Old Catholic Theology: Faith, History and Praxis

About

The topics covered by the course include the following aspects of Old Catholic theology and tradition: The History of Old Catholicism, Spirituality, Ecumenism, and more!

Students will be taught by experts in Old Catholic theology from the faculty at the Old Catholic Seminary, Utrecht. The topics covered by the course include the following: History of Old Catholicism, Old Catholic Spirituality, Ecumenism and Old Catholicism, Old Catholic Canon Law and Ecclesiology, Old Catholic Liturgy, and Old Catholic Systematic Theology.

The course also includes an exploration of religious art in cooperation with the main Dutch museum on this topic, Museum Catharijneconvent. Participants will also engage with Old Catholic liturgy and church music by attending Mass in St. Gertrud’s Cathedral. Because of its succes, the excursion to Amsterdam, where the participants will tour sites of (Old) Catholic history will be offered again this year. Besides lectures and excursions, it will also be possible to participate in social activities, in which you can learn from the knowledge and backgrounds of your fellow students and have a good time together as well.​​

At the end of the course, students will have a broad overview of major topics and themes in Old Catholic theology and spirituality and will be able to pursue further independent study of the subject. The course is at the introductory level of an M.Div. curriculum; good BA students may also apply. Students may be expected to do advance reading for the course.​

Course leader

Prof. dr. Peter-Ben Smit

Target group

Students of theology interested in Old Catholicism and ecumenism; Clergy and theologians interested in Old Catholicism and ecumenism; Laypersons with formal or informal theological training interesting in Old Catholicism and ecumenism. The course is of specific interest for students with Anglican, Orthodox, Lutheran, Old Catholic, and ecumenical backgrounds.

Course aim

The goals of the course are, the following; upon completing the course:
1) The student will be familiar with central aspects of Old Catholic identity and theology,
2) The student will be able to contextualize Old Catholic theology within the broader spectrum of theology and religious studies,
3) The student will be able to undertake further independent exploratory studies of aspects of Old Catholic theology.

Fee info