Talk:Denominationalism

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I don't think this final sentence is entirely true of the Eastern Orthodox Church: In these "denominations", it is not possible to have a "purely administrative" separation, and any such attempts automatically are a type of schism.

This would be true of the Roman Catholics, since they are administratively united under a single Pope, and to not be is to not be Catholic, etc. The Eastern Orthodox Church is a communion of administratively separate orthodox churches; they don't share a single pope, patriarch, standing council, or any other administrative body that they're all subject to, at least humanly speaking. Their united with each other in faith (including credal and doctrinal statememts) and practice, and by the mutual recognition among the patriarchs and metropolitans of the various jurisdictions. So administrative separation is fine; it's the "branch theory" of Protestantism that makes allowances for fundamental doctrinal differences, that Orthodoxy rejects. Now, is there a good NPOV way to incorporate this in the article? Other discussion first? Wesley 17:34, 5 Jan 2004 (UTC)

I tried editing it as per your suggestion, which was certainly proper and correct. I still think we need to keep the Eastern Orthodox listed because, though they may not techncically be a distinct denomination (or group thereof), the public certainly has that perception. But I'm certainly open to other ways of doing it.

[edit] "Pentecostals" as a denomination?

I think it is more accurate to speak of "Pentecostals" as a category of denominations, including the United Pentecostal Church International, the Assemblies of God, the Church of God in Christ, and many others. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 67.132.54.222 (talk) 14:17, 4 October 2007 (UTC)