Content

This is a Supervised Theological Field Education unit that introduces students to an action-reflection model of learning in the context of an approved ministry placement or workplace. As part of this process, students will set and pursue personal goals for ministry practice and spiritual formation. Students will reflect on their engagement in a range of experiences to learn more about the skills and competencies required for ministry, and to discover individual core values and vocational identity. A model of theological reflection will be introduced to help synthesise theological learning and placement/workplace practice. Professional ministry standards including the safeguarding of children and vulnerable people underpin this unit. This single unit is completed over two semesters.

Unit code: DP8147B

Unit status: Approved (Major revision)

Points: 24.0

Unit level: Postgraduate Foundational

Unit discipline: Pastoral Theology and Ministry Studies

Delivery Mode: Practicum

Proposing College: Eva Burrows College

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Learning outcomes

1.

Critically reflect theologically on ministry practice and ministry context.

2.

Develop, work toward and evaluate achievement of intentional goals for ministry practice skills informed by a ministry context.

3.

Critically evaluate the contributions from the ministry context and pastoral supervision to personal and vocational identity formation.

4.

Document and synthesise evidence of learning about self and ministry arising from the ministry context.

5.

Integrate theory and practice of vulnerable people's safeguarding and professional ministry standards in the workplace.

Unit sequence

UD Code of Conduct, Safeguarding Module and Pre/co-requiste units: 24 points Field B, 24 points Field C Not required but encouraged is unit DP8314B or equivalent.

Pedagogy

Learning is achieved through action-reflection on approved placement/workplace experiences and observations, as well as individual supervision.

180 engagement hours is made up of 144 hours placement, 8 hours individual supervision, 18 hours active integration through peer groups, seminars, workshops, and 12 hours planning, preparation, classroom. (Note - To meet denominational commitments for pastoral supervision, students are required to complete 8 hours which exceeds the 6 hours prescribed by the WIL procedure).

Indicative Bibliography

  • Bassot, Barbara. The Reflective Practice Guide: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Critical Reflection. 2nd ed. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge, 2023. (book)
  • Broughton, Geoff. A Practical Christology for Pastoral Supervision. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge, 2021. (book/ebook)
  • Carroll, Michael, and Maria C. Gilbert. On Being a Supervisee: Creating Learning Partnerships. 2nd ed. Melbourne: Psychoz Publications, 2011. (book)
  • Cameron, Helen, John Reader, Victoria Slater, and Christopher Rowland. Theological Reflection for Human Flourishing: Pastoral Practice and Public Theology. London: SCM Press, 2012. (book/ebook)
  • Kincaid, William B. Finding Voice: How Theological Field Education Shapes Pastoral Identity. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 2012. (book/ebook)
  • Lizardy-Hajbi, Kristina, and Matthew Floding., eds. Explore : Vocational Discovery in Ministry. Explorations in Theological Field Education. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2021. (book/ebook)
  • Miller-McLemore, Bonnie J. Follow Your Bliss and Other Lies About Calling. New York: Oxford University Press, 2024. (book/ebook)
  • Palmer, Parker J. Let Your Life Speak: Listening to the voice of Vocation. 25th anniversary edition with new introduction. Hoboken, NJ: Jossey-Bass, 2024. (ebook)
  • Thompson, Judith with Stephen Pattison and Ross Thompson. SCM Study Guide: Theological Reflection. 2nd ed. London: SCM Press, 2018. (book/ebook)
  • Trist, Richard., ed. Ministry in Context. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 2023. (book/ebook)

Assessment

Type Description Word count Weight (%)
Audio recording or Podcast - Safeguarding 1000 15.0
Case Study - Case Study 2000 30.0
Workplace evaluation - Skill Demonstration & Project Report or Project Journal 2000 25.0
Autobiographical exercise 2000 30.0
Approvals

Unit approved for the University of Divinity by Naomi Wolfe on 18 Sep, 2026

Unit record last updated: 2026-09-18 08:55:34 +1000