What does it mean to believe in the Church?
To “believe” in the Church is to recognize that the existence of the Church, and the necessity of belonging to her, are fundamental elements of God’s revelation, and to accept that, normatively, one cannot be a Christian without being united to the local manifestation of the Church, under the authority of her appointed leaders, according to the apostolic command: “Obey your leaders and submit to them as they watch over your souls as people who will give an account” (Heb 13:17; see Q357, Q530).
To believe in the Church also means to seek, honor, serve, and protect the true Church of Christ, because she is God’s house and “the pillar and foundation of the truth” (1Ti 3:15; see Q010, Q017); and to obey her doctrine and commandments, in the conviction that grace ever abides in her, flowing from her one everlasting Head, the Lord Jesus Christ: “To him be the glory in the Church by Christ Jesus to all generations, unto ages of ages. Amen” (Eph 3:21; see Q257, Q271).
