Pastoral Care: Communal Response

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

Undergraduate

1. Identify life-cycle transitions and disruptions common in contemporary Australian society.
2. Evaluate the theological themes that shape pastoral responses to these experiences
3. Develop theological and practical responses to these experiences, particularly with regard to the pastoral and communal experiences of infant dedications, weddings, funerals, baptism and communion.
4. Examine the pastoral rituals of the church within the context of the wider Australian community.

Postgraduate

1. Identify life-cycle transitions and disruptions common in contemporary Australian society.
2. Evaluate the theological themes that shape pastoral responses to these experiences.
3. Develop theological and practical responses to these experiences, particularly with regard to the pastoral and communal experiences of infant dedications, weddings, funerals, baptism and communion.
4. Develop rituals for use outside of the church community.
5. Examine the pastoral rituals of the church within the context of the wider Australian community.

Undergraduate Level 3:

• One essay (2,500 words) (50%)
• Five reflection journals (400 words each) (25%)
• One tutorial paper (1,500 words) (25%)

Postgraduate Level 9:

• One essay (3,500 words) (50%)
• Five reflection journals (500 words each) (25%)
• One tutorial paper (2,000 words) (25%)

Set texts recommended for purchase are highlighted in blue

• Anderson, Herbert and Edward Foley. Mighty stories, dangerous rituals. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 1998
• Bradshaw, Paul F and Lawrence A Hoffman. Life cycles in Jewish and Christian worship. University of Notre Dame Press, 1996
• Colwell, John E. Promise and presence: An exploration of sacramental theology. Milton Keynes: Paternoster, 2005
• Dayringer, R. Life Cycle: Psychological and theological perceptions. New York: Routledge, 2012
• Doka, Kenneth J and John D Morgan (eds). Death and spirituality. New York: Baywood, 1993
• Driver, Tom F. The magic of ritual. San Francisco: Harper Collins, 1991
• Earey, M. Worship that cares: An introduction to pastoral liturgy. London: SCM Press, 2012
• Kelly, Ewan. Meaningful Funerals: Meeting the Theological and Pastoral Challenge in a Postmodern era. London: Mowbray 2008
• Lefebvre, Solange & Ross, Susan (ed) Stages of Life and Christian Experience (Concilium 2007/5), London: SCM. 2007
• Pembroke, Neil. Pastoral care in worship: Liturgy and psychology in dialogue. London: T&T Clark, 2010
• Willimon, William H. Worship as pastoral care. Nashville: Abingdon, 1993