Winter 2008/Pasadena
ST838A/538
Kärkkäinen
ST838A/B/ST538: ECCLESIOLOGY: CURRENT TRENDS WORLDWIDE. Veli-Matti
Kärkkäinen.
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.
RECOMMENDED READING:
- 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.
ASSIGNMENTS:
- 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%).
PREREQUISITES: Master's level students need written permission from the
professor.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Elective.
FINAL EXAMINATION: No.
This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. (revised 10/29/07)