DTA01VK22DIAK Theology of helping and building a diaconal community (5cr)

Objective

Students
• are familiar with the arguments for a theological office
• know how to form their own theology of helping and reflect on their own actions from the viewpoint of holistic helping
• know the diaconal objectives, organisation and working methods (on the level of the church, diocese and parish)
• know how to develop church service and devotional life together with the members and employees of the parish
• know how to execute diaconal education and confirmation classes and develop the realisation of diaconal responsibility together with the members and other employees of the parish
• know how to develop the creation of community and the inclusion and volunteering of parishioners

Content

• the diaconal office
• diaconal theology
• diaconal objectives, organisation and working methods
• development of church services and devotional life from a diaconal viewpoint
• diaconal education, confirmation classes and responsibility in the parish
• community, inclusion and volunteer activities and their development in diaconal work

Location and time

Distance teaching by Zoom
Group discussions on Diakle-platform
Participatory involvement in a local parish

Materials

Information available by the end of November 2021

Teaching methods

Contact teaching by Zoom 1:
Theological perspectives of diaconia, contact teaching (two days): recorded lectures, literature, group discussions, video describing students' own theology on diaconia, activity based on work life assignment in local parish, prayer, report

Contact teaching by Zoom 2:
Half a day of conjunctive work about work life assignments + half a day of reflection on students' own theology of diaconia + Distance learning period: Evaluation of students' own learning process

Completion alternatives

No alternative options available

Qualifications

Opiskelijalla pitää olla Seurakunta toimintaympäristönä (STY) -opintojakso suoritettuna hyväksytysti ennen DTA -opintojaksoja.

Evaluation methods and criteria

Study unit scope: 5 ECTS
Goals:

The student:
• is familiar with the theology of ministry
• is able to form their own theology of diaconia and reflect on their own actions from the perspective of holistic aiding
• is familiar with the goals, organisation, and forms of diaconia work (on the level of the church, the diocese, and the parish)
• is able to develop service- and worship life together with the parishioners and other employees
• is able to implement diaconal education, confirmation work, and develop the realisation of diaconal responsibility together with the parishioners and other employees
• is able to develop community and the parishioners' participation as well as the formation of volunteerism

Core content:
• the ministry of diaconia
• the theology of diaconia
• the goals, organisation, and forms of diaconia work
• the development of worship life from the perspective of diaconia work
• diaconal education, confirmation work, and diaconal responsibility in the parish
• community, participation, and voluntary activity and the development thereof in diaconia work

Assessment and its basis:
Active (obligatory) participation in the orientation and the conjunctive work as well as passing completion of the assignments accepted/failed.

Evaluation scale

0-5