This unit assists pastoral practitioners to engage in the process of developing a coherent framework for pastoral interaction, care, and leadership in a variety of settings. Key pastoral themes will be explored, for example: the individual in relationship to their context/environment; ethics and boundaries; family systems and group dynamics; grief and bereavement; non-Western cultures; professional supervision and ongoing professional development and formation; spiritual direction; and referral and management in pastoral care. The spiritual leadership component of this unit considers the theoretical and theological bases of leadership, with a focus on the spirituality and principles of transformation. Time is given to considering the personal qualities of a Christian leader in those areas of ministry which are relevant to the interests of the students or their current ministerial experience.
Unit code: DP8002C
Unit status: Approved (Major revision)
Points: 24.0
Unit level: Postgraduate Foundational
Unit discipline: Pastoral Theology and Ministry Studies
Proposing College: Catholic Theological College
Show when this unit is running| 1. | Appraise the issues and resources necessary for effective pastoral ministry. |
| 2. | Identify and describe elements of professional and ethical pastoral practice. |
| 3. | Analyse in a reflective manner the enabling elements for safe and effective engagement in pastoral relationships in light of current practices relating to pastoral care, referral, collaborative ministry and relevant pastoral care initiatives and programmes. |
| 4. | Differentiate between spiritual, pastoral, developmental, and psychiatric concerns, and respond appropriately to each according to the limits of their competence. |
| 5. | Integrate the necessary principles of pastoral care and spiritual leadership. |
| 6. | Engage critically with the most recent literature. |
Although there are no prerequisite units, DP1001C, BA1001C, BN1001C, CT1100C, and CT1110C (or equivalents) would be advantageous, along with previous pastoral experience or current engagement in ministry.
Learning develops through input from various presenters, guided reading, class discussion, essays and seminar presentations.
| Type | Description | Word count | Weight (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 1,000 word paper |
1000 | 20.0 |
| Essay | 5,000 word essay |
5000 | 80.0 |
Unit approved for the University of Divinity by Prof Albert Haddad on 25 Jun, 2026
Unit record last updated: 2026-06-25 11:31:05 +1000