Students in this unit will explore the principles and practice of church law in the Anglican Church of Australia, with particular reference to the law’s implications for church governance at the national, diocesan and parish levels.
Unit code: DC9000T
Unit status: Approved (New unit)
Points: 24.0
Unit level: Postgraduate Elective
Unit discipline: Canon Law
Proposing College: Trinity College Theological School
Show when this unit is running| 1. | Explain the theological concepts upon which church law is based. |
| 2. | Describe the adoption of English canon law into the Anglican Church of Australia and its subsequent development at national and diocesan levels. |
| 3. | Critically evaluate the existing body of Anglican church law in Australia at national and diocesan levels, in particular as it relates to: the governance of dioceses ; the governance of parishes; the conduct of worship: the maintenance of professional standards; and the status, role, responsibilities and discipline of the clergy |
| 4. | Apply church law to one or more chosen fact situations and develop a detailed proposal for the development or reform of the applicable church law |
No prerequisites. Experience in parish ministry desired.
The unit will be taught in seminars held in two 3 day intensive sessions. Students will be required to engage actively in discussion and identification of issues, drawing on their own experiences.
The Anglican Church of Australia The Constitution, Canons and Rules of General Synod, 2014
The Anglican Church of Australia The Constitution of the Anglican Church of Australia and General Synod canons: https://www.anglican.org.au/constitution and https://www.anglican.org.au/canons-and-rules
Avis, Paul D. L The Anglican Understanding of the Church, SPCK Publishing, 2000
Billings, Bradly S The Parish Council Handbook, Anglican Diocese of Melbourne, 2017
Billings, Bradly S. A Pastoral Handbook for Anglicans: Guidelines and Resources for Pastoral Ministry, Broughton Publishing, Sydney, 2018
Briden, Timothy (ed.) Moore’s Introduction to English Canon Law, 4th ed., Bloomsbury Publishing, 2013
Church of England 1603/04 Canons of the Church of England
Davis, John Australian Anglicans and their Constitution, Acorn Press Canberra, 1993
Hardy, Daniel ‘Goodness in History: Law, Religion and Christian Faith’; ‘Developing Anglican Polity’ and ‘Dimensions of Anglican Polity’ in idem., Finding the Church, London: SCM Press, 2001
Hooker Richard The Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity, 1594-97
| Type | Description | Word count | Weight (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Case Study | 2000 | 30.0 | |
| Critical Review | 2000 | 30.0 | |
| Essay | 3000 | 40.0 |
Unit approved for the University of Divinity by Maggie Kappelhoff on 6 Oct, 2020
Unit record last updated: 2020-10-06 15:14:20 +1100