T7228A The Church

⇒ Back Course Disciplines

This unit introduces students to a central theme of theology, viz. that faith is lived within a community of believers. It prepares students for later units in the church’s sacraments and ministry.

Background
What is the church? How do faithful understand the nature and mission of the church? How should the church be structured? It is clear today that Churches in general are facing a variety of insoluble challenges with regards to their self-understanding and their relationship with other Churches. Although the twentieth century saw immense interest and focused study specifically in the area of ecclesiology – indeed, so much so that the twentieth century came to be referred to as “the century of the church” in the theological arena – the unique identity of the church still remains unknown. It is the hope of this unit to provide students with the opportunity to explore key issues in ecclesiology, using historical and contemporary sources since in the Church’s present ecumenical journey of rediscovery, dialogue, reconciliation, recognition, reception and ultimate unity, a sound ecclesiological background is of utmost importance.

Learning Outcomes & Threshold Concepts
At the end of this course unit, students should be able to:

1. Demonstrate a familiarity with the sources of ecclesiology; 
2. Demonstrate a coherent understanding of the nature and mission of the church;
3. Analyse recent writings in ecclesiology
4. Critically evaluate influences currently shaping the church;
5. Apply fundamental principles in ecclesiology to contemporary pastoral situations.

During this course unit, students may acquire the following threshold concept. This concept is fundamental to a proper understanding of the unit or course. It is essential for further progress in the discipline: The church is a theological community and not just a sociological community.

Weekly Topics

1. Introduction and Requirements to the Course Unit
2. Nature, mission and origins of the Church – God’s miraculous presence on earth
3. A half century of ecclesiology: scholarship today
4. Biblical vision of the church
5. One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church
6. Church, Eucharist and Koinonia
7. Church Structures and Exercise of Authority
8. Diversity of Charisms: the indispensable role of the ‘laity’ in the life of the church
9. Synodality
10. Primacy
11. The Great and Holy Council, Crete 2016
12. The Orthodox Church and its relation to other churches; the church in light of recent ecumenical documents and Review of the Course Unit