Condition as new.Twentieth century ecclesiastical history has been dominated by the tension between the call for ecumenicity and the continuing divisions in doctrine and practice. Yet such debates have been a constant theme in the development of the Christian Church: alongside the history of division has always run the conscious search for reintegration.The dynamics between unity and diversity are at the heart of this important collection of over thirty original essays by scholars from around the world. Central to the discussions are the crucial issues of ecclesiastical identity; the relative priorities of religion and society; and the ways in which competition between interpretations of the Christian message affect relationships both within and between the various branches of the Church.With chronological coverage extending from the fourth to the twenty centuries and wide geographical scope, the diverse approaches in this book nevertheless offer a coherent focus for debate on this major theme in ecclesiastical history.