UMS : Unit: DR9011C

Content

This unit introduces learners to the theological foundations, empirical frameworks, and pedagogical perspectives of the Enhancing Catholic School Identity (ECSI) approach to the mission of church schools. A survey of relevant demographic and cultural trends in Australia will help to identify key factors affecting the transmission of religious identification and personal faith formation. In this context, the key insights of Vatican II’s theology of revelation, faith, and the person in relation to God and others will be explored. The empirical-theoretical instruments offered by the ECSI resources will be critically engaged with as a valuable tool for Catholic communities to respond intentionally and strategically to the challenges of faith formation in our context. We will examine the hermeneutical pedagogies and learning encounters called for by the revelatory dialogue with humanity initiated by God in and through the church in its missional agencies, and most clearly manifested in the person and ministry of Jesus Christ.

Unit code: DR9011C

Unit status: Archived (Major revision)

Points: 24.0

Unit level: Postgraduate Elective

Unit discipline: Religious Education

Delivery Mode: Face to Face

Proposing College: Catholic Theological College

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Learning outcomes

1.	Describe the current Australian cultural and demographic context and its implications for the transmission of religious faith and the tasks of evangelisation;
2.	Articulate and assess various options open to Catholic schools and communities to enhance and strengthen their institutional identity in the contemporary Australian context;
3.	Demonstrate skills and knowledge to accurately read and effectively interpret data produced through the ECSI survey instruments used by schools and parishes;
4.	Communicate through independently researched academic writing a sound understanding of the theological and pedagogical underpinnings of the ECSI approach to religious identification and faith formation.

Unit sequence

Foundational studies equivalent to BS8600C and CT8600C

Pedagogy

Lectures, individual and group learning activities, seminars

Indicative Bibliography

Arkubckle, Gerald. Intentional Faith Communities in Catholic Education: Challenge and Response. Educating Hearts 1. Strathfield: St Pauls, 2016.
Boeve, Lieven. God Interrupts History: Theology in a Time of Upheaval New York: Continuum, 2007.
D'Orsa, Jim, and Therese D'Orsa, Explorers, Guides and Meaning-Makers: Mission Theology for Catholic Educators. Mulgrave: Garrett Publishing, 2010.
Dumais, Marcel. After Emmaus: Biblical Models for the New Evangelization. Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 2014.
Hughes, Philip. Putting Life Together: Findings from Australian Youth Spirituality Research. Produced by the Christian Research Association. Fairfield: Fairfield Press, 2007.
Lombaerts, Herman and Didier Pollefeyt, eds. Hermeneutics and Religious Education. BETL 180. Leuven: Peeters, 2004.
Pollefeyt, Didier and Jan Bouwens. Identity in Dialogue: Assessing and Enhancing Catholic School Identity: Research Methodology and Research Results in Catholic Schools in Victoria, Australia. Berlin: LIT Verlag, 2014.
Rausch, Thomas P. *This is Our Faith: An Introduction to Catholicism. New York: Paulist Press, 2014.
Sharkey, Paul. *Educators Guide to Catholic Identity. Mulgrave: Vaughan Publishing, 2015.

Assessment

Type	Description	Word count	Weight (%)
Portfolio	2500 word directed reflection portfolio	2500	30.0
Report	1500 word report on pre-reading	1500	20.0
Essay	3500 word essay	3500	50.0

Approvals

Unit approved for the University of Divinity by John Capper on 20 Jul, 2015

Unit record last updated: 2021-06-07 08:43:49 +1000