The Church is an assembly of people, each different from the other, so it is a plurality of voices. This assembly is given to each particular location in order to proclaim the gospel to the community in that place. That these many different voices agree and speak with one accord, and that all these different churches of different times and places give the same witness, is itself evidence of the authority of the gospel, the power of God and the truth that he, and no other, is Lord.
The Church teaches that the whole company of heaven, some of whom are the patriarchs, prophets and apostles portrayed in Scripture, are heard and even glimpsed in its worship. This heavenly company makes itself heard through the worship in the voices that make up each local congregation. It gives us the speech of Jesus Christ to his listeners, both disciples and adversaries, and it relays the speech of Abraham, Moses, David, Isaiah and all the patriarchs and prophets as they reply with their worship to Christ. In church the singing voices of our neighbours are amplifications of the voices of the patriarchs, prophets and apostles alerting us to the arrival of the Lord among us.
