Module THMN1207: Ministry in Secular Employment

Department: Theology and Ministry

THMN1207: Ministry in Secular Employment

Prerequisites

• None

Corequisites

• None

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None

Aims

• To explore ways in which secular employment, or engagement with the secular environment, informs (ordained) self-supporting ministry.

Content

• The module begins by exploring different attitudes to work from the ancient world to the present, and on some contemporary analyses of the theology of work, particularly as these illustrate how attitudes to work, the understanding of God, human endeavour, and mission interact with each other. A particular study is made of the emergence of non-stipendiary ministry, including ministry in secular employment/environment (MSE), together with the Worker Priest Movement, Industrial Mission, and (most recently) some initiatives in Mission-Shaped Church. The module will explore how the theology and practice of MSE engages with the church’s understanding of ordained ministry, and will develop skills to undertake a local audit relating to ordained ministry in a secular context. To that end, a comparative study of existing theologies of MSE will be undertaken, together with an exploration of models of spirituality shaped by ministry in secular contexts. The module will afford an opportunity to construct a personal theology for MSE, and to reflect on how this contributes to the wider ministry and mission of the church at the present time.

Learning Outcomes

• On completion of this module students should be able to:
• evaluate a variety of theological understandings of work as human activity with reference to models of God and definitions of secularity.

• assess the similarities and differences between sector ministries and ministry in secular employment (MSE), and evaluate understandings of ordained ministry in relation to MSE.
• acquire skills of description and discernment from carrying out a local audit of a context relating to secular employment, unemployment or environment.

• construct a theology which informs and sustains a ministry in secular employment/environment.
• explore the spirituality of ministry in, and shaped by, a secular context.

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

• 14 hours contact time: lectures and seminars

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

In-class exercise

■ 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