DESCRIPTION: This doctoral seminar (for which students at the 800 level will register Winter and Spring [ST838A and ST838B], open to a maximum of five advanced master's level students [ST538]) studies ecclesiastical traditions and developments at the international and ecumenical level as well as ecclesiologies of some leading contemporary theologians. Special topics include mission, unity, communion, Eucharist, charisms, and the ministry of the whole people of God.

RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: Theological reflection on various issues related to the nature and mission of Christian community in its contemporary contexts is an essential task for theologians and ministers.

COURSE FORMAT: Class will meet weekly for a three-hour session of discussion & student presentations.

REQUIRED READING:

Basden, P. & Dockery, S.D. eds. The People of God: Essays on the Believers' Church. Broadman, 1991.
OR Callen, B.L. Radical Christianity: The Believers Church Tradition in Christianity's History and Future. Evangel Publishing House, 1999.

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

Fiorenza, E. S. Discipleship of Equals: Critical Feminist Ekklesia-logy of Liberation. Crossroad, 1993.
OR Russell, L. M. Church in the Round: Feminist Interpretation of the Church. WJKP, 1993.

Gibbs, E. & Bolger, R. Emerging Churches: Creating Christian Community in Postmodern Cultures. Baker, 2005 .

Moltmann, J. The Church in the Power of the Spirit. SCM Press, 1977.

Pannenberg, W. Systematic Theology. Vol. 3. Eerdmans, 1998 (section on the church).

Rausch, T. Towards a Truly Catholic Church: An Ecclesiology for the Third Millennium. Liturgical Press, 2005.

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

Lumen Gentium; Unitatis Redintegratio (in Documents of Vatican II, ed. A. Flannery or Vatican website).

"Mission as Reconciliation." CWME 2005 Preparatory Paper No. 4 http://www.oikoumene.org/index.php?id=794.

"The Nature and Mission of the Church." Faith and Order Paper No. 198, 2005 http://www.oikoumene.org/?id=2617.

The Church as Communion. Ed. H. Holze. Lutheran World Federation Documentation No. 42, LWF, 1997.

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

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

________. Toward a Pneumatological Theology. Ed. A. Yong. University Press of America, 2002.

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

Ratzinger, J. Called to Communion: Understanding the Church Today. Ignatius Press, 1996.

ST838A, ST538: (1) A careful reading of the required texts (reading log) (20%; requirements modified for ST 538). (2) Presentations in class (20%). (3) Critical reviews (20%). (4) Active participation in discussions (10%). Theological reflection paper on "The Nature and Mission of the Church" (30%).

ST838B: A major research paper, 30 pages (100%).