Ecumenical Theology

Ecumenical theology focuses on God’s will for unity among Christians. This course encourages students to develop an ecumenical perspective on their theological convictions and Christian worldviews and introduces students to various issues and approaches in the field of ecumenical theology, with a view to helping them elucidate their own approaches to ecumenism. The course begins with an exploration of biblical and theological rationales for ecumenical engagement. There follows a brief survey of the history of ecumenism in its various forms, both nationally and globally. Specific theological issues are then addressed, including the development of ecumenical relationships at the local level, reading the Bible ecumenically, ecumenical thinking on ecclesiology, and the relationship between ecumenism and theologies of mission.