Pastoral Studies

5 Credits

Module Content:

1. Offering and Receiving Ministry
   Understanding and building on the ‘stages of faith’ (J Fowler) that characterize human growth and development; the role of the religious minister in rites of passage, e.g., confirmation, marriage, funerals etc.; forming and maintaining healthy relationships within the Christian community; distinctive and specialized ministries: chaplaincy, urban, team and youth ministry; one generation church, ecclesiology and evangelism.
2. Public and Private Ministry
   Critically appreciating the skills of pastoral reflection and self-awareness as a pastoral practitioner; understanding the need for appropriate boundaries in public ministry and personal life; understanding the theory and practice of communication, including theory of education and the educational roles and responsibilities of the minister; ministry and media: developing competencies for interpreting liturgy in a wider context via mass media, in public and civic contexts.

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this module students will be able:

• To engage critically with developmental approaches to faith and human growth.
• To understand the dynamics of community life and to show critical appreciation for skills in conflict resolution and mediation.
• To understand, as a reflective practitioner, the role of the minister in the public celebration of rites of passage within the Christian community.
• To appreciate a range of ways, other than parochial ministry, in which ministry may be offered to Church and to society.
• To understand the importance of education theory for pastoral ministry.
• To develop appropriate media skills.
• To recognise situations of conflict and to come to an understanding of conflict resolution and mediation.

Methodology:

Part-time Mode A:

This module will be taught through a series of lectures and student-led seminars.

Students will be required to participate and lead class seminars and also to take part in collaborative small groups and independent study.

There will be a joint seminar with each of the other two strands – Biblical Studies and Theology.

Part-time Mode B:

This module will be taught through workbook and DVD lectures. Students will also contribute to online seminars and will be required to engage in independent study of set texts. Students will also be required to take part in collaborative small groups and independent study.

There will be a joint seminar with each of the other two strands – Biblical Studies and Theology.

Assessment: 2,500 words of coursework (e.g. essay or project as agreed by course leader) Contact Hours: 20 Work Load: 100 - 120 hr