Units timetabled for 2013 and 2014 are provisional only, and details of semester and time will change. The official timetable for each year is released on 1 September of the prior year.

Archived unit descriptions for 2011 are available here.

Foundations of Worship, Preaching and Pastoral Care

Unit Code: 
DP180
RTI: 
United Faculty of Theology
Unit Value: 
15 points

This unit explores the theological foundations of the practice of ministry with a focus on the interconnected themes of worship, preaching and pastoral care. The exploration will take place through exposure to basic texts and to diverse contemporary contexts, enabling students to integrate ministry experience and classroom learning. Particular attention will be given to an understanding of the Trinity as the cornerstone of all Christian ministry while themes to be considered will include the place of Scripture, the seasons of the church year, worship in the ecumenical movement, and the contemporary changes and challenges in each of worship, preaching and pastoral care.

Learning Outcomes: 

Upon successful completion of this unit, it is expected that students will be able to:

  1. Identify theological foundations which inform the meaning of Christian worship, the place of preaching within worship, and the foundations of pastoral care
  2. Demonstrate a basic understanding of recent scholarship in liturgical studies, homiletics, and pastoral theology
  3. Reflect critically in written and oral forms on particular instances of worship and preaching and pastoral encounters.
Lecturer/s: 
Randall Prior
Timetabling
Semester: 
Semester 1
Day: 
Friday
Time: 
10 - 1
Location: 
Centre for Theology and Ministry
Unit Frequency: 
Annual
Years Offered: 
2012
Years Offered: 
2013
Years Offered: 
2014
Unit Fields
Courses: 
Advanced Diploma in Theology
Courses: 
Bachelor of Theology
Courses: 
Diploma in Theology
Courses: 
Bachelor of Ministry
Field: 
Field D Theology: Mission and Ministry
Disciplines: 
Pastoral Theology and Ministry Studies
Department Name: 
Department of Moral and Practical Theology
Unit Level
Undergraduate Level: 
1
Prerequisites: 

none

Corequisites: 

none

Prohibited Combinations: 

none

Mode of Teaching: 
Semester
Teaching Methods: 

Lectures and small group work

Workload
Number of timetabled hours per week: 
3
Expected personal study hours per week: 
6
Total workload hours per week: 
9
Total workload hours for unit: 
108
Assessment
Assessment TypeWeightingLearning Outcomes Assessed
Assessment Type: 

1 x 1000 word essay on how theological foundations inform worship, preaching and pastoral care

Weighting: 
25%
Learning Outcomes Assessed: 
1, 2, 3
Assessment Type: 

1 x 20 minute class presentation (in the presence of two examiners)

Weighting: 
25%
Learning Outcomes Assessed: 
1, 2, 3
Assessment Type: 

1 x 1500 word reflective essay on the class presentation

Weighting: 
25%
Learning Outcomes Assessed: 
1, 2, 3
Assessment Type: 

1 x weekly journal (equivalent to 1500 words)

Weighting: 
25%
Learning Outcomes Assessed: 
1, 2, 3
Recommended reading: 

* = set texts recommended for purchase

  • Bradshaw, P. (ed.) The New SCM/Westminster Dictionary of Liturgy and Worship. London: SCM / Westminster 2002.
  • Childers, Jana (ed.) Purposes of Preaching. St Louis: Chalice Press, 2004.
  • Consultation on Common Texts. The Revised Common Lectionary. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1992.
  • Driver, T. The Magic of Ritual: Our Need for Liberating Rites that Transform our Lives and Communities. San Francisco: Harper, 1991.
  • Gerkin, C. An Introduction to Pastoral Care. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1997.
  • Green, R. Only Connect: Worship and Liturgy from the Perspective of Pastoral Care. London: DLT, 1987
  • Lartey, E. Pastoral Theology in an Intercultural World. Peterborough: Epworth Press, 2006.
  • Long, T. The Witness of Preaching. Louisville: Westminster John Knox,1989.
  • Pasquerello, M. Christian Preaching: A Trinitarian Theology of Proclamation. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2006.
  • Patton, J. Pastoral Care: An Essential Guide. Nashville: Abingdon, 2005.
  • Pembroke, N. Renewing Pastoral Practice: Trinitarian Perspectives on Pastoral Care and Counselling. Aldershot: Ashgate, 2006.
  • Pembroke, N. Pastoral Care in Worship: Liturgy and Psychology in Dialogue. London: T & T Clark International, 2010.
  • Ramshaw, E. Ritual and Pastoral Care. (Philadelphia: Fortress, 1987)
  • Van Deusen Hunsinger, D. Pray Without Ceasing: Revitalizing Pastoral Care. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2006.
  • Webber, R. Planning Blended Worship. Nashville: Abingdon, 1998.
  • Willimon, W. H. and Lischer, R. (eds.) Concise Encyclopedia of Preaching. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1995.
  • Willimon, W. Worship as Pastoral Care. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1979.
  • Wilson, P. Preaching and Homiletical Theory. St Louis: Chalice Press, 2004.
  • Woodward, J. and S. Pattison. The Blackwell Reader in Pastoral and Practical Theology. Oxford: Blackwell, 2000.

© United Faculty of Theology, 2008-2012.