Fall 2014/Pasadena
ST538
Kärkkäinen
ST538: ECCLESIOLOGY: CURRENT TRENDS WORLDWIDE (4 Units: 182 Hours). Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen.
DESCRIPTION: This doctoral seminar, open to a maximum of five advanced master’s level students, 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.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: Having successfully completed this seminar, students will have demonstrated their ability (1) to articulate key developments and topics in contemporary ecclesiology and reflect on the significance of the doctrine of the church to Christian faith and church life; (2) to analyze critically main contributions and challenges of the doctrine of the church in light of tradition and recent developments; (3) to display the ability to express their own understanding of the church and her mission; and (4) to engage in constructive theology in light of the main questions of the course.
COURSE FORMAT: This class meets once per week for three-hour sessions for a total of 30 hours of classroom instruction for lecture and discussion plus 10 hours of directed learning activities for a total of 40 instructional hours. Once registered for the course, the student must contact immediately Prof. Kärkkäinen for syllabus and pre-seminar assignments (vmk@fuller.edu).
REQUIRED READING: 1,300 pp. required.
“Essays and Documents on Ecclesiology,” ST838/538 Course Reader (Moodle course website)
Basden, P. & Dockery, S.D. eds. The People of God: Essays on the Believers’ Church. Wipf & Stock, 2009. ISBN: 978-1606088944, Pub. Price $40.00 [367 pp.]. OR Callen, B.L. Radical Christianity: The Believers Church Tradition in Christianity’s History and Future. Evangel Publishing House, 1999. ISBN: 978-0916035631, Pub. Price $14.95 [221 pp.].
Boff, L. Ecclesiogenesis: The Base Communities Reinvent the Church. Orbis, 1986. ISBN: 978-0883442142, Pub. Price $22.00 [122 pp.].
Fiorenza, E. S. Discipleship of Equals: Critical Feminist Ekklesia-logy of Liberation. Crossroad, 1993. ISBN: 978-0824512446, Pub. Price $29.95 [384 pp.]. OR Russell, L. M. Church in the Round: Feminist Interpretation of the Church. WJKP, 1993. ISBN: 978-0664250706, Pub. Price $29.95 [256 pp.].
Gibbs, E. & Bolger, R. Emerging Churches: Creating Christian Community in Postmodern Cultures. Baker, 2005. ISBN: 978-0801027154, Pub. Price $19.99 [352 pp.] OR Jones, Tony. The Church Is Flat: The Relational Ecclesiology of the Emerging Church Movement. JoPa Productions, 2011. ISBN: 978-0615524313, Pub. Price $19.97 [230 pp.].
Moltmann, J. The Church in the Power of the Spirit. Fortress, 1993. ISBN: 978-0800628215, Pub. Price $25.00 [430 pp.].
Pannenberg, W. Systematic Theology. Vol. 3. Eerdmans, 1997. ISBN: 978-0802864567, Pub. Price $55.00 [section on the church, pp. 97-135, 237-434.].
Rausch, T. Towards a Truly Catholic Church: An Ecclesiology for the Third Millennium. Press, 2005. ISBN: 978-0814651872, Pub. Price $24.95 [248 pp.].
Zizioulas, J. Being As Communion: Studies in Personhood and the Church. St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 1985. ISBN: 978-0881410297, Pub. Price $24.00 [269 pp.].
FURTHER RESOURCES TO BE CONSULTED FOR CLASS PRESENTATIONS (library reserve-shelf)
Frost, M. & Hirsch, A. The Shaping of Things to Come: Innovation and Mission for the 21st Century Church. Hendrickson, 2003. ISBN: 978-1565636590, Pub. Price $19.95 [256 pp.].
Guder, D., ed. Missional Church: A Vision for the Sending of the Church in North America. Eerdmans, 1998. ISBN: 978-0802843500, Pub. Price $29.00 [288 pp.].
Haight, Roger. Christian Community in History: Comparative Ecclesiology, vol. 2. Continuum, 2005. ISBN: 978-0826416308, Pub. Price $65.00 [528 pp.].
Hauerwas, S. & Willimon, W.H. Resident Aliens: Life in the Christian Colony. Abingdon, 1989. ISBN: 978-0687361595, Pub. Price $17.00 [175 pp.].
Holze, H., ed. The Church as Communion. LWF, 1997. ISBN: 978-3906706450, *** OUT OF PRINT [428 pp.].
Mannion, G. & Mudge, L.S., eds. The Routledge Companion to the Christian Church. Routledge, 2008. ISBN: 978-0415567688, Pub. Price $50.00 [684 pp.].
Meyer, H. That All May Be One: Perceptions and Models of Ecumenicity. Eerdmans, 1999. ISBN: 978-0802843487, ***OUT OF PRINT [156 pp.].
Volf, M. After Our Likeness. The Church as the Image of the Trinity. Eerdmans, 1997. ISBN: 978-0802844408, Pub. Price $32.00 [326 pp.].
ASSIGNMENTS & ASSESSMENT:
30 hours of seminar sessions [learning outcomes #2, 3, 4].
DLAs include careful preparation of class presentations, questions to facilitate discussion and consultation of recommended readings per syllabus instructions [10 hours; learning outcomes #1, 4 ].
Careful reading of assigned texts (1,300 pp.) [74 hours, learning outcomes # 1, 2].
Two class presentation papers, each 1,500 words [20 hours, learning outomes # 2, 3, 4). (40%)
Major research paper, 4,000 words [48 hours, learning outcomes # 2, 3, 4]. (60%)
PREREQUISITES: Master’s level students need written permission from the professor.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Elective. Option to meet the TH4 requirement in the 120 MDiv program.
FINAL EXAMINATION: None.