Do you want to contribute to the mission of Christian churches, agencies, community organisations and marketplace with the skills and knowledge to operate in a senior role?
This qualification will equip you with effective people management and event management skills along with the ability to provide strategic leadership.
INTRODUCTION
The New Zealand Diploma of Christian Studies (Christian Leadership) (Level 6) is an NZQA accredited qualification consisting of 120 credits. This programme has a unique structure. Students are aligned to a host organisation throughout the year (church, mission, or parachurch organisation), with which they connect regularly. During the year, students complete two placements (usually around May and September-October) at this host organisation to fulfil the requirements for the two practical placement papers (DCL 604 and DCL 606). This structure presents many opportunities to develop relationships and learn leadership skills in real time. Students also attend four block courses throughout the year in which their classroom learning will take place.
What will I be studying?
DCL601 LEADERSHIP: BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES & MODELS (15 credits)
This course enables students to reflect critically on the nature of leadership, focusing on principals and models of effective leadership. A particular focus for this course is exploring the implications for leadership congregations and other faith-based organisations as social and religious communities.
DCL602 LEADERSHIP: IDENTITY & CALLING (15 credits)
This course recognises that the leader leads from within and, therefore, being self-aware is critical to effective leading. The focus is on how a student's understanding of what it means to be imago Dei (identity), how they contribute to God's purposes in their context (call), and the role theological reflection has in increasing the likelihood of effective leadership.
DCL603 RELATIONAL LEADERSHIP: EMPOWERING, ETHICAL & INCLUSIVE (15 credits)
This paper seeks to develop students' skills in leading relationally by exploring the rich resources that exist in Christian theology, particularly the doctrine of the Trinity, for understanding human relationships and the community.
DCL604 WORKING WITH GROUPS (PLACEMENT) (15 credits)
Students learn to identify the key principles and effective strategies necessary for leading groups and working with others in group settings. Integral to effective group dynamics is understanding the typical causes of conflicts within group settings.
DCL605 LEADING IN A DIGITAL & SECULAR CULTURE (15 credits)
This paper recognises that effective leadership requires a rich understanding of the surrounding cultural context(s). Students are equipped with the critical tools necessary to identify and skillfully interpret cultural artifacts and trends. Two particularly salient aspects of 21st Century Aotearoa culture are secularism and digital technology.
DCL606 LEADERSHIP IN CONTEXT (PLACEMENT) (30 credits)
Students will demonstrate how their in-depth understanding of theology and biblical foundations shape the way they manage and lead people in a range of contexts, groups, and roles through an extended Field-Based Placement.
DCL607 STRATEGIC, MISSIONAL & RESILIENT LEADERSHIP (15 credits)
Designed to provide context for students to bring all their learning from the programme together in a personalised, biblically, theologically, and theoretically informed model for leading. Students have the opportunity to articulate how this personalised model can, and will, guide their strategic missional leadership, which is sustainable and resilient.
Entry Requirements
Applicants must have evidence of support from a host organisation to carry out practical components of the programme and have been awarded one of the qualifications below OR equivalent experience in the following:
New Zealand Diploma in Christian Studies (Level 5) with strands in Chaplaincy, Christian Leadership, Intercultural Studies, Performing Arts, Te Minita Taha Māori, and Theological Studies, OR
New Zealand Certificate in Christian Studies, OR
Have a broad understanding of theology and biblical foundations with a ministry role in a faith-based community.
Note
People aged 18 to 25 must have experience working with children or young people church, camp or community group.
Applicants for whom English is an additional language must have a minimum English Language IELTS (Academic) 6 or equivalent.
