Theology and Practice of Pastoral Care (DP8500T)

Postgraduate, 24.0 points

Content

Students in this unit will explore the relationships between theology, pastoral practice, spiritual care, and context. A key focus is to help students develop a reflective capacity in pastoral ministry that is grounded in the Christian tradition, and in particular Christian theology of the human person. Consideration will be given to such matters as: the distinctiveness of ‘pastoral’ care; the roles of prayer, scripture and Christian spirituality in pastoral care; attention to the socio-economic and cultural setting of pastoral care; the impact of emerging technologies on pastoral practice; and differences between various traditions of pastoral theology. Scope will be given for students to explore a range of contextual issues and questions in pastoral ministry.

Unit code: DP8500T

Unit status: Approved (Major revision)

Points: 24.0

Unit level: Postgraduate Foundational

Unit discipline: Pastoral Theology and Ministry Studies

Proposing College: Trinity College Theological School

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Learning outcomes

1.

Demonstrate an understanding of biblical and theological foundations of pastoral and spiritual care
2.

Articulate integrative connections between pastoral practice, theology, and context
3.

Reflectively engage in the task of integrating theology and pastoral practice
4.

Critically evaluate various models of pastoral and spiritual care in the light of pastoral practice
5.

Evaluate a ministry with respect to its integration of theology with pastoral practice

Pedagogy

Lectures, seminars, case studies, reflective practice

Indicative Bibliography

  • Allain-Chapman, J. Resilient Pastors: The Role of Adversity in Healing and Growth. SPCK, 2012.
  • Burns, S. Pastoral Theology for Public Ministry. Church Publishing, 2015.
  • Carr, W. The Pastor as Theologian: The Formation of Today’s Ministry in Light of the Human Sciences. SPCK, [2] 2008.
  • Doehring, C. The Practice of Pastoral Care: A Postmodern Approach. John Knox Press, 2015.
  • Dykstra, R., ed. Images of Pastoral Care: Classic Readings. Chalice Press, 2004.
  • Graham, E. Words Made Flesh: Essays in Pastoral and Practical Theology. SCM Press, 2009
  • Gula, R.M. Just Ministry: Professional Ethics for Pastoral Ministers. Paulist Press, 2006.
  • Kujawa-Holbrook, S. and K. Montagno, eds. Injustice and the Care of Souls: Taking Oppression Seriously in Pastoral Care. ortress Press, 2010.
  • Lartey, E.Y. Pastoral Theology in an Intercultural World. Epworth Press, 2006.
  • McGarrah Sharp, Melinda A. Creating Resistances: Pastoral Care in a Postcolonial World. Brill, 2020.
  • Miller-McLemore, B., ed. Companion to Practical Theology. Wiley-Blackwell, 2012.
  • Pattison, S. The Challenge of Practical Theology. Jessica Kingsley, 2007.
  • Pembroke, N. Trinitarian Perspectives on Pastoral Care and Counselling. Ashgate, .2006
  • Ramsey, N., ed. Pastoral Care and Counseling: Redefining the Paradigms. Abingdon Press, 2005.
  • Woodward, J. & Pattison, S. The Blackwell Reader in Pastoral and Practical Theology. Blackwell, 2000

Assessment

Type Description Word count Weight (%)
Book Review

Book review of a specified text

 1500 10.0
Case Study

A presentation on a pastoral encounter which may take the form of a verbatim, case study or critical incident

 1500 25.0
Case Study

A presentation on a pastoral encounter which may take the form of a verbatim, case study or critical incident

 1500 25.0
Essay

Research essay on a specified or an agreed topic

 2000 40.0
Approvals

Unit approved for the University of Divinity by Naomi Wolfe on 18 Sep, 2026

Unit record last updated: 2026-09-18 08:26:54 +1000