EM440 - Cross-cultural Field Education

  • 0 Standard Tuition Fee
  • 4
    Credit Points
  • 0.125 EFT 
  • 7
    AQF level
  • evangelism missiolUnit Discipline

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will

A. Know and understand

  1. The issues involved in cross-cultural ministry
  2. the interrelationships of life, culture, the gospel and ministry
  3. How to prepare for cross-cultural ministry

B. Be able to

  1. Discuss the issues involved in cross-cultural ministry
  2. Evaluate the impact of culture in their own formation and Identify adjustments required for cross-cultural ministry
  3. Under supervision, prepare for cross-cultural ministry by participant-observation in a cross-cultural setting
  4. Present Analytical evidence-based reflection on cross-cultural field work

C. Be in a position to

  1. Integrate perspectives from their other theological studies into cross-cultural field education and ministry
  2. Use perspectives from cross-cultural field education for personal understanding and in cross-cultural ministry contexts
  3. Apply perspectives from cross-cultural field education to current  issues in cross-cultural ministry

Content

Section A: Preparation

Students must undertake supervised preparation for cross-cultural ministry exposure, so that they may benefit from their field experience.  The unit should include input from people who have lived in the culture concerned, preferably from members of the culture, unless this is wholly impracticable.

Section B: Field Work

An experience of ONE of the following situations;

  1. A missionary trip of not less than 4 weeks’ residence in a culture other than the student’s own;
  2. Involvement of not less than 50 hours in some form of Christian work with people from a culture different than the student’s own (e.g., an overseas student group, ethnic church or fellowship);
  3. Satisfactory completion of a period of not less than 3 months in some form of Christian work with people from a culture different from the student’s own.

In each case, the following conditions apply:

  1. The field work is to be approved by the student’s approved institution;
  2. The student is to work under supervision of a person experienced in living in both the student’s culture and the culture in which the field work is taken;
  3. At least 30 hours are to be spent in direct contact with the people of the culture concerned, in active participation and communication as well as observation;
  4. The student is to observe the ways of life of the people of the culture visited and Christian ministries among them (by both nationals and others), and should keep a daily diary noting statements made and personal reflections;
  5. The field work is to be certified by a senior missionary or equivalent person with whom the student has served. To report on this Field work the student is to prepare a Bibliography and reflect both theologically on what has been witnessed and reflect on the literature read.

Section C: Evaluation and Reflection

Students are to spend some time in reflection upon their field work, including group discussion and a written individual reflection concerning problems encountered, issues raised and encouragements received, having regard to the literature on the subject and to the Scriptures.