Introduction: loving the church -- "The wounds I received in the house of my friends," Part I: the complicated theology of the church -- "The wounds I received in the house of my friends,": Part II: our church, not yours -- Talking about the church: the possibility of a people -- Talking about a people: the possibility of election -- Arguing about the church: the church and the nations -- The church as Israel: the repentant missionary -- The figure of the church -- Conclusion: a longing people.