This course examines the nature of the church and its emerging challenges, especially regarding the ministry of her ordained ministers. This course considers both classic, historical insights and new directions in ecclesiology. Central to the course is a critical examination of two documents of the Second Vatican Council: The Dogmatic Constitution on the Church (Lumen gentium) and The Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World (Gaudium et spes). In many respects, the entire course is an extended dialogue with these two foundational documents. Through it all, however, our focus is pastoral: how can our image of Church enhance our ministries?
- Instructor: David Lopez