Content

This unit is designed to contribute to the formation of participants for the diaconal ministry of the church by exploring the theology and practice of diaconal ministry with special reference to the Uniting Church in Australia. Participants will be provided with information and resources on different dimensions of diaconal ministry; be encouraged to develop relevant skills and an appropriate spirituality; gain opportunities for personal and theological reflection and development; and encouraged to develop their own theoretical and practical framework for diaconal ministry.

Unit code: DP2100P

Unit status: Archived (New unit)

Points: 18.0

Unit level: Undergraduate Level 2

Unit discipline: Pastoral Theology and Ministry Studies

Delivery Mode: Face to Face

Proposing College: Pilgrim Theological College

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Learning outcomes

1.

Identify key biblical and theological resources for an understanding of the practice of diaconal ministry

2.

Connect their knowledge of the history and understanding of diaconal ministry within and beyond the Uniting Church to their own ministry identity and practice.

3.

Identify the connections between prior theological studies and their ongoing ministry and life experiences through theological reflection.

4.

Contribute towards an ongoing diaconal community of practice.

Unit sequence

1 year or equivalent of theological study at undergraduate level or above. Enrolment is only permitted on the basis of prior approval of the unit lecturer.

Pedagogy

Site visits, lectures, workshops

Indicative Bibliography

  • Aitchison, Ronnie. The Ministry of a Deacon. Peterborough: Epworth, 2003.
  • Barnett, J.M. *The Diaconate: A Full and Equal Orde*r. revised ed. Valley Forge, Pennsylvania: Trinity Press, 1995.
  • Booty, John. The Servant Church: Diaconal Ministry and the Episcopal Church. New York: Morehouse-Barlow, 1982.
  • Brown, Rosalind. Being a Deacon Today: Exploring a Distinctive Ministry in the Church and the World. Norwich: Canterbury Press, 2005.
  • Burke, P. Taking the Towel: A Guide to Parish Community Work in Australi. Melbourne: General Board of Education, 1992.
  • Champness, B, ed. The Servant Ministry: The Methodist Deaconess Order in Victoria and Tasmania. Melbourne: Uniting Church Press, 1996.
  • Clark, David. Breaking the Mould of Christendom: Kingdom Community, Diaconal Church and the Liberation of the Laity. London: Epworth, 2005.
  • Clark, David. Building Kingdom Communities with the Diaconate as a New Order of Mission. Peterborough: Upfront, 2016.
  • Collins, John. Deacons and the Church: Making Connections between Old and New. PA: Morehouse Publishing, 2002.
  • Gregorius, P M. The Meaning and Nature of Diakonia. Geneva: WCC, 1988.
  • Greinacher, N, and N Mette (eds) Diakonia: church for others. In Concilium 198 (Aug 1988). Edinburgh: T & T Clark, 1988.
  • Uniting Church in Australia, ‘Report of the Task Group on the Review of Ministry of Deacon’, (2003)
  • Van-Klinken, Jaap. Diakonia: Mutual Helping with Justice and Compassion. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1989.

Assessment

Type Description Word count Weight (%)
Essay

Integrative Essay (2500 words)

2500 60.0
Journal

Critical reflection journal based on class participation (1000 words)

1000 20.0
Book Review

Book review (1000 words)

1000 20.0
Approvals

Unit approved for the University of Divinity by John Capper on 19 Oct, 2016

Unit record last updated: 2022-10-04 13:23:12 +1100