PROGRAMME SUMMARY

Programme Name

Postgraduate Diploma in PRACTICAL MINISTRY

Programme Description

The Postgraduate Diploma (PgDip) in Practical Ministry is coursework based and consists of 180 credit hours of learning at Level 8. For students intending to progress into a Masters degree, the PgDip will be a foundation year. Full-time or part-time study is available, and admission is usually granted at the beginning of every academic year. The PgDip is an advanced programme that builds on the student’s prior training in biblical, theological, historical ministerial studies and with a more issue-based focus. The intent is to equip students in serving the needs of Pasifika communities in any capacity using ‘whole of life’ and justice-driven approaches appropriate to their contexts. The title of the award on the Testamur when a student graduate is “Postgraduate Diploma in Practical Ministry.”

Minimum Entry

Requirement

▪ should have graduated with a Bachelor’s degree (3 years full-time equivalent) not more than 10 years before applying for the PgDip, unless the applicant has taught in an academic institution since gaining the Bachelor degree. 

▪   ▪ should have gained at least a ‘B’ average in the intended area of specialisation in the last two years of their Bachelor of Divinity (BD) studies.

▪ shall write an academic paper on an appropriate topic set by the relevant Discipline of the College to test their theological knowledge as well as their competence in the intended field of specialisation with a minimum of 50% pass grade of this paper. This paper shall accompany the completed application forms.

▪ must demonstrate an appropriate standard of English comprehension through an English proficiency assessment approved by the College Faculty through the Academic Skills Discipline and gain at least a 50% pass grade, or a pass grade of 5.5 in an IELTS (Academic) test. 

Graduate Outcomes

▪ Demonstrate a ‘whole of life’ knowledge that covers and integrates most of the main areas of the discipline and their link to other disciplines and worlds; 

▪ Demonstrate commitment to research issues of concern to Pacific churches and the region; 

▪ Demonstrate independent thinking to critically analyse data and interpret it appropriately for new Oceanic contributions to theological and ecumenical knowledge; 

▪ Demonstrate the ability to contextualise theology and faith expressions in their own cultural and communities-based contexts; 

▪ Demonstrate deep knowledge of the ‘whole of life’ and leadership for justice vision within the Pacific household of God framework.

Requirements for the

Award of Postgraduate

Diploma

Course credits: 30 credits per course at the

postgraduate level.

The PgDip will be awarded to candidates who have successfully completed 180 credits of work made up of two core courses (60 credits) and three specialisation courses (90 credits) from a specialised Discipline (e.g., Biblical Studies, Theology & Ethics, History of Christianity, Practical Ministry, or Ecumenism), and one inter-discipline elective (30 credits). The core courses for the PgDip are school wide (SW) and university-wide (UW) and mandatory.

Mode of Delivery

Blended: Online + Face to Face

Duration

1-year Full Time or 3 years Part Time

Level

Equivalent to PQF/SPATS/HECF level 8

School Name

School of Theology & Ecumenism

Credit Point

180

Education Pathway

This qualification can lead to a Master’s degree qualification (Level 9) or its overseas equivalent

Employment Pathway

Holders of this qualification will have the knowledge and skills to work in various roles in Christian churches or the wider society, particularly within the faith-based organisations and church affiliated sectors.

▪ Instructors in theological institutions around the region.

▪ Leadership positions in ecumenical and faith-based organisations.

▪ Leadership positions in communities.

▪ Work in organisations such as NGOs with specific focus on leadership, justice, spirituality.

▪ Consultants in areas of the intersection of theology, spirituality, and social justice issues.

▪ First step towards ordination in some faith communities.

CODE

PGDIP – OVERVIEW OF COURSE IN PRACTICAL MINISTRY

CREDITS

SW400

Applied Research Skills (Core)

The first part of the course will concentrate on academic reading and writing of theological texts, and on critical thinking and is meant to create the foundation for postgraduate theological work on which individual courses in different disciplines can build. The second part of the course focuses on research skills and proposal writing.

30

UW401

Pasifika Hermeneutics: Why Context Matters (Core)

The course aims to develop a deep knowledge of students on the ‘art of relational interpretation’ that is Pasifika and home-grown. Hermeneutics is fundamental to the Pasifika decolonial agenda, especially the decolonisation of the mindset, and the development of Pasifika home-grown research frameworks. The course focuses on allowing the productive role of the student and his/her context to creatively reconstruct new and life-affirming meaning in the reception of texts (such as the Bible), art, dance, songs and poetry, culture, traditions, rituals, bodily language, etc, based on their particular life worlds and challenges. The first half will focus on exploring, discussing, and critically analysing the hermeneutical traditions of the West as well as contemporary approaches from other parts of the world. The second half focuses on developing Pasifika ‘whole of life’ communities-based hermeneutics, to assist with rethinking our understanding of God, faith, culture, development, education, research, and traditions. Thus, the course is transdisciplinary. The aim is to develop decolonial foundations to inform leadership for justice and to underpin the development of sustainable and resilient frameworks, models, and paradigms of life for the Pasifika churches, society, and academia.

30

 PM400

Ministry in a Social Context: Pasifika and Beyond

(Specialised)

At the outset of this study, students will critically review their call to experience and serve transformation. In turn, they will identify current social issues in their contexts, analyse the root causes and discover inter-connectedness in the light of structures, social values and personal biases. Concurrently, students will design and practice various tools, methods and phases in doing social analysis. They will build up their capacity and competency in leading people, utilising the ‘Pastoral Spiral’ and its various phases of Social Analysis, Faith Reflection and Taking Responsive and Strategic Action. They will acquaint with the issues on people’s agenda, experience of empowerment and approaches in devising strategies to promoting human rights and creating constructive changes in their communities. They will explore and examine the efforts of community organising in their own contexts, done by social movements including local churches and other organisations of collective life in the Pacific such as voluntary organisations, trade unions etc., towards liberation and transformation. Students will critically evaluate various models of social change and development aiming at transformation and sustainability. At the zenith of their study, students will seek possible partnership and network among those organisations in the Pacific, striving for holistic and sustainable development of people.

30

XX400

Choose one 400 course from another discipline

(eg BS400, TE400, HC400, EC400)

30

PM401

Theologies of Mission and Counselling

 (Specialised)

This course is devoted mostly to an exploration of the theology of mission and counselling with a focus on the biblical foundations for mission and context of cross-cultural ministry. The course examines biblical and theological presuppositions for Christian mission and integrate theological themes in and around the idea of mission and counselling. Through readings and discussions, students will look at the question of how theology of mission touches real life cross-cultural context and implications on Christian counselling today. Students will begin to gain competence in approaches to ministerial concerns, practices and form own theology of mission as a framework which will inform their emerging approach to Christian cross-cultural counselling as mission in the local Pasifika communities.

30

PM402

Methods in Christian Education

30

TOTAL

180