Programme Description

The Diploma in Christian Studies (Christian Leadership—Mission) is a 120-credit one-year full-time (or part-time equivalent) programme made up of eight courses at level 5. This is Laidlaw College’s programme, available in partnership with Bishopdale College and delivered by Bishopdale, especially for Anglican students.

Location

Students are able to study and to undertake their placement away from Bishopdale’s campus in Nelson, engaging with most or all classes via a video conference platform (normally Zoom).

Study and Cost

For the Wellington Diocese, Bishopdale and Laidlaw are partnering to offer a pathway one course at a time, with a focus on a Wellington cohort. Completing the diploma one course at a time normally takes four years.

Of course, Wellington-based students can also pick up additional courses – Bishopdale runs the whole 8-course diploma every year and welcomes Wellington Anglican students in all of those. A Wellington Anglican can complete the Diploma in one year full-time if they choose, or however quickly suits them. Sometimes, students can also pick up extra courses in the summer semester in Laidlaw’s distance programme (over the summer break from November to February).

These courses include classroom work and a variety of assignments, with a focus on learning appropriate theory and engaging that theory in practice, with significant emphasis on learning through intentional reflection.

Courses will cost around $900 each or around $7,200 for a full-time year. (Full-time students may have access to free first-year fees and student loans and may qualify for a student allowance through StudyLink.)

For semester 2 2024, Wellington Diocese students will have their fees covered by the St John’s College Trust Board. (Beyond 2024 the arrangement is yet to be finalized!).

The semester two course is Formation taught by Spanky Moore.

This course aims to help students to reflect on personal and communal spiritual formation, through engagement with Scripture, theological understandings, and a variety of Christian spiritual traditions.

Courses

FORMATION

Reflect on personal and communal spiritual formation, through engagement with Scripture, theological understandings and a variety of Christian spiritual traditions. Your reflection will include (1) evaluation of key aspects of your own formation, (2) evaluation of your experiences of personal and communal strategies intended to facilitate spiritual growth, and (3) the development of spiritual practices which will strengthen your contribution to enhancing human wellbeing within your own social and cultural contexts.

THEOLOGY: INTRODUCTION

Gain an introduction to systematic theology and learn to think theologically. We examine God’s self-revelation, how we can understand that revelation, and why it is foundational for our faith. We then explore the arrangement of this revelation into a set of core beliefs and their application to everyday living.

BIBLICAL THEOLOGY

Gain an introduction to the big story of Holy Scripture, learn how this forms the structure of biblical theology and understand the Christian gospel as the centre of biblical theology.

CHRISTIAN HISTORY: OUR STORY

Develop an integrative understanding of how Christian theology, practice, culture, and institutions have developed over history, such that you can better narrate the wider context of your leadership.

READING THE NEW TESTAMENT

Explore a broad understanding of New Testament foundations, and their interpretation and application within church, mission, and community contexts.

READING THE OLD TESTAMENT

Explore a broad understanding of the Old Testament and be introduced to its interpretation and application in church, mission, and/or community.

MISSION, CHURCH & COMMUNITY

Explore and evaluate a range of mission, church, and community-based programmes and apply faith-based principles in Aotearoa New Zealand and beyond. Learners will reflect on how personal and communal expressions of faith can enhance the well-being of others in a range of social and cultural contexts.

TIKANGA KAWENATA

Be introduced to Tikanga Māori on the basis of understanding people in their contexts. It combines theological, theoretical, and historical reflection with the development of practices drawn from an integration of these. You will also be provided with an overview of tikanga Māori and theological views of kawenata (covenant) and justice and their application within community leadership in Aotearoa. There will be regular oral activities aimed at developing fluency in the use of te reo and tikanga in a range of settings.