Present Questions in Practical Theology

Teacher(s)

Florin Marie Anne;

Language

French

Content

‘Participation in councils, cooperation and ministries: men and women in the synodal Church.’
The recent synod on synodality reaffirmed the necessary participation of the baptised in the life and mission of the Church, and in particular of women, inviting the implementation of everything permitted by canon law. In parishes, dioceses, and even the Roman Curia, men and women, clerics, laypeople, and religious are called to cooperate in the one mission of Christ, each according to the diversity of their state of life, but also according to their own skills and charisms. So how can men and women, clerics, lay people and religious cooperate together in the unique mission of Christ, each according to the diversity of their state of life, but also according to their own skills and charisms? We will study the synodal participation of all the baptised in councils and places of participation, but also the way in which the laity cooperate in the exercise of ministerial responsibility. We will construct a practical ecclesiology based on these experiences, informed by canon law and anthropology.
The following topics will be addressed during the sessions:
- Synodality, a cultural shift and learning process in the context of the reception of Vatican II; towards new positions and attitudes in the Church
- Synodality in the local Church, a balance of councils and ministries
- Women and men in the post-conciliar Church: collaboration and practical realities – current situation and possibilities
- Baptism and participation in the tria munera: why is there resistance on the part of those in power?
- What cooperation between the baptised and ordained ministers?
- Episcopal delegates, general delegates: new responsibilities
- Council, discernment and decision-making: what participation of the people of God in a synodal Church?
- Exercising the apostolic ministry with the baptised: the challenge of the bishop's councils

Teaching methods

The course is only available in face-to-face mode. It will include lectures, work on old and current theological texts and discussions. Students will also be asked to prepare a short talk on a question of their choice related to the course theme, which they will be asked to present at the final session of the course

Evaluation methods

Students will be assessed on the basis of the following exercises:
- Before each session, students may have to read an article or one of the other texts; after each of the eight sessions, students must submit a personal summary of the session on Moodle (based on a suggested outline) (40%) ;
The following article should be read for the first session: Odinet, F. (2025). Le synode « pour une Église synodale » : relecture d’un apprentissage. Nouvelle revue théologique, Tome 147(3), 386-400. https://doi.org/10.3917/nrt.473.0386.
- Oral presentation of a question of your choice related to the course theme (60%).

Online resources

On Moodle

Bibliography

Voici quelques articles ; une bibliographie plus complète donnée lors des premières séaances: 
Une lecture prioritaire : https://www.synod.va/content/dam/synod/news/2024-10-26_final-document/FRA---Documento-finale.pdf
XVIe assemblée générale ordinaire du synode des évêques Deuxième session (2-27 octobre 2024) Pour une Église synodale :  communion, participation, mission. Document final, 26 octobre 2024, 
Baujard, M. (2020). Pour une Église qui respire avec ses deux poumons. Revue Lumen Vitae, LXXV(4), 467-477. https://doi.org/10.3917/lv.754.0467.
Borras, A. (2019). La synodalité ecclésiale Diversité de lieux et interactions mutuelles. Recherches de Science Religieuse, Tome 107(2), 275-299. https://doi.org/10.3917/rsr.192.0275.
Borras, A. (2022). La sacra potestas, la seule voie pour la participation des laïcs au gouvernement de l’Église ? Nouvelle revue théologique, Tome 144(4), 612-628. https://doi.org/10.3917/nrt.444.0612.
Borras, A. (2024). Comment faire évoluer les procédures décisionnelles en Église d’une manière authentiquement synodale ? Nouvelle revue théologique, Tome 146(3), 390-408. https://doi.org/10.3917/nrt.463.0390.
Cegielka, I., Ferier, A., Fischer, A., Traversa, E., Propos recueillis par Chevalier, C. et De Thuy-Croizé, V. (2022). Femmes et hommes dans l’Église : accueillir l’altérité, grandir en synodalité. Revue Lumen Vitae, LXXVII(3), 332-346. https://shs.cairn.info/revue-lumen-vitae-2022-3-page-332?lang=fr.
Chevalier, C. (2020). La collaboration entre prêtres et femmes laïques mandatées en pastorale territoriale Bénéfices et défis. Revue Lumen Vitae, LXXV(4), 433-448. https://doi.org/10.3917/lv.754.0433.
Join-Lambert, A. (2022). Les ministères par des femmes dans l’Église catholique Un problème de chœur ? Revue Lumen Vitae, LXXVII(3), 285-295. https://shs.cairn.info/revue-lumen-vitae-2022-3-page-285?lang=fr.
Joubert, T. (2022). Réflexions sur la mission canonique confiée aux laïcs dans la constitution Prædicate Evangelium. L'Année canonique, Tome LXII(1), 143-160. https://doi.org/10.3917/cano.062.0143.
Odinet, F. (2025). Le synode « pour une Église synodale » : relecture d’un apprentissage. Nouvelle revue théologique, Tome 147(3), 386-400. https://doi.org/10.3917/nrt.473.0386.
Pelletier, A.-M. (2015). Femmes dans une ecclésiologie intégrale Surmonter l’invisibilité des femmes. Transversalités, 133(2), 95-115. https://doi.org/10.3917/trans.133.0095.
Pelletier, A.-M. (2019). Sacerdoce baptismal et ministère presbytéral. Études, Juin(6), 63-74. https://doi.org/10.3917/etu.4261.0063.

Faculty or entity

> TEBI