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| Unit name |
Church Placement (Trinity & Baptist College) |
| Unit code |
THRS30134 |
| Credit points |
10 |
| Level of study |
H/6
|
| Teaching block(s) |
Academic Year (weeks 1 - 52)
|
| Unit director |
Reverend. Bill MacDougall |
| Open unit status |
Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
None |
| Co-requisites |
None |
| School/department |
Department of Religion and Theology |
| Faculty |
Faculty of Arts |
Description including Unit Aims
This unit comprises a 4-week placement in a church. The student will attend the placement under the direction of the supervisor. S/he will keep a diary, observing what occurs, noting issues, and recording reactions. This will form the basis of supervisory discussion. Theological and social issues that arise will be recorded in the diary.
The unit aims to:
- to give an in-depth experience of church and community life that will offer a different model from the one brought by the student from the home church.
- encourage thoughtful reflection upon that experience in relation to theology, faith and mission;
- contribute towards the student’s development as a reflective practitioner.
Intended Learning Outcomes
On completion of the unit students should:
- have critically engaged in a wide variety of experiences that prepare her/him for church ministry;
- be able to articulate and evaluate styles of leadership and ministry and to demonstrate the appropriateness and effectiveness of using different styles in a range of circumstances;
- be able to demonstrated the ability to set goals and manage time effectively alongside the maintenance of personal spiritual life;
- have encountered and reflected critically upon the conflicting demands of people care and task achievement, and gained insight into diocesan/association, deanery/local church, and ecumenical matters;
- be a competent theological reflector, demonstrating a reflective habit of integrating theory and practice;
- have evaluated the placement in the light of regional and social factors;
- have been encouraged and nurtured in their vocational objective, demonstrating an ability to communicate this sensitively and persuasively.
Teaching Information
The placement lasts for four weeks with Sunday visits in preparation and involves observation and working alongside the supervisor. The student will be involved fully in the life of the church e.g. preaching, leading worship, hospital visiting etc. It is hoped that during the placement the student progresses from shadowing and observing, to taking initiatives and action.
Assessment Information
Formative assessment will be carried out by the supervisor in consultation with the visiting tutor, who will observe and report on the student's participation and performance in the learning opportunities offered by the placement. In addition, the student will write a diary of 1,500 words.
Summative assessment will be through a theological reflection on an aspect of the placement, in the form of a long essay (3,000 words, see attached marking scheme).
Reading and References
- Badcock G.D., The Way of Life (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1998).
- Ballard P and Pritchard J., Pastoral Theology in Action (London: SPCK, 2006).
- Graham E., Transforming Practice (London: Mowbray, 1996).
- Green L., Let’s Do Theology (London: Mowbray, 1990)
- Leech K., Through our Long Exile: Contextual Theology and the Urban Experience (London:DLT, 2001)
- Woodward J and Pattison S. (eds) The Blackwell Reader in Pastoral and Practical Theology(Oxford: Blackwell, 1999).
