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Zajoman Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

"Church" or "the Church"?

If I'm talking about the institution of ecclesia, parish or clergy (I just put here all the terms known to me so that there is no misunderstanding), do I write "the Church" with "the" and capital "C" or just "church"? I believe I've seen it somewhere that when they talked about not a specific building and not actions or ministry that building represented, but the whole army of priests, bishops and the pope, the whole organization, that they used "the Church". Am I right?

I know the difference between "church" and "the church", but I'm unsure about "the Church".

Thanks in advance!
  

Top answer

It's a difficult distinction, and there are differing opinions. The Church can be all christians, the 'invisible church', those who truly follow Christ. The Church can also refer to the complete Roman Catholic Church, as your question mentioned.

— Old Man Gordon

  • It's a difficult distinction, and there are differing opinions.
  • The Church can be all christians, the 'invisible church', those who truly follow Christ.
  • The Church can also refer to the complete Roman Catholic Church, as your question mentioned.
  • If you're talking about a specific location or group, you probably should not capitalize.
  • I wouldn't capitalize if I'm talking about any specific denomination other than the RC Church.
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2 Answers
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It's a difficult distinction, and there are differing opinions.

The Church can be all christians, the 'invisible church', those who truly follow Christ.

The Church can also refer to the complete Roman Catholic Church, as your question mentioned.

If you're talking about a specific location or group, you probably should not capitalize. I wouldn't capitalize if I'm talking
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Thank you very much.
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