The Uniting Church in Australia's Basis of Union locates the UCA amidst the 'whole church' and aspires to 'special relationships' with church in Asia-Pasifika. In this unit, you will explore theological insights arising in the region through the work of a representative range of theologians. You will especially engage with theologians whose work has been prominent in the period since 1977 (some of whom work within traditions close to the UCA's own ecclesial tradition). For example: Agnes Brazal, Anscar Chupungco, Aruna Gnanadason, Arvind Nirmal, Kwok Pui-lan, Meehung Chung, Nasili Vaka-uta, Ting Kuang-Hsun, Toyohiko Kagawa, Tzu-ch'en Chao, Upolu Luma Vaia, Winston Halapua. You'll read each theologian's work within a wider reflection on the dynamics of reading inter-culturally. You'll read these theologies among different kinds of First and Second Peoples on the land of First Peoples. And you'll read with reference to the range of monocultural-to-intercultural communities and practices found within the Uniting Church. In this way, you will gain a critical understanding of Asia-Pasifika theologies within the context of the Uniting Church.
Unit code: DM2677P
Unit status: Approved (New unit)
Points: 18.0
Unit level: Undergraduate Level 2
Unit discipline: Missiology
Proposing College: Pilgrim Theological College
Show when this unit is running| 1. | Describe the significance of Asia-Pasifika theologies for the UCA |
| 2. | Articulate key concerns and insights of a range of Asia-Pasifika theologians |
| 3. | Critique western articulations of Christian doctrine informed by alternative authorities |
| 4. | Critically engage UCA documents and debates with resources from this unit |
Lecture, seminar, guided reading.
Basis of Union. Uniting Church in Australia, 1992.
Burns, Stephen., Bryan Cones & James Tengatenga, eds. Twentieth Century Anglican Theologians. Chichester: Wiley, 2021.
Havea, Jione, ed. Sea of Readings. Atlanta: SBL, 2018.
Havea, Jione, ed. Theologies from the Pacific. New York: Palgrave, 2021.
Kim, Sebastian, ed. Christian Theology in Asia. Cambridge: CUP, 2013.
Rajkumar, Peniel, ed. Asian Theology on the Way. London: SPCK, 2013.
Tengatenga, James & Stephen Burns, eds. Anglican Theology: A Postcolonial Pastiche. London: SCM Press, forthcoming.
The unit will make use of relevant journals such as Pacific Journal of Theology, Melanesian Journal of Theology, Asia Journal of Theology, In God's Image, etc., as well as relevant publications of the World Council of Churches. The reading set compiled for the unit will be much more important than any particular text.
| Type | Description | Word count | Weight (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay - A Pasifika theologian | Determined by student choice, this essay engages the student in reflection on the written work of a theologian from the Pasifika sea of islands, with consideration of the UCA's migrant composition and inter-cultural aspiration. |
2225 | 50.0 |
| Essay - An Asian theologian | Determined by student choice, this essay engages the student in reflection on the written work of a theologian from the Asian continent, with consideration of the UCA's migrant composition and inter-cultural aspiration. |
2225 | 50.0 |
Unit approved for the University of Divinity by Prof Albert Haddad on 31 Oct, 2023
Unit record last updated: 2023-10-31 14:54:12 +1100