Content

This unit will assist students to explore, identify and focus their personal sense of vocation within the Christian tradition. Various practices of vocational discernment (individual and communal) will be critically engaged and applied within the student’s own context. Theological reflection and participation in intentional practices of discernment will support this process. Students will also develop and engage in practices that assist others in the discernment and exploration of vocation.

Unit code: DS2012W

Unit status: Archived (New unit)

Points: 36.0

Unit level: Undergraduate Level 2

Unit discipline: Spirituality

Delivery Mode: Face to Face

Proposing College: Whitley College

Show when this unit is running

Learning outcomes

1.

Actively participate in historic Christian practices of discernment; prayer, meditation, reading and direction

2.

Utilize models of theological reflection that integrate theory, experience and practice;

3.

Formulate an individually appropriate model for vocational decision-making reflective of an encounter with the wisdom and direction of God

4.

Critically reflect upon their own developing sense of calling/vocation and its integration into everyday realities

5.

Critically evaluate historic Christian practices of discernment

6.

Develop and describe discernment strategies to guide others toward vocational clarity in individual and communal settings

Unit sequence

Prohibited combinations: DS1/2011W Discerning Personal Vocation

Pedagogy

Lectures, seminars, tutorials.

Indicative Bibliography

  • Herbert Alphonso. Discovering Your Personal Vocation: The Search for Meaning Through the Spiritual Exercises, Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 2001
  • Brennfleck, K. Live Your Calling. Jossey Bassey. 2004.
  • Coombs, Marie Theresa, and Nemeck, F K., Called by God: A Theology of Vocation and Lifelong Commitment, Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock, 2001.
  • Garber, Steven. Visions of Vocation: Common Grace for the Common Good. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2010.
  • Green, T. Weeds Among the Wheat. Notre Dame: Ave Maria, 1984.
  • Graham, Elaine, Heather Walton, and Frances Ward. Theological Reflection: Methods. London: SCM Press, 2005
  • Miller, D. A Million Miles in a Thousand Years. Thomas Nelson. 2011.
  • Mottola, A. (trans) The Spiritual Exercises by Ignatius Loyola, New York: Doubleday, 1989
  • Nouwen, H. In the Name of Jesus. London: St Paul’s, 1999.
  • Palmer, Parker. Let your life speak: Listening for the voice of vocation. San Francisco: Jossey Bass, 2000
  • Palmer, Parker, A Hidden Wholeness: The Journey Toward An Undivided Life. John Wiley and Sons. 2004.
  • Schuurman, D. Vocation: Discerning Our Callings in Life. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2003.
  • Smith, G.T. The Voice of Jesus: Discernment, Prayer and the Witness of the Spirit. Downers Grove: NPress, 2003.
  • Stevens, P. Work Matters. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2012.
  • Veith, Gene Edward. God At Work: Your Christian Vocation in All of Life. Vol. Focal point series. Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books, 2002.
  • Evelyn E. Whitehead and Whitehead, J.D., Seasons of Strength: New Visions of Adult Christian Maturing, Lincoln, NE: St Mary’s Press, 2003
  • Williard, D. In Search of Guidance. Eugene: Wipf, 1997.

Assessment

Type Description Word count Weight (%)
Journal

Journal/Reflection Report 400 words

400 5.0
Journal

Journal/Reflection Report 400 words

400 5.0
Journal

Journal/Reflection Report 400 words

400 5.0
Journal

Journal/Reflection Report 400 words

400 5.0
Essay

Research Essay (1500 Words)

1500 20.0
Portfolio

Vocational Portfolio (4000 Words)

4000 40.0
Tutorial Paper/Seminar Paper

Tutorial Paper (1000)

1000 20.0
Approvals

Unit approved for the University of Divinity by John Capper on 19 Oct, 2017

Unit record last updated: 2022-10-27 14:58:56 +1100