DESCRIPTION: This doctoral seminar is open to a limited number of master's level students by special permission. The word sacrament is a term that conjures up images of sacred objects and sacred actions. The theology of those ecclesial rites known as sacraments has been one of the most divisive theological topics in the history of the church. In the last century, however, there has been a great deal of convergence between traditions using as a starting point for discussion the concept of "sacramentality," that is, the general question of how God is present in the world. This seminar will take up the question of sacramentality and then explore specific expressions of God's presence in the world commonly referred to as sacraments (or ordinances). This seminar will explore the history of sacramental theology, as well as models of the relationship between the doctrine of God and sacramentality.

RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: Christian ministry at it most basic level is the manifestation of the gospel in human relationships, inviting individuals to encounter the promise of God's presence in one's life. The question of how one understands the possibility of God's presence and the potential of the human person availing him or herself to God's presence is defined by one's theology of sacramentality. Quite simply, one's sacramentality defines one's theology of ministry.

COURSE FORMAT: The seminar will meet weekly for three-hour sessions. It will have some lectures by the professor, but will be mostly seminar presentations and discussions. Students will be expected--beyond assigned class readings--to do the necessary primary and secondary research for their presentations. The seminar will cover a broad swath of the Christian traditions: East and West, ancient through contemporary, traditional and nontraditional.

REQUIRED READING:

Boff, Leonardo. Sacraments of Life, Life of the Sacraments. Trans. John Drury. Washington, DC: Pastoral Press, 1987.

Cooke, Bernard J. The Distancing of God: The Ambiguity of Symbol in History and Theology. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1990 (available through Sigler Press).

Jones, Paul. Christ's Eucharistic Presence: A History of the Doctrine. New York: Peter Lang, 1994.

Natural Theology. Comprising "Nature and Grace" by Emil Brunner and the reply "No!" by Karl Barth. Translated from the German by Peter Frankel. Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock, 2002.

White, James F. The Sacraments in Protestant Practice and Faith. Nashville: Abingdon, 1999.

Course Reader.

Hilkert, Mary Catherine. Naming Grace: Preaching and the Sacramental Imagination. New York: Continuum, 1997.

Macquarrie, John. A Guide to the Sacraments. New York: Continuum, 1997.

Macy, Gary. The Banquet's Wisdom. Rev. ed. Akron, OH: OSL, 2005.

Ross, Susan A. Extravagant Affections: A Feminist Sacramental Theology. New York: Continuum, 1998.

Steiner, George. Real Presences. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1989.

1. Completion of assigned readings, participation in our class discussions and attendance (20%).

2. Two oral presentations to the class on a specific theologian's theology of sacramentality (20% each).

3. A final paper in which the student defines his/her theology of sacramentality in relationship to his/her ecclesial tradition and two theologians (40%). The third assignments will be adjusted in both scope and length for master's level students.