Module: Contemporary Issues in Ecclesiology

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Contemporary Issues in Ecclesiology
Module Code	RET1054 (ITS: TP520)
Faculty	Theology, Philosophy & Music	School	Humanities & Social Sciences
NFQ level	9	Credit Rating	10

Description

The aim of this module in to study the contemporary Christian Church in order to identify the critical issues confronting it in the twenty-first century. The module examines the history of the Christian Churches and assesses their achievements in the twentieth century in the domains of ecumenism, church reform, and inter-religious dialogue. It examines the contribution of Vatican II to the renewal of Catholic ecclesiology and of the entire Christian Church. It considers the central figures of 'Ressourcement' and 'nouvelle théologie' and assesses their legacy to the Christian Churches. The module will also assess the contribution of Pope Francis to the renewal of Catholicism

Learning Outcomes

1. Demonstrate a specialist knowledge of Ecclesiology
2. Assess the contemporary ecclesiological landscape
3. Demonstrate a specialist knowledge of the leading theologians of Vatican II
4. Examine the reception of the Second Vatican Council
5. Assess how recent developments in ecumenism contribute to church reform
6. Understand and assess the contribution of the leading Catholic 'Ressourcement' theologians to Church renewal, ecumenism and inter-religious dialogue
7. Clearly understand the important contribution of Paul Tillich, Jacques Dupuis and Claude Geffré to inter-religious dialogue
8. Outline a vision for church reform for the present century
9. Construct Guidelines for Child Protection in the contemporary churches
10. Assess the contribution of Pope Francis to Contemporary Catholicism and Christianity by means of a specialist analysis of his Apostolic Exhortation 'The Joy of the Gospel' ('Evangelii Gaudium')
11. Assess the contribution of Pope Francis to Contemporary Catholicism and Christianity by means of a specialist analysis of his Apostolic Exhortation 'The Joy of the Gospel' ('Evangelii Gaudium')

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	16.5	Attend Lectures
Class Presentation	20	Prepare and present an agreed presentation.
Assignment Completion	50	Research and write up an assignment on an agreed topic.
Independent Study	163.5	No Description
Total Workload: 250

Section Breakdown
CRN	11536	Part of Term	Semester 1
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale		Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category		Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator		Module Teacher

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Essay	Write an essay on an agreed topic based on course delivery, reading, and research.	80%	Week 30
Presentation	Deliver a short presentation in class based on an agreed topic from the course content.	20%	n/a

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

The Twentieth Century
The Twentieth Century: the Century of the Church

The module will study of the renewal of Catholic theology and philosophy in the first half of the twentieth century; the history of the Second Vatican Council and its aftermath; ecumenism and inter-religious dialogue.

The Twenty-first Century
The module will consider the impact of Pope Francis on Catholicism and Christianity and assess the most important teaching document of Pope Francis to date, namely, 'Evangelii Gaudium'. It will assess his vision of the church in the areas of ecclesiology, dialogue, and society.

Ecumenism and Inter-religious Dialogue
The module will assess the contribution of some of the leading exponents of renewal to the advancement of ecumenism and inter-religious dialogue.

Vatican II
The module considers the contribution of Vatican II to the renewal of Catholic ecclesiology.

'Ressourcement'
By means of a careful study of the history of Catholic theology in the twentieth century, the module considers the central figures of 'Ressourcement' and 'nouvelle théologie' and assesses their legacy to the Christian Churches.

Putting Children First
By means of a careful study of various published reports into child sexual abuse by priests and religious, the module considers how to elevate children to the first place in the church.

Indicative Reading List

Books:

Mannion, Gerard (Ed.): 2017, Pope Francis and the Future of Catholicism, 1st, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge,UK, 9781107142541
Bonhoeffer, Dietrich: 1959, The Cost of Discipleship, SCM, London, 334002591
Flynn, Gabriel (ed.): 2005, Yves Congar: Theologian of the Church, Peeters, Louvain / Editions du Cerf, Paris, 978-90-429-16
Flynn, Gabriel and Paul D. Murray (eds.): 2012, Ressourcement: A Movement for Renewal in Twentieth-Century Catholic, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 978-0-19-9552
Goode, Helen, Hannah McGee, Ciaran A. O'Boyle: 2003, Time to Listen: Confronting Child Sexual Abuse by Catholic Clergy in Ireland, The Liffey Press, Dublin, 1-904148-38-7
Keenan, Marie: 2012, Child Sexual Abuse and the Catholic Church: Gender, Power, and Organizational Culture,, Oxford University Press, Oxford UK, 978-0-19-9895
Kerr, Fergus: 2007, Twentieth-Century Catholic Theologians: From Noescholasticism to Nuptial Mysticism, Blackwell, Oxford, 978-1-4051-20
Mettepenningen, Jürgen: 2010, Nouvelle Théologie - New Theology: Inheritor of Modernims, Precursor of Vatican II, Continuum, London, 978-0-567-034

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None