Title
Version 1
6
New Zealand Diploma in Christian Studies (Level 6) with strands in Biblical Studies,
Christian Leadership, Intercultural Studies, Pastoral Ministry, Religious Education, Te
Minita Taha Māori, and Theological Studies
Qualification type Diploma
Credits 120 Level
NZSCED
Qualification developer
091703 Society and Culture > Philosophy and Religious Studies
> Religious Studies
Christian Theological and Ministries Education Society (CTMES)
Next review
Approval date
December 2019
June 2015
Strategic purpose statement The purpose of this qualification is to provide Christian churches and their agencies with people who are able to operate as senior administrators and leaders, and/or as managers.
This qualification is stranded in order to recognise the specific knowledge and skills required in a variety of roles and contexts ranging from the administration of a parish, teaching Religious
Education or holders of other roles of responsibility in integrated
Christian schools as defined in the Private Schools Integration
Act (1975), to managers of church organisations.
Graduates will benefit by having a qualification that recognises their advanced evaluation, research, leadership, administration and strategic management skills and knowledge; enhancing their employment opportunities, and/or ability work in a voluntary capacity in Christian churches and their agencies.
This qualification is targeted at individuals who are ready for positions of managerial and senior leadership positions in a variety of roles. This qualification is also targeted at those who want to further their theological studies at undergraduate level; or for current practitioners, such as teachers of Religious
Education, who want to upskill in a particular area of Christian ministry.
Graduates will be able to apply in-depth theological and biblical skills and knowledge to inform managerial and strategic decisions; is responsible for leadership and may supervise others.
Graduate profile
Qualification Reference 2773
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2015
Graduates will be able to:
- analyse and apply an in-depth understanding of theology and biblical foundations in operational or research version 1 Page 1 of 8
Qualification Reference 2773
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2015 contexts
- evaluate, review and respond to the pastoral, specialised and ethical responsibilities required of defined church ministry settings
- apply management or administrative capability and leadership in a Christian ministry environment to make strategic decisions in a specified context
- critically reflect on personal faith journey and professional development to refine own practice.
Graduates with the Biblical Studies strand will also be able to:
- research and critically evaluate the application of diverse biblical disciplines, methods and textual analysis to inform and develop a Christian community.
Graduates with the Christian Leadership strand will also be able to:
- lead and manage parishes or Christian communities based on an understanding of the needs and contextual elements of defined groups or communities.
Graduates with the Intercultural Studies Strand will also be able to:
- research and evaluate the application of diverse disciplines, intercultural issues and situations
- apply intercultural competence to provide leadership in a context-appropriate manner.
Graduates with the Pastoral Ministry strand will also be able to:
- integrate information of specific groups and apply skills to the specific role of pastor to critically analyse performance
- identify opportunities that contribute to effective spiritual worship and pastoral care practices.
Graduates with the Religious Education strand will also be able to:
- critically evaluate current and emerging practices and frameworks in the teaching of Religious Education
- apply this learning to early childhood, compulsory schooling, or parish based education to provide leadership and direction.
Graduates with the Te Minita Taha Māori Strand will also be able to:
- critically evaluate the application of Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles and taha Māori
- apply a set of strategic management and leadership practices to specified groups in defined contexts.
Graduates with the Theological Studies strand will also be able version 1 Page 2 of 8
Education pathway
Employment pathway to:
- research and collate information on theological and relational topics as they apply to New Zealand’s unique cultural communities, service organisations and society at large
- critically evaluate strategies that contribute to effective management and leadership in specified contexts.
This qualification may lead to entry and credits in related undergraduate degrees.
Graduates will have the skills and knowledge to work in senior administrative and leadership positions or as managers in a variety of occupations in Christian churches, Christian integrated schools, early childhood centres, the wider church-affiliated sector, missions, non-governmental and not-for-profit organisations. Positions include workplace and Parish
Administrators; teachers of Religious Education or holders of other roles of responsibility in integrated Christian schools;
Pastors; and Ordained Ministers in some faith denominations.
Note: Religious education teachers in integrated primary and secondary schools must also have New Zealand recognised teacher qualifications.
Qualification award
Evidence requirements for assuring consistency
This qualification will be awarded by tertiary education organisations (TEOs) which have programme approval and accreditation leading to the qualification (250 (2), Education Act,
1989).
The certificate will display the title of the qualification; the logos of the NZQA and CTMES; and the name and/or logo of the awarding body.
All TEOs delivering programmes that lead to the award of the qualification are required to participate with the qualification developer in a consistency process scheduled by NZQA.
This will involve review of evidence associated with graduate s’ achievement of outcomes, establishing a regular cycle of review focus for the external consistency review, agreeing acceptable standards and/or benchmarks for qualification outcome achievement, and areas for improvement.
Evidence may include the following:
programme data such as completion rates and graduate destination data
graduate evidence, which may include portfolios, at the programme level, demonstrating that graduates meet the graduate profile outcomes
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evidence from internal and/or external moderation processes
documentation of processes that ensure programmes continue to meet current sector needs
next user response such as employer and graduate surveys
relevant External Evaluation and Review (EER) data
any other relevant evidence as appropriate.
Further information about the consistency process can be found at http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/providers-partners/consistency-ofgraduate-outcomes/
Achievement of all outcomes. There are no grade endorsements for this qualification.
Minimum standard of achievement and standards for grade endorsements
Other requirements for the qualification (including regulatory body or legislative requirements)
Prerequisite:
New Zealand Certificate in Christian Studies (Level 5) with strands in Christian Ministry and Religious Education [Ref:2771]
Or
New Zealand Diploma in Christian Studies (Level 5) with strands in Chaplaincy, Christian Leadership, Intercultural Studies,
Performing Arts, Te Minita Taha M āori, and Theological Studies
[Ref: 2793]
Or
Evidence of equivalent work experience and learning.
International students: A minimum English Language IELTS
(Academic) 6 or equivalent is required.
General conditions for programme
Qualification Reference 2773
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2015
Context for delivery and assessment:
A range of delivery contexts and practices are encouraged, ranging from formal classroom settings, to community and workplace settings if required.
TEOs will support the delivery of this qualification through a plan outlining the preferred or recommended progression of modules or components (courses).
The programme components (courses) should be managed by the TEOs in accordance with best practice, flexibility in a range of assessment practices to ensure validity and reliability, progression to graduate outcomes, and clear and transparent information to learners prior to enrolment, and requirements for completion of the programme.
Programmes leading to the award of this qualification can be version 1 Page 4 of 8
delivered through a full-time or part-time programme, through face to face, distance education and/or blended e-learning mode.
It is expected that where there is a practical component, this should form part of the programme and comprise at least 100 hours of learning.
The practical component should be managed by the TEO in accordance with best practice, including clear lines of responsibility and pastoral care arrangements.
Credit transfer and recognition of prior learning arrangements:
Accredited TEOs delivering programmes that lead to the award of this qualification are free to transfer credit and/or recognise prior learning in accordance with their own credit recognition policies and procedures, and NZQA policy. It is expected that
TEOs seeking approval to award the qualification have
Recognition of Current Competency (RCC) or Recognition of
Prior Learning (RPL) assessment processes in place.
Conditions relating to the Graduate profile
Qualification outcomes
1 Analyse and apply an in-depth understanding of theology and biblical foundations in operational or research contexts.
Credits 20
2 Evaluate, review and respond to the pastoral, specialised and ethical responsibilities required of defined church ministry settings.
Credits 20
Conditions
3 Apply management or administrative capability and leadership in a Christian ministry environment to make strategic decisions in a specified context.
Credits 20
Programme and assessment should include skills in management of personnel and resources in a specified context.
4 Critically reflect on personal faith journey and professional development to refine own practice.
Programme and assessment should demonstrate self- awareness and self-management skills.
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Credits 20
Biblical Studies strand
5 Research and critically evaluate the application of diverse biblical disciplines, methods and textual analysis to inform and develop a
Christian community.
Credits 40
Christian Leadership strand
Programme and assessment should include academically accepted methods of investigation and study of biblical disciplines and texts.
6 Lead and manage parishes or
Christian communities based on an understanding of the needs and contextual elements of defined groups or communities.
Credits 40
Should include a synthesis of theological and biblical knowledge, group dynamics and group leadership.
Should include a perspective or model of Christian leadership, such as servant, transformational and missional leadership, or an ethical or stewardship model to inform management.
Intercultural Studies strand
7 Research and evaluate the application of diverse disciplines, intercultural issues and situations.
Credits 20
Programme and assessment should include local and international Christian ministry.
Contexts may include missions, non-governmental and social service organisations using academically accepted methods of investigation.
8 Apply intercultural competence to provide leadership in a contextappropriate manner.
Credits 20
Pastoral Ministry strand
9 Integrate information of specific groups and apply skills to the specific role of pastor to critically analyse performance.
Credits 20
10 Identify opportunities that contribute to effective spiritual worship and pastoral care practices.
Should demonstrate in-depth knowledge of the role of chaplain or pastor and the contextual elements that make up specified groups. version 1 Page 6 of 8 Qualification Reference 2773
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Credits 20
Religious Education strand
11 Critically evaluate current and emerging practices and frameworks in the teaching of
Religious Education.
Credits 20
Application to defined contexts should include factors affecting successful uptake of innovations that impact on direction and leadership.
12 Apply this learning to early childhood, compulsory schooling, or parish based education to provide leadership and direction.
Credits 20
Te Minita Taha Māori strand
13 Critically evaluate the application of Te Tiriti o
Waitangi principles and taha
M āori.
Credits 20
14 Apply a set of strategic management and leadership practices to specified groups in defined contexts.
Credits 20
Theological Studies strand
Should include cultural and social change in New Zealand society and Māori cultural and religious contexts including
Māoritanga.
15 Research and collate information on theological and relational topics as they apply to New Zealand’s unique cultural communities, service organisations and society at large.
Credits 20
Programme and assessment should include academically accepted methods of investigation and study of materials to establish facts.
16 Critically evaluate strategies that contribute to effective management and leadership in specified contexts.
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Replacement information This qualification replaces the following National qualifications which were discontinued without replacement in December
2012:
- National Diploma in Christian Ministries (Level 6) [Ref
1027]
- National Diploma in Christian Studies (Level 6) [Ref
1034]
This qualification will replace the following provider developed
National qualifications:
- 111735 Diploma in Salvation Army Mission and Ministry
(Level 6)
- PC2331 Diploma in Christian Leadership (Level 5)
- 110123 Diploma in Christian Leadership (Level 6)
- PC9779 Diploma in Ministry Leadership (Internship)
(Level 6)
- PC1297 Certificate of Salvation Army Officer Training
(Level 6),
- PC1673 Diploma in Christian Leadership (Level 6)
- PC9478 Diploma in Christian Ministry Development
(Level 6)
- 112325 Diploma in Anglican Studies (Applied) (Level 6)
- 112324 Diploma in Anglican Studies (Advanced) (Level
6)
- PC2704 Diploma in Religious Studies (Religious
Education, Theological Studies, Pastoral Ministry)
(Level 6)
- PC1849 Diploma in Applied Theology (Level 6)
- PC9085 Diploma in Practical Theology (Level 6)
- PC9298 Diploma in Pastoral Leadership (Level 6)
- PC2746 Diploma of Christian Studies (Level 6)
- PC1181 Diploma in Ministry Internship (Level 6)
- PC2707 Diploma Licentiate in Theology (Level 6)
Page 8 of 8 Qualification Reference 2773
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2015 version 1