Protestant ecclesiology
The term Protestant ecclesiology refers to the spectrum of teachings held by various Protestant denominations on the nature of the Christian Church. == Teaching by Christian denomination == === Evangelical-Lutheran Churches === ==== Theology of grace ==== Martin Luther argued that because the Catholic church had "lost sight of the doctrine of grace", it had "lost its claim to be considered as the authenthic Christian church"; this argument was open to the counter-criticism from Catholics that he was thus guilty of schism and a Donatist position, and in both cases therefore opposing central teachings of Augustine of Hippo.