Anotace
The course introduces students to the theory of occasional services. It deals with the general questions of rituals as well as biblical, theological, historical, liturgical, catechetical and issues of occasional services – especially baptism, confirmation, wedding, funeral, ordination and installation. The structure of the course:
1. Occasional services in the post-secular time; the theory of occasional services; the theory of rituals
2. The baptism in the New Testament perspective; the development of the baptismal liturgy from the time of the Early church until the Reformation
3. The baptism in the current theological debate: a sacrament, a confession of faith or a rite of passage?
4. Pastoral and catechetical aspects of baptism; the baptismal liturgy and the sermon
5. Confirmation – the history, theological significance, preparation and celebration
6. The concept of death, dying and life everlasting in the Bible, Reformation and current theology
7. The history of Christian funerals
8. The current Protestant funeral services, the funeral sermon, pastoral care of the bereaved
9. The marriage in the biblical perspective; the history of wedding ceremonies; the marriage and wedding in the Reformation
10. The current theology and liturgy of the wedding ceremonies in Protestantism
11. Pastoral aspects of wedding ceremonies and open issues (the ecumenical wedding, the blessing of the same-sex couples, the blessing of the divorced etc.)
12. Ordination and installation