Professional Issues in Pastoral Ministry (DP3006Y)

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.

Learning outcomes

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