DEPARTMENT OF DOGMATIC THEOLOGY

MISSION OF THE DEPARTMENT

The Department of Dogmatic Theology under the Ecclesiastical or Pontifical Faculty of Theology in the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) is a unique higher academic DOGMATIC theological research, teaching, formation and witnessing ‘institution’ established by the AMECEA bishops in 1984 to train excellent Church leaders, professional dogmatists for dioceses, seminaries and religious institutions, and offer ecclesial ‘dogmatic’ canonical qualifications at baccalaureate, licentiate and doctoral cycles to varied agents of evangelization (Veritatis Gaudium 2018). The department seeks to investigate, teach, interpret, clarify, defend, witness, provide and deepen relevant, appropriate and transformative understanding of Christian revelatory mysteries, Catholic dogma (doctrine), spirituality and mission of Triune Faith with scientific speculative and creative methodology in the light of the Sacred Scriptures, Church’s Sacred Tradition, as defined by the Apostolic-Patristic wisdom, Ecumenical councils and realigned to the Official teaching of the Church’s Magisterium. It is enriched by classic Christian anthropology and scholarly contextual theological contribution to the Truth of God, humanity and universe for renewed and discerned communication of Christian Mysteries as lived in good faith for effective missionary evangelization and integrated salvation in history. Furthermore, the program of dogmatic studies or courses are also re-aligned and enriched by other theological disciplines designed to address critical, cutting-edge doctrinal questions with excellent research findings, timely inculturated paradigms with new impulse, prophetic publications, community ministry and pastoral innovation in Africa and AMECEA region in particular.

DEPARTMENTAL PROGRAMMES OBJECTIVES:

The Department is committed:

1. To promote quality scientific and critical inculturation of Christian doctrine of faith (dogmas) as a contextualized theological investigation in Africa and AMECEA in particular in the light of the Catholic Church’s methodological standards (Veritatis Gaudium -2018), making original contribution of revelatory knowledge and salvific witness to the Gospel of Christ (John 14:6) making the faith truly Christian and truly African.
2. To train relevant Church scholars, experts and practitioners of dogmatic teaching, creative-independent thinkers with legitimate ethical judgement, quality ecclesial servant-leadership and personnel in Christian doctrine or dogmatic teaching, and who are familiar with African traditions, timely African pastoral challenges and revealing transformative solutions based on Faith and Reason (Veritatis Gaudium 2018) for deeper evangelization through small Christian communities (SCCs) in Africa and global contexts.
3. To train qualified informative, formative and transformative dogmatic theologians, agents of evangelization and competent researchers including professional lectures / teachers of Church dogmas (Christian Mysteries) with a niche of ‘Africana Humana’, African theology and Trans-inculturated approach in higher theological institutions, university faculties, major seminaries, religious novitiates, pastoral centers and dioceses as a means of deeper evangelization in AMECEA and beyond.
4. To produce students/ graduates who are well qualified – competent researchers of dogmatic theology and doctrinal conciliator who read and interpret the signs of the times correctly and righteously, reflect on secular and relativistic threats; they are in constant dialogue with Sacred Magisterium, interfaith dialogue and ecumenical engagement and seek to timely investigate and publish relevant topical issues for the Church and society for effective evangelization and holistic development respectively in AMECEA, and Africa.

DEPARTMENTAL QUALITY OBJECTIVES:

1. To teach with orthodox acumen and train contextually with an annual increased number of at least 5% students’ population of Dogmatic Theology at the Baccalaureate, Licentiate and Doctorate levels with current ecclesial orientations and Church’s inculturation methodologies in AMECEA and Africa.
2. To ensure with Church’s Dogmatic discernment and methodological standards that the Department of Dogmatic Theology produces at least one text book, two teaching modules and three research articles in referred journal or publications every academic year.
3. To enhance the provision of quality teaching and research investigation by participating annually in at least two interdisciplinary theological sessions and organizing at least one departmental conference or seminar or Licentiate/ Doctorate colloquium.
4. To annually participate and pursue relevant community service and witness with teaching and ‘options for the poor’ ministries which reflect the mission of the Department of Dogmatic Theology in at least one parish or academic institution or underprivileged homes in university environs.
5. To annually engage in at least one ecumenical dialogue cum prayers and interreligious engagement so as to enhance the Departments promotion of the Ecclesiology’s of Vatican II’s Church as a Communion (1965), Ecclesia in Africa’s Church as a Family of God (1995) and Africae Munus (2011) as manifested in AMECEA’s vision of small Christian communities and self-reliant Church.

DESIGN OF COURSES OFFERED BY THE DEPARTMENT

1. Baccalaureate Cycle:

   • B-DT 1000: Introduction and Fundamental Theology
   • B-DT 106: African theology
   • B-DT 203: Christology
   • B-DT 204: One God and the Holy Trinity
   • B-DT 205: Ecclesiology
   • B-DT 206: Mariology
   • JC-B 223: Sacramental Theology
   • B-DT 303: Christian Anthropology
   • B-DT 304: Eschatology
   • B-DT 305: The Holy Spirit and Evangelization
   • B-DTE 500: Trinity in Global Christian Context
   • B-DTE 501: African Christology
   • B-DTE 502: Theology of Church Encyclicals
   • B-DTE 503: Patristic Oriental Ecclesiology
   • B-DTE 504: Ecclesiology of Ecumenism and Interfaith Dialogue
   • B-DTE 505: Theology of Catechesis and Mission Ministries
   • B-S 602: (Seminar) Special synod for Africa (1994)
   • B-S 603: Doctrine and Practice of Theological Virtues in Africa
   • B-S 611: Theological Discernment to Charismatic Life and Healing

2. Licentiate – Second Cycle:

   • L-DT 100: Theological Method and Language
   • L-DT 101: Trends of Fundamental Contemporary Theology
   • L-DT 102: Ecclesiology of Fundamental Theology
   • L-DT 103 History of Dogmatic / Doctrinal Theology
   • L-DT 104: Ecclesial Values and Challenges of Eschatology Today
   • L-DT 105: Challenges and Opportunities of Mariology Today
   • L-DT 200: Sacramentology and Special Questions on the Eucharist
   • L-DT 201 Theology of Special Assembly for Africa of Synod of Bishops
   • L-DT 202: Special Questions in Christology
   • L-DT 203: Papacy and Ministry of Unity in the Church
   • L-DT 204: Special Questions in Christian Anthropology
   • L-DT 205: Special Questions in Trinitarian Theology
   • L-DT 206: Theology of Ecclesial Communities in Vatican II
   • L-DT 207: Inculturation of the Encyclical ‘Fides et Ratio’
   • L-DT 208: Theology of the Church’s Living Magisterium
   • L-DT 209: Theology and Implementation of ‘Veritatis Gaudium’’ in Africa
   • L-DT 210: Inculturation in Western Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches
   • L-DT 211: The Holy Spirit in All Ecumenical Councils of the Church

3. Licentiate – Common Courses:

   • L-C 101: Models of the Church
   • L-C 105: African Contextualized Theology
   • L-C 106: Theological Hermeneutics and Pastoral Discernment in Africa
   • L-C 210: The Eastern Church: History and Theological Orientations
   • L-C 211: Pneumatology: The Holy Spirit Leads us
   • L-C 212: Contemporary Theology of Creation and World Progress
   • L-C 213: Ecclesial Function of a Theologian in African Context
   • L-C 214: Theology, Patristic Education and Evangelization
   • L-C 215: Theology and Practice of Renewing Priestly Formation in Africa
   • L-C 216: Theology of ‘Africana Humana’ & Ubuntology for Effective Evangelization
   • L-C 217: Contextual Theological Strategies for the Sacrament of Confession in Africa
   • L-C 218: Theological Questions of Communion of Saints and African Ancestors
   • L-C 219: Hermeneutics of ‘Veritatis Gaudium’ as a Guide to Academic Theology

4. Elective Courses:

   • L-DTE 100: Questions and Contextualization of African Christologies
   • L-DTE 200: Theology and New Contexts of Catechism of the Catholic Church
   • L-DTE 201: Theology of Mission Ecclesiology
   • L-DTE 202: Doctrine of Natural Law: A Strategy to Address Relativism Today
   • L-DTE 203: Theology and Practice of Training Integrated Chaplains in Africa
   • L-DTE 204: Ecclesiology & Shepherding Ethos at the Center of SCCS in Africa
   • L-DTE 205: Theology of Migration, Integration and Shepherding Church in Africa
   • L-DTE 206: 21 Church Ecumenical Councils and Contextual Theology Today

5. Licentiate – Seminars:

   • L-S 120: Theological Challenges and Opportunities in the Eastern Schism
   • L-S 130: Witchcraft in Africa: Anthropological & Theological Analysis
   • L-S 150: Redemptoris Missio: A Theological Model for Evangelization in Africa
   • L-S 151: Theology of Bishops’ Prophetic Voices and Pastoral Letters Today
   • L-S 152: Theological Legacy of Great African Scholars of Inculturation and Liberation
   • L-S 153: Vatican I as Theological Roadmap to Vatican II Council
   • L-S 154: Doctrine of Human Rights as Manifestation for Transformative Church in Africa

6. Doctorate – Third Cycle:

   • D-DT 101: Pneumatology: Holy Spirit Transforming Church and Society in Africa
   • D-DT 101: Contemporary Theology of Grace
   • D-DT 102: Foundations and Trans-disciplinarity of Inculturation
   • D-DT 103: Methodology and Research in Dogmatic Theology
   • D-DT 104: Ecclesiology and Practice of Ecumenism Today
   • D-DT 105: Holy Trinity as Foundation for All Theological Disciplines
   • D-DT 105: Teaching, Hermeneutics and Proactivity of Theology in Africa
   • D-DT 106: Holy Trinity as Theological Roadmap for Progress of Church and State in Africa
   • D-DT: 107: Trans-Inculturation: Theological Option to Address Relativism in Africa
   • D-DT 108: Theology of Bishops’ Prophetic Voices and Pastoral Letters Today
   • D-DT 109: Cosmotheandrian Theology: Roadmap to Societal Transformation in Africa
   • D-DT 110: Theological Search for the Truth in Church Encyclicals Today
   • D-DT 111: Doctrine of Virgin Mary and Empowerment of Women in Africa

7. Proposed Dogmatic Theological Programs and Courses:

   • (SDT 1). Theology, Patristic Education and Evangelization
   • (SDT 2). Theology & Interdisciplinary Methods for Ecumenism
   • (SDT 3) Holy Spirit Illuminates in Signs of Times Today
   • (SDT 4). Theology of ‘Ecclesia in Africa’ & ‘Africae Munus’ for Social Transformation
   • (SDT 6). Theological Multidimensions of Chaplaincy in the Church
   • (SDT 7). ‘Synod on Synodality’: Shepherding Participatory Church in Africa
   • (SDT 8). Heresies as Catalyst for Development of Church Doctrine and Methods
   • (SDT 9). ‘Pastores Dabo Vobis’ and Theology in African Major Seminaries Today
   • (SDT 10) Hamartiology: Consequences of Sin, Evil and Injustice in Africa