The Vatican II concept of the People of God emphasizes which of the following?

• A. The church as a universal community of believers
• B. A rigid clerical hierarchy with no lay participation
• C. The church as a private club
• D. The church's separation from society

Answer: (A)

The main idea being tested is that the Church is the People of God—a universal, inclusive community formed by all the baptized, united in Christ, and called to holiness and mission. Vatican II presents the Church as a communion in which every member has a role: the laity participate actively in worship, governance, and the mission of bringing the Gospel into daily life, while the ordained leadership serves the shared good rather than standing apart from it. This view rejects both a rigid, clerical-only model and the idea of the Church as a private club or as separate from the wider world. Instead, it portrays the Church as a universal, missionary community that engages with society and witnesses to God’s grace in the world.