Unit rationale, description and aim
This unit focuses on the missionary dimension of leadership, particularly in Catholic theology and practice. In this unit the cohort will explore how mission is fundamental to the identity, nature and purpose of the Christian church, from theological and ecclesiological perspectives. It will also study the tools and principles of Catholic Social Teaching and their implications for leadership from socio-ethical and theological and pastoral perspectives.
In this way, the unit will ground students in the sources, key themes and principles of the pastoral mission of the Church and their implications for the exercise of leadership in the Church and in the world today. The unit serves as a practical application of the contemporary modes of theological method and hermeneutical reflection engaged throughout the course, and the unit itself, by helping the students construct a credo of leadership from a missiological perspective.
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 an understanding of mission, ministry a...
Learning Outcome 01
Apply an integrated vision of ministry, ecclesiolo...
Learning Outcome 02
Creatively construct and present a credo of minist...
Learning Outcome 03
Content
Topics will include:
- Social justice and its basis in the Bible and Tradition
- Missionary nature and role of the Church as People of God
- Church’s Stance Toward the World (Church documents)
- Defining and understanding Catholic Social Teaching
- Methods, sources and documents of modern Catholic Social Teaching
- Catholic Social Teaching and the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference
- The “signs of the times” and the role of (social) discernment in leadership as mission
- Social Research Methods in the Discernment of Community Needs, including data gathered by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference’s Pastoral Research Office and the National Church Life Survey.
- Social sin, charity and justice in Catholic Social Teaching vis-à-vis ethical and transformational leadership
- Leadership and the prophetic imagination
- Key themes and principles of Catholic Social Teaching vis-à-vis vulnerability, relationality, community and servant-leadership
- Pope Francis and the principle of mercy
- Key CST documents relevant to missionary theology and practice in contemporary times, e.g. Evangelii Gaudium
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 and taking into account the role of the unit as the last unit for an area of specialisation. Such procedures may include, but are not limited to, essay and critically-reflective presentation. These assessment strategies were chosen because they are the strategies that are most relevant and appropriate to the assessment of students’ learning in the unit.
Assessment 1 asks the student to articulate the foundations of their approach to ministry and leadership, as the first stage of adult learning in a specific field.
Assessment 2 enables the student to integrate current contextual challenges to ministry and leadership with theological foundations and principles of Catholic Social Teaching.
Assessment 3 allows the student to demonstrate and build upon their learning in the unit by creating a resource presenting an integrated and theologically grounded vision of leadership for ministry.
Overview of assessments
Written Reflection Eg: Forum post articulating ...
Written Reflection
Eg: Forum post articulating an understanding of justice in the Bible and Tradition based on an online introductory module.
10%
Written Paper Eg.: Essay engaging a challenge to...
Written Paper
Eg.: Essay engaging a challenge to the exercise of leadership in contemporary times using key theological sources and themes of CST
40%
2000 words
Creative Task Eg.: Kaltura media presentation on ...
Creative Task
Eg.: Kaltura media presentation on a credo of leadership as mission, that integrates relevant content and learning in the course and the unit itself.
50%
10 minutes
Learning and teaching strategy and rationale
This unit involves 150 hours of focused learning. The total includes formally structured learning activities such as online sessions, residential lectures, and online learning, particularly through the Forum and learning materials in the Canvas page for the unit. The remaining hours involve research, reading, writing, and other preparatory tasks for assessment such as consultations with the lecturer-in-charge. These learning and teaching strategies were chosen because they are the strategies that are most relevant and appropriate to the delivery of the unit.
THMM509 emphasises that students are recognised as adult learners who engage best when what they are learning is relevant to them and gives them the opportunity to be responsible for their own learning. In many ways, the student is the one who drives the learning forward, and their active participation in this unit is essential. Learning is designed to be an engaging and supportive experience, which helps students to develop critical thinking and reflection skills. In particular, transformative learning theory informs the unit’s approach to learning about ecclesial cultures as an attitude or orientation to ministry, while guiding the development of appropriate pastoral ministry tools for pastoral planning.