What is an Authentic Community of Faith?

In order for a local congregation to be an authentic community of faith, its practice must be congruent with its functional purpose, that is, its Christian mission. The underlying question is “What is the mission of the church?” and “To what are the people of God being called?” If the church is only serving itself (meaning only its own church members) and not loving and serving others beyond the local congregation as a priority of its life of pratice, can it be considered an authentic Christian community of faith? Is the local congregation just one form of “church” among many forms, and it so, can other forms be considered authentic Christian communities of faith?”