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.

The Practice of Ministry: Worship, Preaching and Pastoral Care

Unit Code: 
DP280
RTI: 
United Faculty of Theology
Unit Value: 
15 points

This unit will develop participants’ capabilities in ministry practice with particular attention being given to worship, preaching and pastoral care. One primary focus will be on preparing liturgies and preaching for particular services of worship and their role in pastoral ministry. The integration of worship, preaching and pastoral care will be examined in liturgical contexts including eucharist, baptism, marriage, funeral and other occasional services such as prayer, healing and reconciliation. Attention will be given to the significance of ritual, text, environment, music, symbols, and their pastoral function.

Learning Outcomes: 

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

  1. Articulate interconnections between worship, preaching and pastoral context.
  2. Demonstrate competence in the leadership of worship and in preaching and relationship to context.
  3. Reflect critically on selected ritual occasions in terms of worship leadership, preaching and pastoral import.
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: 
2
Prerequisites: 

DP180 or equivalent

Corequisites: 

Normally, students doing this unit will have regular opportunity to lead worship, to preach and to be involved in pastoral care in a ministry context or placement.

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: 

A weekly journal equivalent to 1500 words

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

1 x 1500 word critical essay

Weighting: 
30%
Learning Outcomes Assessed: 
1, 3
Assessment Type: 

Leadership of an occasion of public worship, assessed by two examiners

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

A 1000 word paper reflecting on the liturgical competence and contextual relevance of the above occasion of worship leadership

Weighting: 
20%
Learning Outcomes Assessed: 
1, 2, 3
Recommended reading: 

* = set texts recommended for purchase

  • Allen, R. J. Preaching and Practical Ministry. St Louis: Chalice, 2001.
  • Chauvet, L. and M. Tomka. Illness and Healing. Maryknoll: Orbis, 1998.
  • Childers, Jana. Birthing the Sermon: Women Preachers on the Creative Process. St. Louis: Chalice Press, 2001.
  • Consultation on Common Texts. The Revised Common Lectionary. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1992.
  • Davies, D. Death, Ritual and Belief. London: Cassell, 1997.
  • Kelly, E. Meaningful Funerals: Meeting the Theological and Pastoral Challenge in a Postmodern Era. London: Mowbray, 2008.
  • Long, T. G. Accompany Them with Singing: The Christian Funeral. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2009.
  • Long, T. G. The Witness of Preaching. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1989.
  • Sheppy, P. Death Liturgy and Ritual. 2 vols. Aldershot: Ashgate: 2004.
  • Smith, M. Facing Death Together: Parish Funerals. Chicago: Liturgy Training Publications, 1998.
  • Stevenson, K. W. To Join Together: The Rite of Marriage. New York: Pueblo, 1987.
  • Troeger, T. Ten Strategies for Preaching in a Multi-Media Culture. St. Louis: Chalice, 2003.
  • Turner, V. The Ritual Process. New York: Cornell University Press, 1987.
  • Webber, Robert E. Planning Blended Worship. Nashville: Abingdon, 1998.
  • Willimon, W. H. and R. Lischer (eds). Concise Encyclopedia of Preaching. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1995.

© United Faculty of Theology, 2008-2012.