Professional Issues in Pastoral Ministry (DP3006Y)

Undergraduate, 18.0 points

Content

This unit explores a range of personal, professional, and ethical issues common to pastoral ministry, providing students with opportunities to engage in a reflexive process for reviewing their pastoral practice. The unit focusses on: personal calling and discernment; personal virtues, strengths and professional skills as key foundations to for ethical practice; professional ethics and ethical decision making; confidentiality; and keeping professional boundaries; power and trust issues; and potential areas of professional misconduct. Students will engage with evidence-based practice in ministry; the intersection of personal and professional outlooks in forming ministry practice; the significance of reflexive practice, professional consultation and supervision in maintaining a compassionate and just ministry; and the benefits of spiritual health and wellbeing for ministry practice.

Unit code: DP3006Y

Unit status: Approved (Major revision)

Points: 18.0

Unit level: Undergraduate Level 3

Unit discipline: Pastoral Theology and Ministry Studies

Delivery Mode: Blended

Proposing College: Yarra Theological Union

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Learning outcomes

1.

Compare and contrast key ethical approaches used within, and standards for, pastoral and spiritual care professions
2.

Analyse the theological grounds for professional ethical practice in pastoral and spiritual settings

3.

Evaluate ethical dilemmas in pastoral and spiritual settings
.
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Unit sequence

1x DP unit

Pedagogy

Synchronous and asynchronous lectures and tutorials

Indicative Bibliography

  • Anderson, Ray S. Spiritual Caregiving as Secular Sacrament: A Practical Theology for Professional Caregivers. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2003.
  • Carroll, Michael and Maria C. Gilbert. On Being a Supervisee: Creating Learning Partnerships. London: Vakuni Publishing, 2011.
  • Carroll, Michael and Elisabeth Shaw. Ethical Maturity in the Helping Professions: Making Difficult Life and Work Decisions. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2013.
  • Corey, Gerald, M. S. Corey and Patrick Callanan. Issues and Ethics in the Helping Professions. 9th ed. Sydney: Cengage Learning, 2014.
  • Davys, Allyson and Liz Beddoe. Best Practice in Professional Supervision: A Guide for the Helping Professions. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2010.
  • Estadt, Barry K., John R. Compton and Melvin Blanchette, eds. The Art of Clinical Supervision: A Pastoral Counseling Perspective. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 2005.
  • Fook, Jan and Fiona Gardner. Practising Critical Reflection: A Resource Handbook. Milton Keynes, UK: Open University Press, 2008.
  • Gula, Richard M. Just Ministry: Professional Ethics for Pastoral Ministers. New York: Paulist Press, 2010. (recommended for purchase)
  • Lynch, Gordon. Pastoral Care & Counselling. Ethics in Practice, edited by Tim Bond. London: Sage Publications, 2002.
  • Robinson, Simon. Spirituality, Ethics and Care. London: Jessica Kingsley, 2008.
  • Welfel, Elizabeth Reynolds. Ethics in Counseling & Psychotherapy: Standards, Research and Emerging Issues. 6th ed. Sydney: Cengage Learning, 2015.

Assessment

Type Description Word count Weight (%)

Variant 1

Portfolio 4500 100.0
Approvals

Unit approved for the University of Divinity by Prof Albert Haddad on 25 Jun, 2026

Unit record last updated: 2026-06-25 11:34:33 +1000