Spring 2011/Pasadena
TH877/577
Johnson
TH877/577: SACRAMENTS AND SACRAMENTALITY. Todd E. Johnson.
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.
SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND 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.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: There are four goals for learning that will drive this
course. First, the student will develop an overview of the history of
sacramental theology and the philosophical paradigms that supported these
theologies. Second, acquire a basic knowledge of various schools of thought in
sacramental theology in the Christian churches. Third, develop a model of
sacramentality appropriate to one's ecclesial context. Fourth, the student will
apply principles of sacramentality to the rites and offices of the pastoral
ministry within one's ecclesial context.
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:
- Cooke, Bernard J. The Distancing of God: The Ambiguity of Symbol
in History and Theology. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1990 (available through
Sigler Press). ISBN: 0800624157. Retail price: $34.00.
- Macy, Gary. The Banquet's Wisdom. Rev. ed. Akron, OH: OSL
Publications, 2005. ISBN: 9781878009500. Retail price: $19.95.
- 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. ISBN: 9781592441129. Retail price: $17.00.
- White, James F. The Sacraments in Protestant Practice and Faith.
Nashville: Abingdon, 1999. ISBN: 9780687034027. Retail price: $20.00.
- Course Reader.
RECOMMENDED READING:
- Boff, Leonardo. Sacraments of Life, Life of the Sacraments.
Trans. John Drury. Washington, DC: Pastoral Press, 1987. ISBN: 9780912405384.
Retail price: $8.95.
- Cooke, Bernard. Sacraments and Sacramentality. Twenty-third
Publications, 1994. ISBN: 9780896225886. Retail price: $24.95.
- Hilkert, Mary Catherine. Naming Grace: Preaching and the Sacramental
Imagination. New York: Continuum, 1997. ISBN: 9780826410603. Retail price:
$39.95.
- Jones, Paul. Christ's Eucharistic Presence: A History of the
Doctrine. New York: Peter Lang, 1994. (Out of print).
- Mitchell, Nathan. Meeting Mystery: Liturgy, Worship, Sacraments
(Theology in a Global Perspective). Orbis Books, 2006. ISBN: 9781570756740.
Retail price: $34.00.
- Macquarrie, John. A Guide to the Sacraments. New York: Continuum,
1997. (Out of print).
- Osborne, Kenan. Christian Sacraments in a Postmodern World: A Theology
for the Third Millennium. Paulist Press, 1999. ISBN: 9780809139049. Retail
price: $19.95.
- Ross, Susan A. Extravagant Affections: A Feminist Sacramental
Theology. New York: Continuum, 1998. ISBN: 9780826413208. Retail price:
$24.95
ASSIGNMENTS:
- Completion of assigned readings, participation in our class discussions and
attendance (20%).
- Two oral presentations to the class on a specific theologian's theology of
sacramentality (20% each).
- 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.
PREREQUISITES: For master's level students: permission of the instructor.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Elective.
This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. (January 2011)