Graduate Bulletin 1999-2001
LOYOLA INSTITUTE FOR MINISTRY (LIM)
GRADUATE COURSES
LIM/LIMX 701 Foundations of Religious Education 3 cr. hrs.
This course is an immersion in the tradition of religious education. It samples the array of perspectives that inform and constitute the field and helps the students locate one’s own practical understanding of its meaning and mission. It relates the religious character of education to its explicit forms of practice within religious tradition.
LIM/LIMX 703 Introduction to Practical Theology 3 cr. hrs.
This course seeks to help participants develop a rhythm of disciplined reflection and action for the sake of the reign of God. The traditions of the church, culture, institutional life and personal life are the matrices of practical theology. Interpretation theory and social analysis are key components of the conversation in which faith and daily life meet and build.
LIM/LIMX 704 Spirituality, Morality, and Ethics 3 cr. hrs.
Students study the connections between personal spirituality and Christian living as a background for exploring personal moral decision-making and social ethics today. A contemporary understanding of sin and moral choice introduces a consideration of moral norms, conscience and decision-making. Careful reflection upon and discernment of the basis of one’s own moral choices and decision-making are major components of the course.
LIM/LIMX 705 Methods of Adolescent Religious Education in Catholic Culture 3 cr. hrs.
With this course, students explore the phenomenon of adolescent spirituality and examine the typical stages of religious development during the adolescent years. Attention is then directed to a study of the religious education methodologies appropriate to helping youth grow in religious knowledge and religious expression today.
LIM/LIMX 711 The Jewish Roots of Christian Faith 3 cr. hrs.
This course explores the religious heritage of ancient Israel largely through reference to its sacred writing (the Old Testament). It examines the major themes of promise-fulfillment and covenant in Israel’s history from the patriarchal period to the apocalyptic era, which was the context of Jesus’ life and teachings. The events, metaphors, symbols, stories, and persons which become the interpretive background for New Testament authors will be highlighted.
LIM/LIMX 712 Christian Origins 3 cr. hrs.
This course attempts to uncover “the kingdom of God” in the experience that Jesus effected during His earthly ministry. A study of Jesus’ parables, healings, table fellowship with outcasts and intimacy with “Abba” lead participants to a root understanding of Christian religious experience. The progress of faith developed in the network of Christian communities from Jesus’ death/resurrection to the end of the first century in the common era will be studied.
LIM/LIMX 714 Grace, Christ, and Spirit 3 cr. hrs.
In this course, students study grace as God’s universal invitation to personal and communal transcendence (fundamental theology). The course examines the work of God’s Spirit (pneumatology) in the redemptive transformation of human experience (soteriology), and focuses on Jesus as the touchstone historical manifestation of God in human history (Christology). The course cites important moments in the history of Christian thought, with attention to how language, culture, and history have affected our interpretation of God’s saving acts (historical theology). God-person-world meanings, with the theology of Karl Rahner as an example of a contemporary theology of grace, are explored.
LIM/LIMX 715 Curriculum Development 3 cr. hrs.
This course examines a developmental view of curriculum and helps students achieve competence in structuring learning processes that are engaging, appropriate, and effective, while understanding the practice of curriculum as the crafting of an ecology of learning.
LIM 716 Interdisciplinary Resources for Religious Education 3 cr. hrs.
This course focuses on how the various forms and methodologies that organize knowledge in our culture can be brought to the service of religious education. It investigates and applies the resources of natural/social sciences, critical philosophy, literature, and the arts to enhance our practice.
LIM/LIMX 722 Church, Sacraments, and Ministry 3 cr. hrs.
This course helps students understand the experience of church through a historical purview of how community has prayed and ritualized its experience (sacraments, liturgy) of Jesus Christ and how ministry and leadership have functioned throughout its life (laity, hierarchy, structure). It examines the church’s self-understandings as disclosed in this purview of the Christian community’s life. Special attention is given to Vatican II and postconciliar developments in ecclesiology, especially, vis-a-vis the theology of the local church.
LIM 742 Pastoral Leadership and Organization 3/2 cr. hrs.
This course explores the meaning of pastoral leadership in light of the current research in organizational development and ecclesiology. Current leadership literature is surveyed in light of the mission of the church and the ecclesial vision of participants. Special emphasis is placed upon participative strategic planning processes and organizational development. Participants will analyze an organizational system for its strengths and weaknesses and propose interventions that would strengthen its organizational functioning.
LIM 744 Stewardship and Financial Management 3 cr. hrs.
This course offers a rationale for the integration of foundational issues in pastoral ministry with the principles of sound financial management in parish settings. Application and management of stewardship programs in ecclesial environments, measurement and reporting issues, managerial accounting and financial data for decision making are studied.
LIM 750 Dynamics of Small Group Life 3 cr. hrs.
This course addresses communications skills, developmental stages of group life, leadership styles and models, group dynamics, conflict and negotiation in educational, pastoral, and small community contexts. (This course is required for MPS focus areas in small Christian community formation, pastoral life and administration, religion and ecology, African American Ministries, and in the individualized program.)
LIM 800 Topics in Religious Education 3/1 cr. hrs.
This course explores specific issues and concerns in Religious Education. Topics may include history of faith sharing, experiential education, development of educational theory, educational programming, art of teaching, developing a community of educators, and religious education in Latin America.
LIM 804 Models of Religious Education 3/1 cr. hrs.
This course is designed for those students who are already or soon to be director of religious education. Four interrelated areas will be explored: the role and responsibilities of the DRE, administrative skills, models of educating and learning, and the prophetic dimensions of educational ministry.
LIM/LIMX 809 Inner Life of Small Christian Communities 3 cr. hrs.
A true Christian community is both gathered (faith’s internal life) and sent (faith’s public life). This course examines the internal life of small Christian communities: their leadership, communications, worship, and decision-making. It includes historical and theological perspectives of the functioning of Christian communities inside their own boundaries.
LIM/LIMX 810 Public Life of Small Christian Communities 3 cr. hrs.
This course explores the public life of small faith communities. The course includes historical and theological perspectives on the relationship between Christian communities and their surrounding cultures and society.
LIM 811 Old Testament Topics 3/1 cr. hrs.
This course focuses on particular books or themes from the Old Testament collection. Topics may include Pentateuch, Prophets, the historical writings or the Psalms, and themes such as creation, promise and fulfillment, or ritual patterns may be considered.
LIM 812 New Testament Topics 3/1 cr. hrs.
This course explores specific books and themes in the New Testament literature. The focus may vary from the Pauline writings to the Gospel of John, from an inquiry into the teachings of the historical Jesus to the vision of the Church in the Pauline mission.
LIM/LIMX 813 Universe as Divine Manifestation 3 cr. hrs.
This course is a survey of premodern (indigenous), classical, and biblical religions to discover their cosmological orientation. The investigation focuses primarily on uncovering the meaning and significance of the natural world as it is reflected in the theologies (sacred texts, rituals, beliefs, and symbols) of the various religious traditions with special attention to the Creation tradition within Christianity.
LIM/LIMX 814 Emergent Universe: Our Sacred Story 3 cr. hrs.
This course asks participants to immerse themselves contemporary discoveries and understandings of the emergent universe and to reflect on its spiritual dimensions and significance. As we become familiar with this new story, this sacred story, we will also attend to the data which describes the urgency of the ecological issue with an eye to discerning its implications for the physical, psychic, and spiritual dimensions of our lives.
LIM 815 The African American Experience in Religion and Culture 3 cr. hrs.
The course provides a means by which African American culture and religion can be better understood and appreciated each for its own sake as well as its contribution to world civilization and culture. During the course, participants examine the interplay of religion and culture in the African American experience ranging from African antiquities through the African Diaspora to present day expressions such as theomusicology.
LIM 816 The African American Experience and Black Church History 3 cr. hrs.
This course examines the history and institutional life of Africans and African Americans in the Diaspora, especially the Western Hemisphere. The study starts in Africa with ancient and traditional African religions, continues into Latin America, and then on to North America with Roman Catholicism, Protestantism, and their synthesis with their African antecedents. Emphasis will be placed on the development of the black church in the United States as an institution.
LIM 821 Topics in Christian Theology 3/1 cr. hrs.
This course explores specific issues in Christian theology, including the broad categories of sin, reconciliation, and political theory, or such issues as the contrast in ecclesiologies between Trent and Vatican II.
LIM 825 Methods of Theological Reflection 3/1 cr. hrs.
Students explore a variety of methods for theological reflection, including theology of story; journal keeping; process theology; liberation theology; the interaction of culture, tradition, and personal experience; and case studies. In any given semester one of these methods may become the focus of the course.
LIM/LIMX 827 Spirituality for Ministers 3 cr. hrs.
This course will discuss the theological foundation of Christian life and explore how ministry is rooted in and gives expression to the minister’s relationship with God. Students will be invited to reflect on prayer, discernment, and spiritual growth in the context of finding God in the midst of ministry.
LIM/LIMX 828 History of Christian Spirituality 3 cr. hrs.
This course is an introduction to the variety of experiences and expressions of Christian spirituality from the roots of the Hebrew Scriptures to contemporary spiritual writing. The course will focus on monasticism, mysticism, and modern apostolic spirituality as a way of exploring the recurring questions and challenges that shape the human search for God.
LIM 832 Sacramental Topics 3/1 cr. hrs.
This course focuses on particular sacraments or groups of sacraments such as Reconciliation or Marriage, sacraments of initiation, or sacraments of healing. In any given semester the focus of this course will change to address particular sacramental concerns.
LIM 835 Current Moral Issues 3/1 cr. hrs.
This course explores current moral issues in personal life, work/profession and sociopolitical life. Students will focus on a particular moral issue such as abortion or nuclear war or on the theoretical and practical implications of contemporary moral theory in a broad category of contemporary life such as sexuality or politics.
LIM 836 Human Sexuality and Christian Faith 3/1 cr. hrs.
The course explores the significance of human sexuality, its expression in personal experience, and cultural influence.
LIMX 840 The Sociocultural Context of Ministry and Religious Education 3 cr. hrs.
This course introduces students to a broad array of disciplines and analytical skills in examining their own cultural and social contexts. The course is designed to assist students in the social sciences and in attuning themselves to sociocultural dynamics in their ministries and educational practice.
LIM 842 Peace and Justice Ministry 3/1 cr. hrs.
This course explores the theoretical and practical issues involved in peace and justice ministry today. Particular issues such as the morality of nuclear war, world hunger and human rights as well as pastoral approaches to community organizing and political participation will be studied in any given semester.
LIM 843 Women’s Issues in Church and Culture 3/1 cr. hrs.
This course offers an exploration of the historical, psychological, and sociological factors which continue to influence the patriarchal tradition in the Western World. The course focuses on the perspective and experience women offer Church and society.
LIM/LIMX 844 Parish Life and Ministry 3 cr. hrs.
The aim of this course is to help participants reflect on today’s experience of the parish in its many shapes and forms. Pastoral practice and canon law are used during the course as reference points for discussion of the pastoral and canonical issues raised by the student and the course content.
LIM/LIMX 845 Contemporary Issues in Pastoral Ministry 3 cr. hrs.
This course examines a number of challenges and issues that pastoral leaders face today, especially within the diverse forms of ministry found in local faith communities. Participants will explore various topics related to pastoral ministry, including team ministry, transitions to lay pastoral administrators, ministry in a pluralistic church, and a spirituality of pastoral ministry. Course participants will also examine in more depth ministry to a particular population in their home community (e.g., youth ministry, family ministry, ministry to the bereaved, ministry to single young adults, etc.) and will present a needs analysis identifying the most pressing ministerial needs found among the populations they have chosen to study along with their proposed ministerial responses to those needs.
LIM 849 Introduction to Pastoral Care and Counseling 3 cr. hrs.
This course is a religious and social psychological introduction to the basic stance of pastoral care and counseling. It explores how pastoral counseling is like and not like secular counseling practice and articulates the unique characteristics of forms of counseling calling themselves pastoral.
LIM 855 Psychology and Spirituality 3/1 cr. hrs.
This course offers an examination of psychological theories and classical theological models of spirituality.
LIM 856 Topics in Christian Spirituality 3/1 cr. hrs.
This course explores particular classical spiritualities such as St. Ignatius’ spiritual exercises or the spiritual vision of Meister Eckhart, or more generic themes such as prayer and contemporary spiritual discipline.
LIM 857 Spiritual Direction 3/1 cr. hrs.
This course explores the art and method of discernment. It examines the traditions of the art as well as the contributions of psychology and Eastern religious perspectives.
LIMX 860 The Personal Context of Ministry and Religious Education 3 cr. hrs.
This course explores patterns of human development and spirituality in the faith life of adults. Students reflect upon their own faith journeys as well as the developmental paths of those to whom they minister and educate.
LIMX 861 The Institutional Context of Ministry and Religious Education: Pastoral Leadership and Organization 3 cr. hrs.
In this course, students explore the meaning of pastoral leadership in light of the current research in organizational development and ecclesiology. Current leadership literatures will be surveyed in light of the mission of the church and the ecclesial vision of the participants. Special emphasis will be placed upon participative strategic planning processes and organizational development. Participants will analyze an organizational system for its strengths and weaknesses and propose interventions that would strengthen its organizational functioning.
LIM 870 Principles of Youth Ministry 2 cr. hrs.
This course is an overview of youth ministry that communicates the why of youth ministry through a coherent analysis of its foundations in theology, culture, psychology, development theory, and sociology. Special attention is given to describing the characteristics of early, middle, and late adolescence drawn from developmental (psychological, moral, faith development) and sociological research. The course also presents principles and approaches for ministry with youth in light of the foundations.
LIM 874 Special Topics in Ministry 3/1 cr. hrs.
Students in this course will focus on particular topics critical to their concerns in ministry. Such topics as ministry to the sick and dying, ministry to the aged, and ministry in minority communities will be explored in any given semester.
LIM 880 Ministry and the Arts 3/1 cr. hrs.
This course explores the use of music, mime, art, dance, media, poetry, and storytelling in ritual and religious education. The arts are considered as vehicles of theological expression and liturgical celebration.
LIM 885 Religious Communication 3/1 cr. hrs.
This course explores how a variety of communication media can benefit ministers in their particular settings. Both theory and practice of contemporary communication media, especially the use of television, are explored with hands-on experience.
LIM/LIMX 886 Pastoral and Educational Praxis 3 cr. hrs.
In this capstone course, students employ the method of practical theology to reflect on concerns related to their ministerial and educational praxis. Careful analyses that include the social and cultural circumstances surrounding their identified praxis will be undertaken, as well as an appreciative and critical retrieval of the voice of the faith tradition. Based on that reflection, possible educational and ministerial interventions which meet criteria of pragmatic feasibility and religious faithfulness will be examined and articulated verbally and in writing for evaluation and feedback.
LIM 890 Special Topics 3/1 cr. hrs.
This course number is used to offer courses on an infrequent basis. Typically, the course is offered once using this number with a unique title. For a full description, contact the institute office.
LIM 897 Practicum 3/1 cr. hrs.
Students wishing to explore the practice of ministry in specific contexts may apply to the director to arrange a three-hour practicum which will include a reflective paper and supervised experience.
LIM 899 Independent Study 3/1 cr. hrs.
Students may apply to the director for independent study based on specific situations or needs. Forms are available in the institute office.
1999-2001 Graduate Bulletin > Loyola Institute for Ministry (LIM)