Life Abundantly in Christ: An Introduction to Pastoral Theology and Pastoral Psychology for Ministry Practice. (DP8600P)

Content

In this unit of study you will explore the important connections between the Christian vision of the human person and the pastoral practices required to ensure the provision of this vision. This will include examining the skill of attending (listening) and practical ways of engaging in it that support and uphold God’s vision for the human person

Learning outcomes

Unit sequence

Designed to be a pre-requisite unit to: DP9650P The Sacred Stories of Divine Dignity: Narrative Approaches to Healing for Ministry & DP9660P Preventing Harm in the Name of Jesus: Reflective Practice in Supervision

Pedagogy

In order to address current grave concerns in pastoral practice and supervision in church settings, the learning and teaching strategy utilized in this unit draws extensively upon nearly 500 years of Jesuit educational philosophy and practice found in the Ignatian Pedagogical Paradigm (IPP).

The IPP understands learning and teaching as sequenced in exploration of context, experience, reflection, action, and evaluation. This process enables students’ readiness to engage in a learning process that is transformative of the whole person, mind and heart. The learning process that the IPP facilitates draws on the Christian view of the human person in its structure and content, for example, by emphasising the students’ dignity and creative contribution to the experience of learning. The vision of the IPP presupposes that learner and teacher enter into a mutual and reciprocal relationship whereby each searches for the insight of the other and in the service of shared learning.

The unit utilizes this strategy because it specifically offers a model of adult-learning that recognizes, supports, respects, and develops the wealth of experience and knowledge that students bring to this unit. This strategy aims at facilitating students’ appropriation of unit content in relation to their own learning needs and personal growth. As a result, this strategy generates readiness for personal transformation and meaningful professional impact

Indicative Bibliography

• Geldard, D., & K. Geldard. Basic Personal Counselling: A Training Manual for Counsellors. 4th ed. Sydney: Pearson Education Australia, 2001.
• Gorringe, T. J. Discerning Spirit: A Theology of Revelation. London: SCM Press, 1990 (Chapter 3: “The Criterion”)
• Groome, Thomas H., What Makes Us Catholic? Eight Gifts for Life. Pymble, NSW: HarperCollins ebooks, 2007.
• Harré, R. and L. Van Langenhove (eds.). Positioning Theory. Oxford: Blackwell Press, 1999.
• Hewson, D. & Carroll, M. Reflective Practice in Supervision. Hazelbrook, NSW: Moshpit IndiPublishers, 2016.
• Hill, C. Helping Skills: Facilitating Exploration, Insight, and Action. Washington: American Psychological Association, 2009.
• Morgan, Alice. What is narrative therapy? An easy-to-read introduction. Adelaide: Dulwich Centre Publications, 2000.
• O’Collins, G. Christology; A Biblical, Historical, and Systematic Study of Jesus. 2nd Ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009.
• Sachs, John R. The Christian Vision of Humanity: Basic Christian Anthropology. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 1991.
• Taylor D., Tell me a Story: The Life-Shaping Power of Our Stories. St Paul: Bog Walk Press, 2001.

Assessment