Unit rationale, description and aim
Successfully reading of parish culture is essential in order for pastoral ministers to respond most fully to the call of God’s mission. By equipping students to undertake a collaborative observational study and values analysis of a parish, students learn how to access and understand the specific cultural dynamics that shape the life of their local congregation. This unit seeks to intentionally ground an academic approach to theology, with a strong focus on the nexus of theory and practice. Similarly, this unit is directed towards the student’s development of a confident and respectful enquiring stance towards parish life, its history and its future.
Campus offering
No unit offerings are currently available for this unitLearning outcomes
To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.
Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.
Explore the graduate capabilities.
Articulate frameworks for exploring a parish or or...
Learning Outcome 01
Integrate theological, ecclesial, and psycho-socia...
Learning Outcome 02
Appraise a parish culture in light of the Missio D...
Learning Outcome 03
Content
Topics will include:
- Interpretive and Interdisciplinary frameworks for exploring the multiple layers of parish culture (literary, organisational, theological and ecclesial)
- Theological anthropology and psycho-social considerations in exploring parish culture
- Ethical requirements related to fieldwork and the conduct of social research.
- Theoretical approaches to fieldwork in a ministry setting (methods, planning & practice)
- Missiological analyses: identifying opportunities for mission and ministry in a parish setting
- Theological reflection and integration of adult learning practices
Assessment strategy and rationale
A range of assessment procedures will be used to meet the unit learning outcomes and develop graduate attributes consistent with University assessment requirements. Such procedures may include, but are not limited to: essays, reports, examinations, student presentations, case studies and online interactive student performance tasks.
Assessment Task 1 is a short preparatory task that prepares the student to focus on the particularity of the parish culture they will be studying.
Assessment Task 2 enables students to prepare a collaborative study and analysis of parish culture, including source documents and criteria to frame the study, and demonstrate an applied appreciation of the ethical dimensions of social research.
Assessment Task 3 enables students to employ and apply theoretical analysis to demonstrate their knowledge of theoretical and practical issues and develop appropriately evidenced organisational solutions.
Overview of assessments
Assessment Task 1: Short Written Paper Eg.: Stud...
Assessment Task 1: Short Written Paper
Eg.: Students will present a brief observational study of the parish they are going to work in and with.
10%
Assessment Task 2: Oral or written Project Eg. P...
Assessment Task 2: Oral or written Project
Eg. Project Proposal: Parish Culture Observational Study and Values Analysis
Students are to prepare a project proposal for their anticipated parish culture observational study. The proposal should: outline the students’ own learning goals, the goals of the study scope and methods of the analysis, key texts and resources for the shaping of the project, including its criteria for evaluation, as well as and time frame for conducting the audit.
40%
Assessment Task 3: Written task Eg. Missiologica...
Assessment Task 3: Written task
Eg. Missiological Reflection: Pastoral Planning in Response to Study and Analysis Findings:
In this task students will articulate a contextual theology of the mission based on the findings of their field work (Task 2). The missiological reflection should offer evidence-based identification of possible openings for ministry, as well as suggesting a corresponding pastoral plan which emerges in light of the theology of the Missio Dei.
50%
Learning and teaching strategy and rationale
This unit involves 150 hours of focused learning. The total includes formally structured learning activities such as lectures, tutorials, online learning, video-conferencing, or supervision. The remaining hours typically involve reading, research, and the preparation of tasks for assessment.
Adult learning theory frames this unit’s exploration of the collaborative ministry between pastoral ministers, members of particular faith communities and clergy in the exploration of their placement cultures. In particular, transformative learning theory informs the units’ approach to learning about ecclesial cultures as an attitude or orientation to ministry, as well while guiding the development of appropriate pastoral ministry tools for pastoral planning.