This unit will examine the nature of the Church and its mission in the world. It will begin with a consideration of the nature of the Kingdom of God as proclaimed by Jesus Christ, the foundation of the Church and the shape of the apostolic and sub-apostolic churches, along with their diversity and unity. The understanding of ‘communion’ which emerges from this will be the basis for a study of the contemporary understanding of the nature and structure of the Church, local and universal: ordained ministry, episcopal collegiality, the service of the bishop of Rome (primacy, infallibility) and the teaching magisterium. This will be followed by an examination of the role of lay people in the Church, the place of parish community and the nature of evangelisation.

The historical background to the modern ecumenical movement and the involvement of the Roman Catholic Church will be studied as an introduction to the nature of ecumenism. Attention will be paid to theological convergence through bilateral and multilateral dialogues. The topics of local ecumenism and the interaction of the churches will conclude the unit.

Prerequisites

one unit of Philosophy, Biblical Studies or Church History is recommended

Requirements

3 hours per week

Assessment

Bibliography

• Bliss, Frederick M. Catholic and Ecumenical: History and Hope. Franklin, WI: Sheed & Ward, 1999.
• Boone, Larry W., Mary Ann Dantuono, Margaret John Kelly, and Brenda Massetti. A Concise Guide to Catholic Church Management. The Vincentian Centre for Church and Society. Notre Dame, IN: Ave Marie, 2010.
  
• Cwiekowski, Frederick S. The Beginnings of the Church. New York: Paulist, 1988.
• Dulles, Avery R. Models of the Church. Expanded ed. Garden City, NY: Image, 1987.
• Fuellenbach, John. Church: Community for the Kingdom. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis, 2002.
• Gaillardetz, Richard R. Ecclesiology for a Global Church. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis, 2008.
• Goosen, Gideon. Bringing Churches Together: A Popular Introduction to Ecumenism. 2nd ed. Geneva: World Council of Churches, 2002.
• Gros, Jeffrey, Eamon McManus, and Ann Riggs. Introduction to Ecumenism. New York: Paulist, 1998.
• Harrington, Daniel J. The Church according to the New Testament: What the Wisdom and Witness of Early Christianity Teach Us Today. Franklin, WI: Sheed &Ward, 2001.
• Phan, Peter C., ed. The Gift of the Church: A Textbook Ecclesiology in Honor of Patrick Granfield. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2000.
• Schatz, Klaus. Papal Primacy: From its Origins to the Present. Translated by John A. Otto and Linda M. Moloney. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 1996.
• Tanner, Norman. The Councils of the Church: A Short History. New York: Crossroad, 2001.
• Tillard, Jean M. R. Church of Churches: The Ecclesiology of Communion. Translated by R. C. DePeaux. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 1992.