Programme Description
The NZ Diploma in Christian Studies (Christian Leadership) is a one-year full-time (or part-time equivalent) 120-credit programme. It consists of eight 15-credit courses at level 6.
The Christian Leadership strand of this diploma requires half the credits to be gained through an internship. Each semester, full-time students spend 15 hours per week on a supervised ministry placement for 12 weeks. Students have classes related to these placements and meet regularly with their mentors and workplace supervisors. Placements can be in a range of settings and are individually negotiated between the student, the placement organisation, and the College.
Location
Students are able to study and undertake their placement throughout Aotearoa New Zealand. Classes are based at Bishopdale's campus in Nelson, and students may attend through video conference platforms such as Zoom.
Study Format
The placement hours connect directly into four of the eight courses that make up the diploma:
· Practice of Christian Leadership
· Biblical Mission in Context
· Leadership and Communication
· EITHER: Ethics of Christian Leadership OR Practice of Mission
These courses include classroom work and a variety of assignments. They focus on learning appropriate theory and engaging that theory in practice, with significant emphasis on learning through intentional reflection.
Three of the remaining courses focus on gaining important theological skills in theology, biblical studies, and ministry skills. These courses are intended to give learners transferable skills and provide a ‘toolkit’ for ongoing learning and growth in skills and understanding, connecting God’s mission and engagement with the world we are placed in. The final course, Christian Spirituality, merges classroom teaching with experiential learning by focusing on the spiritual life of Christians in the presence, empowerment, and healing work of God’s Spirit.
Courses
CHRISTOLOGY – UNDERSTANDING & APPLICATION
Learners will study traditional and contemporary theologies of the person and work of Christ and learn how to apply and evaluate practical out-workings for mission and church, leadership, and personal life.
GOSPEL – INTERPRETATION & APPLICATION
Learners will study the life setting, content, theological perspectives, and contemporary application of a selected Gospel, with a specific focus on exegesis of selected biblical texts and consideration of related theological, ethical, missional and pastoral themes.
One of:
ETHICS OF CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP
Learners will develop understanding of the ethical responsibilities and challenges of Christian leadership and develop skills relating to formulating ethical strategies and dealing with ethical issues through placement in a particular missional or pastoral context.
OR
PRACTICE OF MISSION
Students will address specific issues that cross-cultural workers face and reflect on their own personal faith journeys as they evaluate, review and respond to the particular challenges and responsibilities of a local mission placement.
CHRISTIAN SPIRITUALITY
Focus is on developing a deep and sustainable spirituality for Christian life and work that will promote growth, encourage the discernment and use of spiritual gifts, develop self-awareness and equip learners with the spiritual disciplines that will enable them to live out the fulness of God’s call upon their lives.
PRACTICE OF CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP
Learners will develop understanding of the nature and tasks of Christian leadership and develop skills relating to management of people, issues and resources through placement in a particular ministry or mission context.
One of:
CARING FOR CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES
Introduces students to the situations, principles and approaches of caring for people in Christian communities and their effective and appropriate application.
OR
CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY FOR MISSION
Learners are introduced to cultural anthropology as an aid to cross-cultural mission and ministry in multi-cultural contexts.
BIBLICAL MISSION IN CONTEXT
Learners will integrate a biblical understanding of mission with contextual theory and deepen learning through integrative tutorials and a mentored internship which utilises models of reflective practice.
LEADERSHIP & COMMUNICATION
Interpersonal dynamics in leadership will be explored through integrating leadership theory with mentored experience in a ministry or mission practicum placement context, employing specific models of reflective practice along with an examination of learners’ own leadership styles in relation to biblical models.