Foundations of Spiritual and Pastoral Care (DP8001W)

Postgraduate, 24.0 points

Content

This unit provides students with a foundation for spiritual and pastoral care as an integral expression of person-centred care. Students will consider the theological and practical aspects of care as an expression of meaningful engagement with others. Students will examine the social and pastoral contexts of care, including those where spiritual care is provided outside the faith community. Attention will be paid to the Capability Frameworks for Spiritual Care Practitioners and the emerging resources in the spiritual care sector. Consideration of the contribution of the Christian tradition to the field of pastoral and spiritual care is made, including theological metaphors and models of care, theological understandings of personhood, considerations of power and pastoral identity, as well as specific skills essential to the good practice of person-centred care.

Unit code: DP8001W

Unit status: Approved (Major revision)

Points: 24.0

Unit level: Postgraduate Foundational

Unit discipline: Pastoral Theology and Ministry Studies

Delivery Mode: Face to Face

Proposing College: Whitley College

Show when this unit is running

Learning outcomes

1.

Evaluate theological themes that inform a Christian commitment to pastoral and spiritual care
2.

Critically examine specific contemporary issues and challenges that impact upon expressions of person-centred care
3.

Develop a theology of care that considers various social contexts, personal experience and basic helping-skills as tools in the effective practice of pastoral and spiritual care;
4.

Articulate an understanding of the current pastoral and spiritual resources
5.

Critically research a pastoral context in a rigorous, sustained and self-directed manner, including the theological and pastoral responses.

Pedagogy

Lectures, seminars, tutorials

Indicative Bibliography

  • Cadge, Wendy. Spiritual Care: The everyday work of chaplains. Oxford University Press, 2023.
  • Cobb, Mark, Christina M. Puchalski and Bruce D. Rumbold, eds. Oxford Textbook of Spirituality in Health Care. Oxford University Press, 2012.
  • Fitchett, George and Steve Nolan, eds. Spiritual Care in Practice. Jessica Kingsley, 2015.
  • Lartey, Emmanuel. Pastoral Theology in an Intercultural World. Wipf & Stock, 2013.
  • Lebacqz, Karen and Joseph D. Driskill. Ethics and Spiritual Care: A guide for pastors, chaplains and spiritual directors. Abingdon, 2000.
  • Louw, D.J., Takaaki David Ito and Ulrike Elsdörfer, eds. Encounter in Pastoral Care and Spiritual Healing: Towards an integrative and intercultural approach. Lit, 2012.
  • Roberts, Stephen. Professional Spiritual and Pastoral Care: A practical clergy and chaplains handbook. Skylight Paths, 2012.
  • Rose, Jessica. Psychology for Pastoral Contexts. SCM, 2013
  • Whipp, Margaret. Pastoral Theology. SCM. 2013
  • Whitehead, Evelyn Eaton and James D. Whitehead. Transforming Our Painful Emotions: Spiritual resources in anger, shame grief, fear and loneliness. Orbis, 2010

Assessment

Type Description Word count Weight (%)
Case Study

1500 word case study

 1500 25.0
Essay

3000 word essay

 3000 50.0
Portfolio

Portfolio 2500 words

 2500 25.0
Approvals

Unit approved for the University of Divinity by Naomi Wolfe on 17 Sep, 2026

Unit record last updated: 2026-09-17 23:13:28 +1000