Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Postgraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2012-2013 (archived)

Module THMN42230: Leadership in Christian Ministry

Department: Theology and Ministry

THMN42230: Leadership in Christian Ministry

Type Open Level 4 Credits 30 Availability Available in 2012/13 Module Cap None.

Prerequisites

  • For students to make use of this module they need to be engaged in Christian ministry during the teaching of the module, to enable active theological reflection.

Corequisites

  • None

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • None

Aims

  • to study in depth the nature of Christian leadership in such a way as to develop the leadership skills of participants as they work in both church and wider society and to better enable them to develop these skills in others.

Content

  • Leadership and the Christian Tradition
  • Leadership and Contemporary society
  • Leadership and Current Legislation
  • Developing Leadership in Others
  • Part One During Part One of the module, as well as receiving staff input on the module content, each student chooses as a project a clearly defined piece of work which will normally be a leadership enterprise in which they are themselves engaged. Examples might include developing a shared ministry team; facilitating the development of small groups in the parish; enabling collaboration in mission across a deanery or circuit; developing new vision for a particular piece of work in the community; working at some area of personal development or developing partnerships for social action alongside development agencies. Before Part Two of the course each student develops this piece of work as part of their ongoing ministry and reflects on its progress in dialogue with the module tutors.
  • Before Part Two each student also completes a formative essay comprising a theological reflection on an aspect of Christian leadership utilising both secular insights and material from Scripture and the tradition.
  • Part 2 During Part Two of the module, each student as well as receiving further staff input, will present a 30 min seminar paper reflecting on the progress of the practical project. This will then be the subject of the final written summative assignment.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • By the end of the module the students will:
  • Have studied at depth selected sources for reflection on Christian ministry and leadership in Scripture and the Christian tradition and be able to draw on those sources in contemporary reflection
  • Have acquired a broad and critical awareness of contemporary studies in leadership and management
Subject-specific Skills:
  • Have reflected upon and further developed their own leadership in church and society through peer mentoring and with reference to a particular area of ministry
  • Have acquired a working knowledge and the ability to train others to work within areas where Christian leadership is affected by recent legislation
Key Skills:
  • Have further developed their reflection on and ability to develop these skills in others particularly in the area of mentoring and self-management

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • The module is delivered during two periods of residence in Durham. This mode of teaching and learning will give the opportunity both for coverage of a range of materials at depth by the course leaders and invited speakers; engagement with complex practical issues through the project work and opportunity to engage in a piece of practical work and to reflect on this. Contact time c. 30 hours.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours

Summative Assessment

Component: Commentary Component Weighting: 100%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Theological and practical commentary on a case study of an ongoing practical project focussing on an area of leadership development 5000 words 100%

Formative Assessment:

The practical projects will be agreed with the subject teachers during the initial period of block teaching. Support and feedback will also be available on line. During the second block teaching period each student will give a 30 minute presentation and receive written feedback from teaching staff. In addition each student will write a 2,500 word formative essay which will be a theological reflection on an aspect of Christian leadership utilising both secular insights and material from Scripture and the tradition.


Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University