Content

This unit considers the theology of the Christian Church, Christian ministries, lay and ordained and the celebration of the Christian sacraments. Content will generally include reference to Church in the New Testament, Historical developments in the understanding of Church, The Doctrine of Church in contemporary theology, Ministry in the New Testament, the development of the Doctrine of Ministry to the current time, role and ritual in contemporary culture, the question of ‘What is a sacrament’, the sacraments of Communion and Baptism.

Unit code: CT9742Z

Unit status: Approved (New unit)

Points: 24.0

Unit level: Postgraduate Elective

Unit discipline: Systematic Theology

Proposing College: Uniting College for Leadership and Theology

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Learning outcomes

1.

Critically analyse the importance of major historical developments in the theology of Church, Ministry and Sacraments for contemporary ministry

2.

Critically reflect on contemporary understandings and practices of Church, Ministry and Sacrament

3.

Critically evaluate their personal starting assumptions about Church, Ministry and Sacraments

4.

Critically evaluate the skills and dispositions required for various roles in contemporary faith communities

5.

Employ knowledge and skills developed in the unit to critique and develop resources suitable for selected ministry context(s)

Unit sequence

A Level 9 unit in postgraduate theology and ministry awards.

Prerequisite Units: CT8740Z Introduction to Christian Thought or CT8741Z Beginning with Jesus: An introduction to Christian Theology or equivalent

Pedagogy

UCLT uses primary and secondary sources considered through different lenses to identify and explore the challenges of the unit material for the contemporary world. Students are engaged in a range of comparative, analytical and reflective practices to identify the original meanings of the text in their contexts and to interpret them hermeneutically.

Indicative Bibliography

  • Baptism, Eucharist and Ministry, Geneva: World Council of Churches, 1982.
  • Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. Life Together. Trans. Daniel Bloesch & James Burtness. Minneapolis, WI: Fortress Press, 2005.
  • Burns, Stephen, Worship and Ministry – Shaped towards God. Preston, Vic: Mosaic Press, 2012.
  • Cahalan, Kathleen A. Introducing the Practice of Ministry. Collegeville, Liturgical Press, 2010.
  • Douglas, Sally. The Church [Triumphant] As Salt: Becoming the Community Jesus Speaks About. Bayswater, Vic: Coventry Press, 2021.
  • Johnson, Elizabeth. Ecclesiology in the New Testament. Nashville, Tennessee: Abington Press, 2020.
  • Jones, L. Gregory & Armstrong, Kevin R. Resurrecting Excellence: Shaping Faithful Christian Ministry. Grand Rapids, Eerdmans, 2006.
  • Ross, Susan A. Extravagant Affections: A Feminist Sacramental Theology. New York, NY: Continuum Publishing, 1998.
  • Smith, James K.A. Imagining the Kingdom: How Worship Works. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2013.
  • Thompson, Geoff. Disturbing Much Disturbing Many: Theology Provoked by the ‘Basis of Union.’ Northcote, Vic: Uniting Academic Press, 2016.

Assessment

Type Description Word count Weight (%)
Personal Reflection

Two guided reflections

500 10.0
Summative Reflection

Responses to various components of the course work

1500 15.0
Essay

Church, Ministry & Sacraments in a disrupted, uncertain social & ecological era.

4000 50.0
Learning Resource

Professional Practice Application

2000 25.0
Approvals

Unit approved for the University of Divinity by Prof Albert Haddad on 20 Oct, 2022

Unit record last updated: 2022-10-20 18:42:54 +1100