University of Otago
PAPERS OFFERED IN PREVIOUS YEARS
400-level papers in Ministry, Biblical Studies, Christian
Thought and History, and Pastoral Theology include:
Department of Theology and Religion
• TheTheologyofSorenKierkegaard
2016
• MinistryinaCulturallyDiverseSociety
• Reconciliation,ChristianEthicsandPublicTheology
• LeadershipinCongregations
Master of Ministry
• EarlyChristiansinEphesus
• PreachingandCommunication
• TheMissionalChurch
in conjunction with the Anglican, Catholic,
Methodist, Presbyterian and other Churches
• TheologyofDietrichBonhoeffer
• PastoralCareinDyingGriefandLoss
• ChaplaincyinDiverseContexts
ADMISSION
Aminimumofthreeyears’ministryexperienceisrequired
fortheMMin;thisisnotrequiredinthecaseofthe
PGDipMin.ATheologydegreeorequivalentthree-year
programmeofstudyinTheology,withsatisfactorygrades,is
normallyrequiredforentrytoboththeMMinandPGDipMin.
FEES
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THEOLOGY
PLEASE CONTACT:
Thefeesfor2016havenotyetbeenset.Theywillbe
availableontheUniversitywebsiteatalaterstage.
DepartmentalAdministrator
DepartmentofTheologyandReligion
UniversityofOtago
POBox56
Dunedin9054
Tel6434798901
[email protected]
July 2015
otago.ac.nz/theology
Master of Ministry –
Would you like to enhance your work in Ministry?
ThenenrolinaMasterofMinistrydegreeoraPostgraduate
DiplomainMinistry.TheMMinisatwo-yeardegree.ThePGDipMin
comprisesthefirstyearoftheMaster’sdegree.Full-timeandparttimeoptionsareavailable.
Theseprogrammesarespecificallydesignedforministers,priests,
pastorsandothersinvolvedinarangeofministries.Linking
theorytopractice,theiraimistheenhancementofcontemporary
ministries.
PROGRAMMES IN OUTLINE
TheMMinconsistsofsixtaughtpapersandaresearchproject.
ThreeofthepapersareinMinistryStudiesandcombinereflection
onissuesemergingfromaperson’sownministrypracticewith
readingandresearchrelevanttothepracticeofministry.Theother
threeareselectedfrompapersinBiblicalStudies,ChristianThought
andHistoryandPastoralTheology.Theresearchprojectof25,000–
30,000wordsrelatestoanissueincontemporaryministry.
ThePGDipMinconsistsofsixtaughtpapers,ofwhichthreeare
papers in Ministry Studies and three are in Biblical Studies, Christian
ThoughtandHistory,andPastoralTheology.
LEARNING AT A DISTANCE
TheMMinandthePGDipMinaresuitedforpersonswhowishto
studywhilelivingandworkingintheirplaceofministry.
Somepapersareshortintensivecourseswithongoingreflection
andassessmentthroughthesemester.Othersaretaughtby
audioconferenceorbytheInternet.Semester-longpapersin
Dunedinarealsoavailable.
NOTE: The structure of the MMin and PGDipMin was changed in 2013.
For further details for students enrolled prior to 2013, go to:
otago.ac.nz/theology/study/postgraduate/otago017272.html
PAPERS ON OFFER IN 2016
Semester1
MINS 405 Practical Theology of Disability and Mental
Health
Thispaperfocusesonarangeofareasincluding:thecentralityof
theologyforunderstandingdisabilityandthecentralityofdisability
forunderstandingtheology;thewaysinwhichdisabilityhasbeen
understoodandrespondedtowithinthetheologyofthechurch;
reframingwhatpsychoticillnessisandhowthechurchshould
respondtoit;freshperspectivesondepressiondrawnfrom
theologicalreflection;re-thinkingdementiainthelightofGod’s
memoryandofferingacounter-storytothenegativestoriesthatare
toldaboutdementiawithinwesterncultures.
TaughtbyProfessorJohnSwinton,UniversityofAberdeen
Intensive course (1-5 February 2015, Dunedin), with assessment during
Semester 1
CHTH 405 Roots of Public Theology
Thispaperexploresthecontributionmadeto‘publictheology’by
thinkersandactivistsfromtheReformationtotheendofthe20th
century,fromroughlythe1520stothe1990s.Thewritingsand
activitiesofimportantfiguresandmovementsfromthisperiodwill
bestudiedindetail,andattentionpaidtotheirrespectivemilieux
andtheircontributiontothewiderdevelopmentoftheological,
philosophicalandpoliticalthought.
Videoconferences, plus a teaching day.
Semester2
BIBS 413 God, Suffering and Justice
Whydowesuffer?WhydidancientIsraelandJudahbelievethatthey
suffered?Thispaperfocusesontherelationshipbetweendivinejustice
andhumansufferingintheHebrewBible,whichwewillapproach
throughthecarefulexegesisoftextsfrom1&2Kings,Isaiah,Jeremiah,
Lamentations,Ezekiel,Psalms,Job,and4Ezra.Manyofthesetexts
respondtheologicallytocatastrophesinthehistoricallifeofancient
Israel,suchasthedestructionofJerusalemin586BCEand70CE,but
someofthemhaveamoreindividualfocus.Theaimistoengagewith
particularbiblicalandearlyJewishtextsthatdealwithissuesconnected
withsuffering,evil,andthejusticeofGod.
Videoconferences, plus a teaching day.
CHTH 403 The Puritans
ThispaperintroducesthePuritans–the‘hottersortofProtestants’.
WewillseehowreligioustensionsandpoliciesgaverisetoPuritan
settlementinNewEnglandinthe1630sand,inthe1640s,tothe
EnglishCivilWar.Wewillassessthefruitlesseffortinthe1650sto
implementapermanentreligioussettlementalongPuritanlines.
Finally,wewillengagedirectlywiththewritingsoftwoleadingPuritans:
RichardBaxterandJohnOwen.
Videoconferences.
CHTH420 Public Theology and Social Justice
WhydoessocialjusticematterforChristianfaith?Whatdoespublic
theologyhavetocontributeonsocialissues,andhowshoulditaddress
publicdebates?
This paper develops a critical and constructive public theology
approachtoavarietyofcontemporarysocialjusticeissues,with
attentiontothelocal,nationalandglobalcontextinwhichtheyarise.
MINS 409 Studies in Chaplaincy
Withthedeclineinchurchattendanceandthegrowing
marginalizationofthechurchinAotearoaNewZealand,chaplains
haveauniqueopportunitytoprovidecareandbringaspiritual
focusforpeopleincrisis,transition,prison,workplaces,and
educationalcommunitiesandotherinstitutions.Thispaperwill
provideanoverviewoftheroleofthechaplaininavarietyof
settings.The“ministryofpresence,”theessentialskilloflistening
andself-careforchaplainswillbediscussedtheologicallyand
practically.
Videoconferences, plus a teaching day.
PAST 212 Research Methods (prerequisite for MINS 590,
or MINS5)
Ananalysisofsocialresearchmethodsusedintheological
researchandresearchrelatingtothepracticeofministry.
Via Internet.
FULL YEAR
BIBS 480 Research Essay
A research essay on a particular topic in Biblical Studies, chosen
inconsultationwiththeDepartment.
CHTH 480 Research Essay
A research essay on a particular topic in Christian Thought &
History,choseninconsultationwiththeDepartment.
PAST 480 Research Essay
AresearchessayonaparticulartopicinPastoralTheology.
DetailsavailableonapplicationtotheDepartment.
MINS5 Research Project (90 points)
(fullyear,orover18monthsor2years)
TheResearchProjectfortheMMin(25,000-30,000words)
isbasedonoriginalresearchofanaspectofthepracticeof
ministry.Aresearchproposal,definingthetopicandoutliningthe
method,mustbeapprovedpriortoenrolling.
Prerequisite:PAST212orequivalentpaperinthesocialsciences,
ordemonstratedcompetenceinavarietyofresearchmethods.
ContacttheDepartmentfordetailsofthetimeperiodsover
whichthisresearchmaybeundertaken.
Students enrolled prior to 2013 can do MINS 590 Research Project,
60 points. The length of this Research Project is 20,000 words.
Contact the Department about this.