Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE PLC5004

 
TITLE Church-World Relationship

 
UM LEVEL 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course

 
MQF LEVEL 7

 
ECTS CREDITS 10

 
DEPARTMENT Pastoral Theology, Liturgy and Canon Law

 
DESCRIPTION The study-unit focuses on the relation Church-World. In the first part, the Pastoral Constitution of the Second Vatican Council Gaudium et Spes is explored in the context of its historical background and developments that have taken place since the Council. The different models of Church-World relationship, developed over the years and responding to the signs of the times, will be reflected upon. In the second part the focus will shift to concrete examples where the Christian community interpreted its role and mission within changing historical circumstances. The relation Church-World in its diversity will be explored through a critical analysis of a number of Scriptural and Patristic texts. This will be accompanied by concrete proposals on how this can inform the contemporary Christian community to be creative in its mission. In the last part of this study unity, the theme will be explored with reference to two specific aspects: communicating the Word in a media-dominated culture and social ministry in a global perspective.

Study-unit Aims:

1. Introduce students to the developments in the way of understanding the relation Church-World in light of the Vatican Council II;
2. Offer concrete models of being in the world through reflection on the creative response by the early Christian communities as reflected in Scripture and the Early Church;
3. Empower students to creatively and faithfully respond to contemporary realities.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

1. to outline and differentiate between different models of Church-World relationships;
2. to reflect critically on the relation Church-World from a biblical perspective;
3. to identify different ways of being in the world as expressed by Christian communities in specific historical and social circumstances;
4. to interpret the key issues that characterize the Church-world relationship;
5. to discuss the various elements that distinguish a “digital culture”;
6. to sketch the dynamics that mark a globalised world;
7. to indicate different ways of reading the signs of the times and fulfil one’s mission in a creative and meaningful way.

2. Skills
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

1. to evaluate the different models of Church-World relationship;
2. to propose ways of entering into dialogue with people from diverse sections of society;
3. to interpret scriptural texts in the light of contemporary questions;
4. to combine various ways and models of fulfilling the Church’s mission in a digital culture;
5. to appraise and propose ways of contributing in a globalized world.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

Main texts:

- BENEDICT XVI. World Communication Day Messages. Pontifical Council for Social Communications, 2013.
- FRANCIS, Encyclical Letter Evangelii Gaudium, 24 November 2013.
- FRANCIS, Encyclical Letter Fratelli tutti, 4 October 2020.
- FINN, D.K., Consumer Ethics in a Global Economy: How Buying Here Causes Injustice There, Georgetown University Press, 2019.
- WHITE C., The Emergence of Christianity. London: Greenwood Press, 2007.
- VATICAN COUNCIL II, Pastoral Constitution, Gaudium et Spes, 7 December 1965.

Supplementary Reading:

- PAUL VI, Encyclical Letter Ecclesiam Suam, 6 August 1964.
- PONTIFICAL COUNCIL FOR INTER-RELIGIOUS DIALOGUE, Dialogue and Proclamation, 19 May 1991.
- BROWN P., Authority and the Sacred. Aspects of the Christianisation of the Roman World. Cambridge: University Press, 1995.
- FINN, D.K., Distant Markets, Distant Harms: Economic Complicity and Christian Ethics, Oxford University Press, New York 2014.
- GAN E. Infinite bandwidth: Encountering Christ in the Media. Emmaus Road Publishing, 2010.
- JENKINS H. Confronting the Challenges of Participatory Culture: Media Education for the 21st Century. MIT Press, 2009.
- LOHFINK G., Gesu come voleva la sua comunita? La chiesa quale dovrebbe essere, Cinisella Balsamo (Milano) 1987.
- RAHNER K., The Shape of the Church to Come, London 1974.
- TANNER N., The Church and the World. Gaudium et Spes, Inter Mirifica, New Jersey 2005.
- VAN DER VEN J.A., Ecclesiology in Context, Cambridge 1996.
- VON BALTHASAR H. U., Church and World, New York 1967.

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture and Independent Study

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Assignment YR Yes 50%
Presentation (20 Minutes) YR Yes 50%

 
LECTURER/S Jimmy Bonnici (Co-ord.)
Carlo Calleja
Nadia Delicata
Jonathan Farrugia
Marcello Ghirlando
Martin F. Micallef

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

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