Adela Muchova

Wintersemester 2024/25

SE Pastoraltheologie: Urban Ministry

Kurzbeschreibung

In 2010, world population living in urban areas exceeded 50% and cities have since become a primary living space for humankind. This demographical and social change poses new challenges also for churches and their ministry.Church organization and pastoral concern have shifted from territorial parishes in regions to a rather different setting; an intimacy of local was substituted with anonymity of global. With urbanization, church faces diversity, pluralism, secularism and individualism as never before and needs to address people relevantly.This seminar therefore examines specific pastoral care, such as chaplaincies and other forms of specialized ministry, which respond to this new situation. From the perspective of pastoral theology, it explores four functions of the church—martyria, liturgia, diakonia, koinonia—and their application in different urban settings.

Lernergebnisse

The objectives of this seminar are• (1) to understand church ministry in various urban contexts;• (2) to examine a multifaceted role of church ministers in a plural society; and• (3) to outline possible pastoral models for the future.

Literatur

• Cahalan, Kathleen A. Introducing the Practice of Ministry. Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 2010.
• Caperon, John, Andrew Todd, and James Walters (ed.). A Christian Theology of Chaplaincy. JKP, 2018.
• Sheldrake, Philip. The Spiritual City: Theology, Spirituality, and the Urban. Wiley Blackwell, 2014.
• Threlfall-Holmes, Miranda, and Mark Newit (eds). Being a Chaplain. SCPK, 2011.

Prüfungs-& Beurteilungsmodalitäten

Final grading reflects class attendance and active participation in discussions (50%), short class presentation (20%) and seminar papers (30%). 

Sommersemester 2024

SE Spezialfragen der Pastoraltheologie: - Frauen in der Kirche – im Kontext der Weltsynode / Women in the Church – in the context of the World Synod.

Kurzbeschreibung
We are bringing women participants of the World Synod of Bishops together with students for an academic exchange. They will reflect on the role of women in the church and discuss various topics from the Synthesis Report (October 2023) with students from the Catholic University in Linz and partner universities worldwide. The interdisciplinary theological approach will be follo-wed with a pastoral theological contextualization.
The working sessions are based on the Report and elaborate various topics as they were discussed during the First Session of the Synod. Every week a different speaker presents one topic of the Synthesis and reflects especially on the expertise and experience of women in the Synod. As the speakers – the synod participants – represent various regions, continents, roles and responsibilities, they will offer a contextualization of chosen topics in their specific field of ministry and in the global church.
The course sessions will examine the following topics from the Synthesis Report:
* Synodality, Experience and Understanding;
* the Eastern Churches and Latin Church Traditions;
* a church „out of every tribe, tongue, people and nation“;
* Church is Mission;
* the Bishop in Ecclesial Communion;
* Women in the Life and Mission of the Church;
* a Synodal Approach to Formation;
* Towards a Listening and Accompanying Church;
* Structures for Participation;
* the Relevance of Canonical Provisions in a Synodal Church;
* the Church-Governance.
Lernergebnisse 
The objectives of this seminar are
* (1) to engage in discussions with women participants of the Synod;
* (2) to examine related synodal themes from various perspectives; and
* (3) to outline possible pastoral and ministerial models for the future considering the role of women in the synodal church.
The seminar is based on active student participation: the sessions consist of short lectures and discussion with speakers, group discussions and theological contextualization.
The working language is English; students are expected to communicate at level A2-B1. It is expected that the participants read the synodal Synthesis from October 2023 in advance to be ready for discussions.
Interested students outside theology are welcome too. All study materials will be available online
Literatur 
The course sessions will examine the Synthesis Report (October 28, 2023), which is available online; language versions accessible. Other study materials and texts for further reading will be distributed to registered students.
Hinweise zu Prüfungs-/Beurteilungsmodalitäten 
Final grading reflects online attendance and active participation in discussions and group reflections (70%) and a short reflection paper (30%) ranging between 6.000 and 8.000 characters.Registration is open to KU Linz students, partner universities students, and other guests. 

Wintersemester 2023/24

Pastoraltheologie: Urban Ministry

Lehrveranstaltung in englischer Sprache!

Sommersemester 2023

AG Spezialfragen der Pastoraltheologie

Lehrveranstaltung in englischer Sprache!

Theology describes Christian life as partner cooperation between human and divine. Both God´s grace and human activity are required for a creative transformation of oneself, community and society. This seminar examines the fundamental pastoral phenomena—resources and consequences of a lived religion. First, it explores various spiritual practices which provide and nurture existential relation between God and human. Second, it examines their impact on practitioners´ way of life; how their faith at home and in society—such as suffering, healing, and consuming—is shaped by their religious experience. The seminar questions about relevant forms of communicating faith in globalized and secular society, particularly in communities, parishes, and schools. Positioned within a contemporary practical theology, it critically reflects on themes of culture, gender, minorities, ethnical, and environmental challenges.