Luther Varsity in Southern Africa
A Place of Academic and Professional Excellence
Christian Religious Professional
NQF 5 | SAQA ID: 101571 | 237 Credits
PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION
Purpose of the qualification:
The purpose of this qualification is to prepare a learner to operate as a Christian Religious Professional.
A Christian Religious Professional directs and conducts the ministry functions in a faith community in order to facilitate spiritual formation; nurture fellowship and mutual care within the faith community ; help members to develop a Christian lifestyle; provides strategic leadership that leads to obedience to vocation as well as well-being and sustainability of the faith of the community ;and develops a missional practice that shares the good news of Jesus Christ and serves the holistic well-being of the entire community.
A qualified learner will be able to:
- Lead the faith community in spiritual formation that nurtures their relationship with God.
- Develop and nurture fellowship and mutual care within the faith community.
- Facilitate the holistic well-being of people within the faith community by developing pro-active and reactive (coping) life skills in the Christian value system.
- Provide visional leadership that leads to obedience to vocation, as well as well-being and sustainability of the faith community.
- Develop a missional practice that shares the good news of Jesus Christ and serves the holistic well-being of the entire community.
- Develop Ecumenical appreciation /consciousness.
- Develop a thoughtful and reasoned overview of the Christian Faith.
- Understand the history of the basic structures of the church.
- Understand the history of the different churches and missions found in a Southern African context; and how cultures and languages have shaped the adaptation and formation of churches in the region.
- Understand and appreciate the importance of good administration for the sake of the church and society.
The learner will be introduced to selected ancient religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, African religion and the comparative understanding of the Abrahamic Religion (Judaism ,Christianity and Islam)
Rationale of the qualification:
Religious ministers serving the churches and Christian groups in Southern Africa come from two district backgrounds. The first is deemed more formal in nature (also referred to as historic churches) while the second is seen as less formal and originated from more recent development processes; represented by the following ecclesial traditions: Pentecostal and Charismatic Churches and the large group of African Initiated Churches (AICs). Recent estimates indicate that there are around 186,000 pastors (ministers of religion) in this less formal group, compared to the number of around 9,000 for the historic churches.
LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):
RPL for access to the external integrated summative assessment: Accredited providers and approved workplaces must apply the internal assessment criteria specified in the related curriculum document to establish and confirm prior learning. Accredited providers and workplaces must confirm prior learning by issuing a statement of result or certifying a work experience record.
Entry Requirements:
- Level 4 with English Communication.
QUALIFICATION RULES
This qualification is made up of the following compulsory Knowledge and Practical Skill
Knowledge Modules: 123 Credits
Practical Skill Modules: 64 Credits
Work Experience Modules: 50 Credits
Total: 237 Credits
EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES
- Prepare and deliver a sermon incorporating the principles of exegesis, hermeneutics and homiletics.
- Administer sacraments within the context of a specific faith tradition
- Plan and conduct a worship service.
- Develop and nurture healthy relationships in a diverse faith community.
- Develop pro-active and reactive (coping) life skills in the faith community through preaching, teaching, counseling and mentoring.
- Facilitate stewardship processes in the faith community (stewardship as a spiritual discipline).
- Plan and execute outreach programs to deal with socio-economic and other relevant needs in the wider community.
- Initiate and / or practice in interventions to deal with needs and emergency situations in the community and community development initiatives.
- Conduct and promote advocacy relating to social justice issues (prophetic voice in society).
- Foster Ecumenical relationships and dialogue among the churches.
Good knowledge of:
- Biblical foundations of Diakonia and its embodiment in the life of Christ.
- How Diakonia is interpreted and practiced in the church throughout the ages.
- Different contexts in which ministry is expressed.
- Coping with the stress faced by men and women in ministry.
- The Biblical foundations of the Unity of the Church.
- The Theological and non-Theological basis for the division of the Church.
- Challenges and opportunities with respect to Inter –Faith issues; and a good working knowledge of the main Tenets of the Abrahamic Religions.
- Ability to discuss and apply topics related to Child development and Child Psychology, such as learning, cognitive development; moral development, attachment, common childhood disorders etc.
- Understand the role of Curriculum in children’s ministries; and the importance of stories in nurturing children spiritually.