are what the Church, its
values and morals, must permeate in order to bring about a world that is humane, a totally
transformed community. In the model, the Church as herald, the emphasis is on the word. In this
model of the Church as servant, emphasis is on being a witness. For one can preach more
effectively if one practices, what he/she preaches or professes.

Through being a witness, the Church must enter into the void or into man’s brokeneess and bring
about healing, and communion to a shattered world, by wars, hunger, poverty, corruption,
injustice, crimes, and in general by sin.

The Church as Herald

The Church is a Herald. The Gospel is preached to them. The Church responds in faith. The
Church is congregational. When they respond they are gathered together as one in faith This
Faith is centered in Jesus Christ who through him the Father has promised salvation. Thus faith
as a response to the Gospel has an eschatological character. Those who received this faith and
are gathered are called to evangelize: to preach the same Gospel in order that men may be saved
by responding.