Pastoral Ministry Foundations (DP8314B)

Postgraduate, 24.0 points

Content

In this unit you will explore biblical and theological foundations for pastoral ministry. This unit will help you understand yourself and others and how you relate and minister to others in a Christian ministry context. This unit will enable you to review people helping skills and practice through the lens of pastoral ministry. You will do this via structured experiences and reflection.

Unit code: DP8314B

Unit status: Approved (Major revision)

Points: 24.0

Unit level: Postgraduate Foundational

Unit discipline: Pastoral Theology and Ministry Studies

Proposing College: Eva Burrows College

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Learning outcomes

1.

Articulate biblical and theological foundations for pastoral ministry.
2.

Assess the place of pastoral care within the overall ministry of the church.
3.

Demonstrate and evaluate effective helping skills for pastoral ministry and pastoral care.

4.

Reflect theologically and personally on an understanding of self and others.
5.

Critically evaluate approaches to pastoral care to aid implementation of a model within a local ministry setting.

Unit sequence

No prerequisites required.

Pedagogy

This unit is created for online delivery incorporating synchronous and asynchronous learning and engagement. Teaching methods include readings, interactive/video lectures, interactive tutorials and workshops, videos, skills demonstration and reflection on practice. 

Indicative Bibliography

  • Barton, Ruth Haley. Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership: Seeking God in the Crucible of Ministry. 2nd ed. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2018.
  • Creech, R. Robert. Family Systems and Congregational Life: A Map for Ministry. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2019.
  • Doehring, Carrie. The Practice of Pastoral Care: A Postmodern Approach. rev. ed. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2015.
  • Dykstra, Robert. Images of Pastoral Care: Classic Readings. St. Louis, MO: Chalice Press, 2005
  • Egan, Gerard, and Robert J. Reese. The Skilled Helper: A Problem-Management and Opportunity-Development Approach to Helping. 11th ed. Australia: Cengage, 2019.
  • Flanagan, Bernadette, and Sharon G. Thornton. The Bloomsbury Guide to Pastoral Care. London: Bloomsbury. 2014.
  • Lartey, Emmanuel Yartekwei. Pastoral Theology in an Intercultural World. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 2013. First published 2006 by Pilgrim Press (Cleveland).
  • Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality: It’s Impossible to Be Spiritually Mature, While Remaining Emotionally Immature. updated ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2017.
  • Senkbeil, Harold L. The Care of Souls: Cultivating a Pastor’s Heart. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2019.
  • Whipp, Margaret. SCM Studyguide Pastoral Theology. London: SCM Press, 2013.
  • Willimon, William H. Pastor: The Theology and Practice of Ordained Ministry. rev ed. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2016.

Assessment

Type Description Word count Weight (%)

Variant 1

Essay 1500 25.0
Personal Reflection - Personal Reflection on a Skills Demonstration 2000 35.0
Summative Reflection 2500 40.0
Approvals

Unit approved for the University of Divinity by Prof Albert Haddad on 19 Sep, 2025

Unit record last updated: 2025-09-19 15:06:22 +1000