Australian College of Theology Diploma Subjects

Transcription

1 Australian College of Theology Diploma Subjects The formal subjects that Year 13 students study form part of the Diploma of Christian Studies which is awarded through the Australian College of Theology. The six subjects studied during the year are summarised below. If you would like further detail about the subjects offered, go to and take a look at the Undergraduate Handbook online. Audit Option For students who don t feel able to study at the Diploma level, you may choose the Audit Option. This means you attend all the teaching hours and are expected to submit the assignments (and sit the exam in Apologetics), however will not have the same pressure as you would if you were to hand assessments in for grading. It should be noted that Fee-Help is not available to Audit Students. PE211 Christian Apologetics (a) To assist candidates to begin the task of thinking through some of the issues raised by critics of Christian belief; (b) To introduce candidates to the knowledge and skills to develop intelligent defences of the truth claims of the Christian faith; (c) To help candidates form a coherent Christian world view in response to currents in Western thought. A study of issues raised for Christian faith by the wider sphere of secular knowledge, especially those aspects which seek to discredit religious belief. Section A: The Christian Faith and its bearing upon 1. History: divine control of history, teleology, human nature and destiny, uniqueness of the Christian revelation. 2. Nature: creation, providence, the concept of the ordered universe, human attitudes to nature. 3. Society: the Biblical structure of human relationships, family, sex, marriage, human life, mutual service; the principle of an eternal relationship with God as the goal of human life; the concept of accountability to God as the basis of human society. Section B: Attacks on the Christian Faith 4. Behavioural: Freudianism, Anthropological, Psychological, Sociological. 5. Philosophical: in relation to creation, miracles, scientific method, suffering. 6. Historical: the Enlightenment: the examination of attacks upon the historicity of Christ, the Resurrection, and the emergence of the church. Section C: Alternatives to the Christian Faith 7. Non-supernatural alternatives: Agnostic Humanism, Atheistic Existentialism, Marxism, Moralism, Scientism.

2 8. Supernatural alternatives: Occultism, Religious Relativism, Syncretism, Religious pluralism, New Age movements. Note: Sections A, B and C are weighted approximately equally. EM203 Biblical Theology of Mission (a) To introduce candidates to the idea of God as a missionary God, concerned for the salvation of the whole creation; (b) To provide candidates with an elementary understanding of the constant intention of God, throughout the period of biblical revelation, to redeem humanity and restore creation; (c) To assist candidates to begin to discern the divine intention and enablement for human co-operation in the universal purposes of God; (d) To provide opportunity for candidates to begin the task of integrating their study of the Scriptures, theology and personal understanding of vocation in mission. Section A: Old Testament Perspectives (50%) 1. God, Creation and the world; human sin and the effects of the fall. 2. The missiological significance of Babel and the Flood. 3. The Abrahamic covenant; God and Israel: election, covenant and responsibility. 4. Yahweh versus Baal; Israel and the nations; universal hope in the Psalms. 5. The missionary emphasis of the prophets; the Servant of the Lord. 6. The kingdom of God in the Old Testament; inter-testamental hopes, nationalistic and universal. Section B: New Testament Perspectives (50%) 7. The synoptic Gospels and the ministry of Jesus; the Kingdom of God and the ministry to Israel; the place of the gentiles; the missionary mandate. 8. The Gospel of John: the world and its need; the children of God; Abrahamic sonship; Jesus and his own as sent. 9. The Holy Spirit in the mission of the church; missionary principles in Acts; ethnic barriers and cross cultural mission. 10. The Pauline theology of mission: (a) Jew and Gentile in Christ; the new humanity and the renewal of creation. (b) The mission of the church and the powers; conflict, suffering and mission; (c) Mission and future hope; the consummation of all things in Christ. EM240 Cross Cultural Field Education A unit preparing candidates for cross-cultural mission exposure, with a view to enabling candidates to benefit from their field experience. Section A: Theoretical Study The unit should include input from people who have lived in the culture concerned, preferably from members of the culture, unless this is wholly impracticable.

3 Section B: Field Work An experience of ONE of the following situations: 1. A missionary trip of not less than four weeks residence in a culture other than the candidate s own. 2. Involvement of not less than 50 hours in some form of Christian work with people from a culture other than the candidate s own (eg an overseas student group, or a church or fellowship of an ethnic minority). In addition to the 50 contact hours, candidates are expected to spend at least another 20 hours in supervised reflection, at least 5 of these on an individual basis. These hours do not include preparation time (assumed to be approximately 100 hours). 3. Satisfactory completion of a period of not less than three months in some form of Christian work with people from a culture other than the candidate s own, to be certified by a senior missionary or equivalent person with whom the candidate has served. In each case, 1. The experience is to be approved by the candidate s college; 2. The candidate is to work under supervision of a person experienced in living in both the candidate s culture, and the culture in which the candidate is working in field experience; 3. At least 30 hours is to be spent in direct contact with people of the culture concerned, in active participation and communication, as well as observation; 4. The Candidate is to keep a daily diary listing comments made by the missionaries and personal observations; 5. The candidate is to develop a reading list and indicate this bibliography in the diary; 6. The candidate is to observe the ways of life of the people of the culture visited, and Christian ministries among them (both by nationals and others). PE211 Ethics and Contemporary Problems (d) To introduce candidates to the ethical teachings of the Old and New Testaments; (e) To enable candidates to develop an approach to some contemporary ethical questions; (f) To introduce candidates to ethical reasoning and decision making processes. Section A: Biblical Ethics 9. Using the Bible in ethics: methodological issues raised in moving from the Scriptures to ethical issues in the modern world; a brief survey of how they have been used in ethics. 10. The shape of Old Testament ethics: the framework of creation, sin, covenant, prophecy and wisdom; ethical themes in the Old Testament. 11. Ethics in the New Testament: the ethical teaching of Jesus and Paul (especially the themes of law and grace); the ethical teaching of other New Testament writers. Section B: Ethics in Context 12. An introduction to ethics as a discipline, its nature and function; the right and the good ; personal and social ethics (social structures, institutions, roles). 13. Types of ethical theories: obligation (deontological & teleological, act & rule, monistic & pluralistic); virtue (Traits, character, motivation, disposition). 14. Making decisions in Christian ethics: various approaches (including the place of conscience, natural law, imitation of Christ, divine command); the contextual nature of moral decisions; absolutes, rules, principles and middle axioms. Section C: Ethical Issues 15. Candidates choose two of the following areas for study: a. Sexual morality: fidelity, marriage and divorce, homosexuality

4 b. Race and colour, sexism, nationalism c. Wealth, poverty, debt, gambling 16. Abortion and euthanasia, bio-ethics Note: Sections A, B and C are weighted approximately 30%, 30% and 40% respectively. PC444 Practical Ministry Field Education Workload: (a) approximately 120 hours are to be spent in actual ministry, including active involvement in a variety of the organisation s operations; (b) approximately 60 hours are to be spent in preparation, and writing up verbatims and/or reports for supervisors; (c) approximately 20 hours are to be spent in reflection upon practical experience, at least 10 hours on an individual basis, with an approved supervisor. Such reflections should include comments from members of the organisation or congregation where the field work was undertaken. (a) To introduce candidates to the practical issues related to particular ministry settings. (b) To provide candidates an opportunity to work with supervision in a church or other ministry setting for an extended period. (c) To allow candidates to reflect on the ministry they observe with an experienced practitioner(s). (d) To allow candidates to reflect on their own ministry with an experienced practitioner(s). Section A: Theoretical Study 1. An introduction to the ministry issues pertaining to the context in which the Field Work will be undertaken. The precise details of the content should be outlined in advance why the individual colleges for their students. Section B: Field Work 2. The supervisory relationship; the supervisory session; learning covenant; evaluation; field committees. 3. A placement in a practical ministry situation, to include a minimum of 200 hours experience under supervision. Students may be placed in one of the following categories: EITHER (a) At least 120 hours cumulative experience in one non-congregation situation, such as an institutional or para-church ministry; OR (b) A period of continuous residence and ministry of not less than six weeks duration in an institutional or para-church situation; OR (c) A series of placements, in one or more settings, either congregational or non-congregational. Notes: (a) Section A of the unit should entail approximately class hours of tuition, at an introductory level only. (b) It is the responsibility of colleges to ensure that students supervisors are appropriate, and are competent in Field Education supervision.

5 PC446 Lay Ministries Field Education Introduction: This unit is intended to give the student involvement in lay ministries in church or other ministry settings though observation, participation and reflection related to major areas of individual and corporate ministries experienced and engaged in by Christians. (a) To provide candidates with the opportunity to be exposed to a range of ministries within a local congregation and in the wider community; (b) To enable candidates to reflect upon personal life and ministry from a Christian perspective. Unit Outline: A total of not less than 200 hours experience-based learning, including (a) Keeping a personal daily journal for at least 1 month, together with a written reflection upon the ministry experience of daily life during that time; (b) Observation and participation in some aspects of lay ministries undertaken in a local congregation, involving at least 50 hours active work by the candidate; and (c) Observation and participation in ministries in the wider community, which involve Christians (e.g. state school councils, homeless care, sports / leisure ministries, food co-operatives), involving not less than 50 hours active work by the candidate. In each case: (a) Appropriate supervised reflection, including written verbatims, is to be undertaken by the candidate, and voluntary support groups utilised to provide peer feedback and support; (b) Candidates are to identify and evaluate the support structures used; (c) Candidates are to identify ways in which personal relationships and community structures were related to the life of the local congregation concerned.