This article undertakes a critical exploration of the current relationship between ecclesiology and ‘ecclesial ethnography’. It begins by proposing that ecclesiology should be a realistic, critical and practical discipline and that in these respects it can learn from ethnographical principles. It goes on to raise some questions about how the relationship between ecclesial ethnography and ecclesiology is presented in some recent literature, pointing out instances of over-drawn distinctions, exaggerated claims and methodological naivety. It concludes by affirming the vital role of ethnographical study to the overall theological investigation of the church and suggests that this would be strengthened if the weaknesses mentioned above were addressed.

中文翻译：

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教会学和民族志：未解决的关系

本文对当前教会学与“教会民族志”之间的关系进行了批判性探索。它首先提出教会学应该是一门现实的、批判的和实用的学科，并且在这些方面它可以从人种学原则中学习。它继续提出一些关于教会民族志和教会学之间的关系如何在最近的一些文献中呈现的问题，指出了过度描绘的区别、夸大的主张和方法论的幼稚的例子。最后，它肯定了民族志研究对教会整体神学调查的重要作用，并建议如果上述弱点得到解决，这将得到加强。