Ecumenism

Course Details

During its two thousand year history, the Church has experienced deep divisions which remain to this day. With the advent of a new millennium, the call for unity among all Christians is no longer just a hope but a demand. Following Jesus' prayer "that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me," (John 17:21) the quest for unity among all Christians is squarely placed before us. This course will concentrate on the role of ecumenism (the relationship and quest for unity among Christians) and will not address the role of interfaith affairs (Interfaith refers to relationships with members of other world religions).

Successful completion of this course earns 2.5 CEU's.

General Course Objectives

• Identify the major sources of divisions among the various Christian faith traditions
• Recognize the Catholic Church's on-going commitment to the cause of Christian Unity
• Understand the theological principles upon which ecumenism is grounded
• Be familiar with some of the official Catholic documents concerning ecumenism
• Appreciate the current state of ecumenical affairs with an eye to the future
• Recognize the key terms and concepts in ecumenical dialogue
• Better understand one's personal experience and its place as part of the quest for the unity of all peoples

Course Materials

• Required Book: Gros, Jeffrey ; McManus, Eamon ; Riggs, Ann Introduction to Ecumenism $16.95 New York: Paulist Press, 1998. ISBN: 0-8091-3794-1
• Course Materials available at the VLCFF Amazon Store.

Course Structure and Highlights

• Week 1: Sources of Division in Christianity
  • Identify the major divisions among the various Christian faith traditions and the sources of some of the splits.
  • Understand the importance of unity to the identity and mission of the church.
  • Know the history of ecumenism, especially key events since 1948 that show the on-going commitment of the Catholic Church to the cause of Christian unity.
• Week 2: Catholic Ecumenical Documentation
  • Become familiar with official Catholic documents concerning ecumenism: [i]T[/i]he Decree on Ecumenism, the Directory for the Application of the Principles and Norms on Ecumenism, A Light from the East, and Ut Unum Sint in order to be able to articulate key concepts
  • Understand the basis for Christian unity in Baptism
  • Study the Church as one, holy, catholic and apostolic
  • Begin to understand the theological principles which ground ecumenism
• Week 3: The Theology of Ecumenism
  • Understand the theology of church as presented in the Catechism of the Catholic Church
  • Be able to explain the theological principles upon which ecumenism is grounded, especially the concept of koinonia
  • Evaluate one's own experiences in light of these teachings
• Week 4: The Future of Ecumenism
  • Understand the current state of ecumenical affairs and see future needs and possibilities
  • Explore Cardinal Walter Kasper's comments on That All May Be One, since he has been a central figure in ecumenical dialogue as secretary of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity
  • Know the importance of the quest for Christian unity, recognizing the Catholic Church's on-going commitment

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