COURSE DESCRIPTIONS - PRACTICAL THEOLOGY

PT 510 Ecclesiology in an Ecumenical Context

Candidates will examine the doctrine of the church, the ministry and the sacraments in their relationship to the concrete realities of the life of the church and the nature of its authority. The study will be made in the light of current thought across the Christian Traditions.

PT 520 Contemporary Ethical and Moral Problems

In-depth study of some contemporary ethical and moral problems selected from various spheres of life. E.g. Family Life; Business; Professional and Economic; Political; Medical; Human Rights; the use and misuse of Science.

PT 530 Pastoral Care and Counseling

An introduction to the basic theoretical and practical framework for counselling in the African context. An overview of the counselling process with some focus on theological foundations for pastoral counselling. Attention to skill-building, with students developing their personal paradigm for the counselling process. Emphasis will be laid on life-stage development, stress, crises, bereavement, gender, cross-culture, spirituality and sexual orientation. An introduction to basic areas of care and counselling of the Minister in parish situations, institutional chaplaincy, and addictions as related to the Church. A laboratory course including audio and video role-play and verbatim.

PT 540 Missions in Today’s World

Candidates will study the theological foundations of missions in the mission of the Holy Spirit. Candidates will also study factors in today’s world that affect mission, such as industrialization, organization , and a secular society and in particular candidates will examine the meaning of contextualisation and sensitivity to culture.

PT 550 The Bible in Pastoral Theology

Candidates will be expected to study the use of the Bible in preaching, worship and ethics; the phenomenon of diversity in the Bible; the contribution of hermeneutics to the use of the Bible in Pastoral Ministry. Attention will be given to the hermeneutical tools by which biblical teaching may be applied to the needs of church people today.

PT 560 Conflict Management

The course offers an experiencial, theological and pastoral approach to management, resolution, transformation and utilisation of conflict in both personal and pastoral perspectives. The course will draw on communication theory, conflict studies and mediation skills.