IPS 599 - 004

Regular Academic Session

6901

Graduate

3 units

Graded

Pope Francis & Synodal Church of Tomorrow

Topics will vary.
Restricted to IPS graduate students.

Restricted to Institute of Pastoral Studies students.

Pope Francis and the Synodal Church of Tomorrow This elective is specially designed to intersect with the closing sessions of the two-year process of listening, discernment, and dialogue referred to in Catholic circles as the ¿Synod on Synodality.¿ Rooted in the ongoing interpretations of the ¿event¿ of the Second Vatican Council and Pope Francis¿s own formation in the Argentine teología del pueblo (Theology of the People), this ecclesiological elective will provide students with a grounding in synodal theology and practice, as well as a unique opportunity to have their voices heard in Rome, as delegates from the class will be able to travel there to share the content and discussions of the IPS community with peers, lay leaders, and church officials in a large scale inter-university project unfolding across the United States. A merit-based application system will be used to determine the (fully-funded) student delegates, but each registered student will be actively engaged and represented in the process of exploring what ¿journeying together as a People¿ has meant in the past and can look like in a pluralistic present and future. The course is obviously open to people of all faiths or none at all. Outcomes: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to: 1. Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the history, contours, and theological priorities of a synodal ecclesiology; 2. Evaluate the successes and shortcomings of Pope Francis¿s stated to desire to cultivate a church which listens, which is poor and for the poor, which goes forth to the peripheries with missionary discipleships, and which understands its global and polycentric nature; 3. Compare periods of Eurocentrism, ultramontanism, and centralized ecclesial authority to the needs and realities of the contemporary era; 4. Apply insights into synodal ecclesiology into ministry formation, the exercise of social justice commitments, and leadership development; and 5. Foster a capacity for (a) critical reading skills, (b) discerning contexts for appropriate interpersonal exchange and discourse, including active listening praxes (c) effective presentation in writing, oral presentations, and omnimedia expositions, and (d) deepening overall scholarly research skills.

Michael Canaris

Mo 7:00PM - 8:30PM

08/26/2024 - 12/07/2024

Online

Online Campus

Online Campus

Open

14

6

20

0

0