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THL325 Pastoral Care: Advanced Practice (8)

Abstract

This subject forms a summative, capstone experience for pastoral care students while building on the skills and knowledge of THL228. In order to develop best practice awareness, it focuses on the ethics of pastoral care practice, including boundaries, dual roles, power in relationship and codes of conduct. The subject recognizes the contemporary postmodern context of much pastoral care practice, and analyses the pastoral carer’s conceptual frameworks for caring within the Christian context. It provides guidelines and tools for the carer to develop self-reflective practice, and theological reflection is integrated within topics on the advanced practice of pastoral care.

+ Subject Availability Modes and Location

Continuing students should consult the SAL for current offering details prior to contacting their course coordinator: THL325
Where differences exist between the handbook and the SAL, the SAL should be taken as containing the correct subject offering details.

Subject information

Duration Grading System School:
One sessionHD/FLSchool of Theology

Enrolment restrictions

Prerequisite(s)
THL228

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this subject, students should:
  • be able to demonstrate an advanced understanding of theory and practice issues in the professional ethics of pastoral care
  • be able to demonstrate the application of pastoral care skills at an advanced level
  • be able to demonstrate a high level of self awareness and a capacity for self reflection within a pastoral care setting, including the capacity to analyse and evaluate practice and issues
  • be able to demonstrate an understanding of appropriate theological interventions in pastoral care when dealing with sin, guilt, suffering, shame, forgiveness, grace and hope
  • be able to demonstrate an ability to identify and manage ethical dilemmas and complexity in decision making within pastoral care issues
  • be able to recognise and appropriately intervene in cross cultural issues related to gender, sexuality, ethnicity, religion and denomination.

Syllabus

The subject will cover the following topics:
  • conceptual frameworks for caring, including Christian approaches in post-modern contexts
  • the action/reflection model for the reflective, evaluative practice of pastoral care, including theological reflection
  • professional ethics of pastoral care practice
  • issues of the carer in pastoral care practice
  • what is pastoral care and how to best care
  • boundaries, dual roles, disclosure, power in relationship, supervision and codes of conduct
  • the person of the carer
  • sin, guilt, shame
  • forgiveness, hope and grace
  • ethical dilemmas

Residential School

This subject contains a compulsory 3 day residential school. The compulsory residential will provide a place for students to practise their pastoral care skills, to extend their capacity for theological and self-reflection and to participate in learning and discussion in a supportive environment.

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The information contained in the 2015 CSU Handbook was accurate at the date of publication: 01 October 2015. The University reserves the right to vary the information at any time without notice.