DESCRIPTION:

This doctoral seminar (open to a maximum of five advanced master's level students) is designed to introduce students to main themes and developments in contemporary ecclesiology, the doctrine of the church. Main ecclesiastical traditions , ecclesiologies of some leading theologians at the international and ecumenical level, and various contextual views, as well as the relation of ecclesiology to ecumenism and missiology, are studied.

An essential part of preparation for Christian ministry is to learn to think theologically through issues of faith and ministry. Reflecting on various issues related to the Christian community in its contemporary contexts is an essential theological task for the church.

The class will meet once a week for a three-hour session for an introductory lecture, discussion, and student presentations.

Basden, P. and Dockery, D. S., eds. The People of God: Essays on the Believers' Church. Broadman, 1991

Kärkkäinen, V.-M. Ecclesiology: An Ecumenical, Historical, & Contextual Introduction. IVP, 2002.

Lumen Gentium; Nostra Aetate; Unitatis Redintegratio (in Vatican II documents, ed. A. Flannery).

Choose two:

Küng, H. The Church. Image Books, 1976 (or similar edition).

Moltmann, J. The Church in the Power of the Spirit. SCM Press, 1977 (or similar edition),

Pannenberg, W. Systematic Theology. Vol. 3. Eerdmans, 1998 (relevant sections).

Volf, M. After Our Likeness: The Church as the Image of the Trinity. Eerdmans 1998.

Zizioulas, J. Being as Communion: Studies in Personhood and the Church. St. Vladimir's, 1985.

Choose one:

Boff, L. Ecclesiogenesis: The Base Communities Reinvent the Church. Orbis,1986.

Cook, C. The Expectation of the Poor: Latin American Basic Ecclesial Communities in Protestant Perspective. Orbis, 1985.

Choose one:

Fiorenza, E. S. Discipleship of Equals: Critical Feminist Ekklesia-logy of Liberation. Crossroad, 1993.

Russell, L. M. Church in the Round: Feminist Interpretation of the Church. WJKP, 1993.

Choose one:

Barrett, L., et. al., eds. Missional Church. Eerdmans, 1998.

van Gelder, C., ed. Confident Witness. (Gospel and Culture Series.) Eerdmans 1999.

Another study on contextual ecclesiologies (student's choice to be accepted by the professor).

The Church as Communion. Ed. Holze. Lutheran World Federation # 42, LWF, 1997.

Harvey, B. Another City: An Ecclesiological Primer for a Post-Christian World. Trinity Press, 1999.

Kärkkäinen, V.-M. Toward a Pneumatological Theology. Ed. A. Yong. UPA, 2002.

Meyer, H. That All May Be One: Perceptions and Models of Ecumenicity. Eerdmans, 1999.

(1) A careful reading of the required texts. (2) Reading responses, max. 20 pages (3) A major research paper, 30 pages. (4) Student presentations. (5) Active participation in discussions.