Reflective Practice for Vocational Formation (DP9147B)

Postgraduate, 24.0 points

Content

This is a Supervised Theological Field Education unit that introduces students to an action-reflection model of learning in the context of an approved ministry placement or workplace. Students will reflect on their engagement in a range of experiences to learn more about the skills and competencies required for ministry, and to discover individual core values and vocational identity. As part of this process, students will set and pursue personal goals for ministry practice and spiritual formation. Professional ministry standards including the safeguarding of children and vulnerable people underpin this unit.

Unit code: DP9147B

Unit status: Approved (Major revision)

Points: 24.0

Unit level: Postgraduate Elective

Unit discipline: Pastoral Theology and Ministry Studies

Delivery Mode: Practicum

Proposing College: Eva Burrows College

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Learning outcomes

1.

Critically reflect theologically on ministry practice and ministry context.
2.

Demonstrate intentionality in ministry by developing, working towards and evaluating achievement of goals for ministry practice, set within a ministry context.
3.

Critically reflect on the contributions from the ministry context and pastoral supervision to personal and vocational identity formation.
4.

Document evidence of learning about self and ministry arising from the ministry context.
5.

Integrate theological reading into reflection on the ministry context.
6.

Demonstrate an integrated understanding of child safeguarding and professional ministry standards.

Unit sequence

UD Code of Conduct, Safeguarding Module and Prerequiste units: 24 points Field B, 24 points Field C

Pedagogy

Learning is achieved through action-reflection on assigned placement experiences and observations, as well as individual supervision.

180 engagement hours is made up of 144 hours placement, 6 hours individual supervision, 18 hours placement review and peer feedback, and 12 hours planning/prep/classroom.

Indicative Bibliography

  • Bassot, Barbara. The Reflective Practice Guide: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Critical Reflection. 2nd ed. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge, 2023. (book)
  • Broughton, Geoff. A Practical Christology for Pastoral Supervision. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge, 2021. (book/ebook)
  • Carroll, Michael, and Maria C. Gilbert. On Being a Supervisee: Creating Learning Partnerships. 2nd ed. Melbourne: Psychoz Publications, 2011. (book)
  • Cameron, Helen, John Reader, Victoria Slater, and Christopher Rowland. Theological Reflection for Human Flourishing: Pastoral Practice and Public Theology. London: SCM Press, 2012. (book/ebook)
  • Kincaid, William B. Finding Voice: How Theological Field Education Shapes Pastoral Identity. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 2012. (book/ebook)
  • Lizardy-Hajbi, Kristina, and Matthew Floding., eds. Explore : Vocational Discovery in Ministry. Explorations in Theological Field Education. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2021. (book/ebook)
  • Miller-McLemore, Bonnie J. Follow Your Bliss and Other Lies About Calling. New York: Oxford University Press, 2024. (book/ebook)
  • Palmer, Parker J. Let Your Life Speak: Listening to the voice of Vocation. 25th anniversary edition with new introduction. Hoboken, NJ: Jossey-Bass, 2024. (ebook)
  • Thompson, Judith with Stephen Pattison and Ross Thompson. SCM Study Guide: Theological Reflection. 2nd ed. London: SCM Press, 2018. (book/ebook)
  • Trist, Richard., ed. Ministry in Context. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 2023. (book/ebook)

Assessment

Type Description Word count Weight (%)

Variant 1

Audio recording or Podcast - Safeguarding 800 10.0
Case Study - Case Study 2300 30.0
Essay - Integrative Essay (Vocational Identity) 2300 30.0
Workplace evaluation - Skill Demonstration & Project Report or Project Journal 2300 30.0

Variant 2

Article (for Newspaper, e.g. letter to the editor) - Safeguarding newspaper, magazine article or blog post 800 10.0
Case Study - Case Study 2300 30.0
Oral Presentation - Vocational Identity 2000 30.0
Workplace evaluation - Skill Demonstration & Project Report or Project Journal 2300 30.0

Variant 3

Audio recording or Podcast - Safeguarding 800 10.0
Case Study - Case Study 2300 30.0
Autobiographical exercise - Vocational Identity 2300 30.0
Workplace evaluation - Skill Demonstration & Project Report or Project Journal 2300 30.0
Approvals

Unit approved for the University of Divinity by Prof Albert Haddad on 29 Aug, 2025

Unit record last updated: 2025-08-29 11:44:45 +1000