presencebased church SPECIALISATION WITHIN THE NEW ZEALAND DIPLOMA IN CHRISTIAN STUDIES
presence-based church Would you like to be part of a transformative community, committed to Jesus, focussed on renewing people and places? The Presence-Based Church stream is a foundational time of intentional involvement in different church communities. You’ll be part of a group of people from around the country who sense a call to revisit the basis of church as local, relational, and redemptive communities. You’ll engage with fieldwork, biblical and theological study at Carey, attend Hui’s, take road trips and much more. You will explore and engage with both the biblical basis of Presence-Based Church and the real churches and communities on the ground around the country that are moving this way.
Highlights of the Presence-Based Church Stream SERVING IN COMMUNITY Participating in intentional expressions of church community ministry and mission development in a church or organisation context. This will involve eight hours per week over a full year or a shorter more intense period of a minimum six weeks, or joining a living community for the year. STUDYING Tertiary level study in Mission, Bible & Theology and Ministry including supervision and formational learning times throughout the year within a cohort of students. SUPPORTING Supervision and mentoring by experienced practitioners, support and feedback through Carey’s well-established Field Education process, and journeying with others for mutual support and resourcing.
Programme Details The Presence-Based Church stream follows the Carey academic year (March to November), but it may be possible for the practical placement to begin earlier, if arranged in advance. Your Contextual Theological Praxis (MF505) includes attending a Hui in Christchurch (8 – 10 March). There will also be an option to join a road trip around Aotearoa and we also highly recommend you attend SouthWest Baptist’s Presence-Based Church Block course (8 – 12 July). You will also study six courses as follows:
Semester One
Semester Two
MS510 Te Ao Māori
MB521 Thinking Theologically
MB532 Introduction to the New Testament
MM581 Mission of God
Plus another two courses that may include one 600 level course (*all subject to approval) You can complete the programme over 2-4 years but each course (MS510, MB532 etc.) has to be completed within the one semester in which it is offered.
Key Relationships YOUR CONTEXT You will need to find your own supervisor who will oversee your intentional presence-based community placement. You will meet with your supervisor once a month to reflect on your growth, challenges and experiences. OTHER STUDENTS You will journey with a cohort of presencebased students where you will contribute to each other’s development and support one another. CAREY BAPTIST COLLEGE Carey will provide a biblical and theological framework to build your speciality experience through providing course work and academic support during the year.
THE SPECIALIST MENTOR Duane Major will mentor you in PresenceBased Church. Duane works at SouthWest Baptist Church in Christchurch leading their Communities and Ministries. He is involved in co-ordinating the working together of local communities, local mission initiatives and ministries of the church and independent trusts. His wealth of experience and knowledge will inspire and resource your learning. Your interaction with him will include hui, Block courses, formational fieldwork, cohort experiences and online activity.
What next? Once the course requirements are completed you will be awarded the New Zealand Diploma in Christian Studies. This may then be cross-credited to further study at Carey.
Apply at carey.ac.nz
I’m looking forward to checking out the biblical basis and practical realities of framing church more around communities on the ground. Along the way, we’ll connect with numbers of people in a number of places living in some significant ways. We hope our group will build ourselves a clearer vision of the kingdom and what God is up to that inspires and activates well beyond the course.”
Duane Major Pastor, SouthWest Baptist Church
473 Great South Road, Penrose Auckland 1061, New Zealand PO Box 12149, Penrose Auckland 1642, New Zealand T +64 9 525 4017 / 0800 773 776 F +64 525 4096 E enquiries@carey.ac.nz
carey.ac.nz