Koffeman, Leo J.2017-08-212017-04Koffeman, L.J. 2017, 'The flexibility of church structures : a Protestant view', Quaderni di Diritto e Politica Ecclesiastica, vol. 20, no. 1, pp. 179-192.1122-0392 (online)10.1440/86758http://hdl.handle.net/2263/61746This contribution reflects on Protestant attitudes towards the institutional aspects of church life, including church law and church polity. First, it describes 'Protestantism' from an historical and a terminological perspective, concluding with observations on the visible and the invisible aspects of the church as background to the views of Rudolf Sohm. Secondly, it focuses on the Reformed tradition, with special attention to the ideas of John Calvin and Karl Barth.en© 2017 Società editrice il Mulino S.p.A.InstitutionProtestantismVisible churchInvisible churchReformedPostprint Article