Previous Years' Course Catalogues

This course will explore major approaches to the relationship between the Christian Faith and other religions in the context of the plurality and diversity of the contemporary world.

This intensive course explores the understanding of New Evangelization within the Roman Catholic Church taking the October 2012 Synod of Bishops on the New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith as a starting point and tracing the historical context from Evangeli Nuntiandi (and referencing Vatican II documents Lumen Gentium and Ad Gentes), the substantive theological issues emerging through the pontificates of John Paul II and Benedict XVI and the future possibilities of the New Evangelization seen as a radical challenge to all members of the Church.

Contemporary received Christian missiology, exemplified by the Reformed theologian David J. Bosch's Transforming Mission and Pope Francis' Evangelii Gaudium, has placed God's mission, Missio Dei, at the centre of Christian life and witness. While this theology has been powerful in broader areas of justice, evangelism and renewal, it has often not grappled seriously with modern, post-modern and cross-cultural understandings and practices of sexuality. This failure has resulted in schisms and serious divisions in both local and global Christian churches, sectarianism based on a particular view of human sexuality (whether "liberal" or "conservative" or otherwise) and a flawed and divided Christian witness to the world. This course will attempt to explore the relation between Christian mission and sexuality in biblical, historical, theological and ecclesiological terms, respecting both the received tradition of the church but open to new manifestations of Christian faith and practice, and their relationship with the Missio Dei. The course will look at current global and local programmes relating mission and sexuality such as the Listening Process of the Anglican Communion as well as emerging areas of conflict such as changes in marriage canons to include same-sex unions. As much as possible, students will be expected to bring the experience of their churches to the course. Recognizing that many of these matters are not settled, the course is not prescriptive in requiring students to adopt a particular perspective but is designed to enable students to define their own views of mission and sexuality as they prepare for ministry at the local and global level.

Contemporary received Christian missiology, exemplified by the Reformed theologian David J. Bosch's Transforming Mission and Pope Francis' Evangelii Gaudium, has placed God's mission, Missio Dei, at the centre of Christian life and witness. While this theology has been powerful in broader areas of justice, evangelism and renewal, it has often not grappled seriously with modern, post-modern and cross-cultural understandings and practices of sexuality. This failure has resulted in schisms and serious divisions in both local and global Christian churches, sectarianism based on a particular view of human sexuality (whether "liberal" or "conservative" or otherwise) and a flawed and divided Christian witness to the world. This course will attempt to explore the relation between Christian mission and sexuality in biblical, historical, theological and ecclesiological terms, respecting both the received tradition of the church but open to new manifestations of Christian faith and practice, and their relationship with the Missio Dei. The course will look at current global and local programmes relating mission and sexuality such as the Listening Process of the Anglican Communion as well as emerging areas of conflict such as changes in marriage canons to include same-sex unions. As much as possible, students will be expected to bring the experience of their churches to the course. Recognizing that many of these matters are not settled, the course is not prescriptive in requiring students to adopt a particular perspective but is designed to enable students to define their own views of mission and sexuality as they prepare for ministry at the local and global level.

Contemporary received Christian missiology, exemplified by the Reformed theologian David J. Bosch's Transforming Mission and Pope Francis' Evangelii Gaudium, has placed God's mission, Missio Dei, at the centre of Christian life and witness. While this theology has been powerful in broader areas of justice, evangelism and renewal, it has often not grappled seriously with modern, post-modern and cross-cultural understandings and practices of sexuality. This failure has resulted in schisms and serious divisions in both local and global Christian churches, sectarianism based on a particular view of human sexuality (whether "liberal" or "conservative" or otherwise) and a flawed and divided Christian witness to the world. This course will attempt to explore the relation between Christian mission and sexuality in biblical, historical, theological and ecclesiological terms, respecting both the received tradition of the church but open to new manifestations of Christian faith and practice, and their relationship with the Missio Dei. The course will look at current global and local programmes relating mission and sexuality such as the Listening Process of the Anglican Communion as well as emerging areas of conflict such as changes in marriage canons to include same-sex unions. As much as possible, students will be expected to bring the experience of their churches to the course. Recognizing that many of these matters are not settled, the course is not prescriptive in requiring students to adopt a particular perspective but is designed to enable students to define their own views of mission and sexuality as they prepare for ministry at the local and global level.

Contemporary received Christian missiology, exemplified by the Reformed theologian David J. Bosch's Transforming Mission and Pope Francis' Evangelii Gaudium, has placed God's mission, Missio Dei, at the centre of Christian life and witness. While this theology has been powerful in broader areas of justice, evangelism and renewal, it has often not grappled seriously with modern, post-modern and cross-cultural understandings and practices of sexuality. This failure has resulted in schisms and serious divisions in both local and global Christian churches, sectarianism based on a particular view of human sexuality (whether "liberal" or "conservative" or otherwise) and a flawed and divided Christian witness to the world. This course will attempt to explore the relation between Christian mission and sexuality in biblical, historical, theological and ecclesiological terms, respecting both the received tradition of the church but open to new manifestations of Christian faith and practice, and their relationship with the Missio Dei. The course will look at current global and local programmes relating mission and sexuality such as the Listening Process of the Anglican Communion as well as emerging areas of conflict such as changes in marriage canons to include same-sex unions. As much as possible, students will be expected to bring the experience of their churches to the course. Recognizing that many of these matters are not settled, the course is not prescriptive in requiring students to adopt a particular perspective but is designed to enable students to define their own views of mission and sexuality as they prepare for ministry at the local and global level.

Contemporary received Christian missiology, exemplified by the Reformed theologian David J. Bosch's Transforming Mission and Pope Francis' Evangelii Gaudium, has placed God's mission, Missio Dei, at the centre of Christian life and witness. While this theology has been powerful in broader areas of justice, evangelism and renewal, it has often not grappled seriously with modern, post-modern and cross-cultural understandings and practices of sexuality. This failure has resulted in schisms and serious divisions in both local and global Christian churches, sectarianism based on a particular view of human sexuality (whether "liberal" or "conservative" or otherwise) and a flawed and divided Christian witness to the world. This course will attempt to explore the relation between Christian mission and sexuality in biblical, historical, theological and ecclesiological terms, respecting both the received tradition of the church but open to new manifestations of Christian faith and practice, and their relationship with the Missio Dei. The course will look at current global and local programmes relating mission and sexuality such as the Listening Process of the Anglican Communion as well as emerging areas of conflict such as changes in marriage canons to include same-sex unions. As much as possible, students will be expected to bring the experience of their churches to the course. Recognizing that many of these matters are not settled, the course is not prescriptive in requiring students to adopt a particular perspective but is designed to enable students to define their own views of mission and sexuality as they prepare for ministry at the local and global level.

This course will trace the multi-faceted theme of justice as it unfolds throughout the biblical story. Beginning with an exploration of the impact our own place and assumptions have on our reading, we will then probe the complicated ways in which idolatry, economic justice, racial justice, justice for the land, food justice, justice for the stranger and the migrant, gender justice, colonization, and peace and violence permeate the story. This will provide a biblical basis for reflecting on justice and reconciliation in our world today.

Combining classroom time, and a trip to Canada's North, students will come to a deeper understanding of the Church's theology and praxis regarding inculturation and spirituality within a First Nations context. Consideration will be given to the legacy of colonization and movements fostering greater autonomy in the Canadian aboriginal context. Fond du Lac, SK and Bhechoko, NT are the two primary sites for gatherings.
Students are expected to participate In all the preparatory gatherings prior to departure and to be actively engaged with their peers and members of the community upon arrival at Fond-du-Lac and Pine Channel, Saskatchewan or another approved location.
The preparatory gatherings will be an opportunity to welcome members of various First Nations in Southwestern Ontario and to meet with non-indigenous men and women who have spent considerable time working with the Dene people. On site, this participation will include sharing in religious ceremonies, common meals, "evening conversations and contributing through your labours (cooking, dish washing, hauling of water) to the general well-being of the group. Students will have the opportunity to meet formally and informally with various community leaders, elders, elected officials, families, nurses, educators and the RCMP, so as to come to a deeper appreciation of the opportunities and challenges of life in the Canadian north.
There are a number of organizations in the city and on campus that work with members from various indigenous
communities. Students are expected to become familiar with one group and to participate in their programming. A monthly report will be required to update the instructor on the status of your involvement.

Combining classroom time (Winter 2019), and a trip to Canada's North (July 2019), students will come to a deeper understanding of the Church's theology and praxis regarding inculturation and spirituality within a First Nations context. Consideration will be given to the legacy of colonization and movements fostering greater autonomy in the Canadian aboriginal context. Fond du Lac, SK and Bhechoko, NT are the two primary sites for gatherings.
Students are expected to participate In all the preparatory gatherings prior to departure and to be actively engaged with their peers and members of the community upon arrival at Fond-du-Lac and Pine Channel, Saskatchewan or another approved location.
The preparatory gatherings will be an opportunity to welcome members of various First Nations in Southwestern Ontario and to meet with non-indigenous men and women who have spent considerable time working with the Dene people. On site, this participation will include sharing in religious ceremonies, common meals, "evening conversations and contributing through your labours (cooking, dish washing, hauling of water) to the general well-being of the group. Students will have the opportunity to meet formally and informally with various community leaders, elders, elected officials, families, nurses, educators and the RCMP, so as to come to a deeper appreciation of the opportunities and challenges of life in the Canadian north.
There are a number of organizations in the city and on campus that work with members from various indigenous communities. Students are expected to become familiar with one group and to participate in their programming. A monthly report will be required to update the instructor on the status of your involvement.

Combining classroom time (Winter 2018), and a trip to Canada's North (July 2018), students will come to a deeper understanding of the Church's theology and praxis regarding inculturation and spirituality within a First Nations context. Consideration will be given to the legacy of colonization and movements fostering greater autonomy in the Canadian aboriginal context. Fond du Lac, SK and Bhechoko, NT are the two primary sites for gatherings.
Students are expected to participate In all the preparatory gatherings prior to departure and to be actively engaged with their peers and members of the community upon arrival at Fond-du-Lac and Pine Channel, Saskatchewan or another approved location.
The preparatory gatherings will be an opportunity to welcome members of various First Nations in Southwestern Ontario and to meet with non-indigenous men and women who have spent considerable time working with the Dene people. On site, this participation will include sharing in religious ceremonies, common meals, "evening conversations,n and contributing through your labours (cooking, dish washing, hauling of water) to the general well-being of the group. Students will have the opportunity to meet formally and informally with various community leaders, elders, elected officials, families, nurses, educators and the RCMP, so as to come to a deeper appreciation of the opportunities and challenges of life in the Canadian north.
There are a number of organizations in the city and on campus that work with members from various indigenous
communities. Students are expected to become familiar with one group and to participate in their programming. A monthly report will be required to update the instructor on the status of your involvement.

What does the spiritual life look like? And where can we find it? Using Nouwen as a guide, we will start by trying to detect its presence (or absence) in our own lives and in the communities to which we belong; only then will we be in a position to see how we can minister to others. Based on both Nouwen's published works and on unpublished material from the Nouwen Archives, this course will include a visit from members of the L'Arche Daybreak community where Nouwen spent the last 10 years of his life.