Course Outcomes
The Diploma of Christian Ministry - Practical Leadership (including the nested Certificate IV in Christian Ministry - Practical Leadership) provides appropriate training for candidates applying for employment positions or volunteer roles within the Australian Christian Churches or similar Christian denominations. Appropriate areas of ministry may include pastoral care, youth work, and children's work.
The approach to training of ministers within the Australian Christian Churches is generally informal and is predominantly based upon exposure to practical ministerial experience. As such there is no formal policy on the training prerequisites for candidates applying for ministerial credentials and/or employment within the Australian Christian Churches, however the following guidelines are recommended by the State Executive of the Australian Christian Church in South Australia.
The Certificate IV in Christian Ministry - Practical Leadership is accepted as appropriate training for candidates applying for positions such as team members or assistant leaders. For example: assistant small group leaders, junior assistant pastoral roles, Youth and Children's workers.
The Diploma of Christian Ministry - Practical Leadership is accepted as appropriate training for candidates applying for positions as team leaders. For example: small group leaders, youth or children's leader/pastor, junior pastoral roles, assistant or associate pastoral roles.
It should be noted that applicants for Ministerial Credentials within the Australian Christian Churches are evaluated not only on academic achievement but also upon other factors such as experience, level of Christian maturity, effectiveness in ministry and the evidence of a call of God upon the applicant's life.
The educational outcomes for each level within the course are as follows.
Students choosing to exit after completion of the Certificate IV in Christian Ministry - Practical Leadership would be expected to possess competency at a basic level in the following:
- Understand an overview of the Bible
- Understand foundational theology, and apply its truths to personal living and church life
- Develop outlines for talks and sermons
- Develop personal spirituality
- Perform basic Bible study methods
- Develop work priorities and work within a team
- Identify and respond to children and young people at risk of harm
- Follow OHS procedures
- Demonstrate foundational skills in platform ministry
- Understand foundational Christian truths, and apply these truths to personal living and church life
- Care for new people and new Christians within the local church
- Share the Christian faith with others
- Contribute as a team member or assistant leader within a local church
- Demonstrate specialty skills or knowledge depending on electives chosen
Students choosing to exit after completion of the Diploma of Christian Ministry - Practical Leadership would be expected to possess all of the outcomes relevant to the Certificate IV award at a more advanced level, demonstrating substantial depth in some areas of knowledge and greater analytical, planning and management abilities.
A Diploma graduate would be expected to possess the following competencies:
- Understand an overview of the Bible with greater depth in specified areas
- Demonstrate advanced skills in platform ministry
- Understand the stages of development of a Christian leader
- Demonstrate effective interpersonal leadership skills
- Maintain personal spirituality
- Understand a broad range of Christian truths, and apply these truths to personal living and church life
- Exegete the Bible with reference to specific literary genres
- Manage personal work priorities and professional development
- Manage team members
- Demonstrate specialty skills or knowledge depending on electives chosen.
