Academic year 2026/2027
Overview
The Church is not merely an idea but a shared life that requires order, responsibility, and service. This course introduces participants to the organizational structures of the Church while also exploring key administrative principles from both ecclesiastical and secular perspectives.
Participants will study the foundations of church governance and canon law while gaining insight into how organizations, associations, and governments are structured and managed in broader society. Themes such as democracy, conflict management, communication, leadership, and financial stewardship will be explored in dialogue with the spiritual life of the Church.
Through this integrated approach, participants will develop a balanced understanding of administration as both a practical discipline and a form of service that supports unity, transparency, and spiritual growth within the Church community.
Learning outcomes
Upon completion of the course, the participants are (individually and collectively) expected to be able to:
- explore and discuss together the Church’s organization at local, diocesan, and national levels, reflecting on how these structures support community life;
- compare organizational principles in secular institutions with those of the Church, jointly reflecting on similarities and differences;
- apply democratic, participatory, and collaborative methods in meetings, planning, and shared decision-making;
- carry out administrative tasks together with others, fostering openness, trust, and accountability;
- develop practical skills in financial stewardship, including budgeting and responsible handling of resources, through shared exercises;
- practice communication and conflict-management approaches in dialogue with others to support respectful interaction in diverse communities;
- reflect with others on how administrative work can nurture spiritual and communal life, integrating these insights into collective leadership and service.
Learning Approach
At Sankt Ignatios Folkhögskola, the overarching principle that guides learning is that all knowledge is intersubjective.
Knowledge is dialogue, which requires humility and empathy.
This program is built on collaborative and dialogical learning where participants actively shape not only their common learning journey but also the courses themselves. The content, materials, and methods will be adapted in real time based on participants’ needs, interests, and input. Beyond mastering subject matter, a central goal is for each participant to become aware of how shared learning experiences and dialogue transforms their thinking, practice and identity. Through dialogue, narrative, group discussions, shared reflection, creative expression, and collective exploration, participants develop awareness of their own growth while supporting others’ development. The learning community becomes a space where everyone’s experiences and questions not only enrich understanding but actively guide the direction of the course, helping each person to integrate learning into their own life context in meaningful, personally transformative ways.
The Deans Council revised the syllabus on 14 January, 2026.