Courses on Offer

Jonathan Robinson
This course is an introduction to reading and interpreting the New Testament. It explores the key genres of writing found in the Bible from Matthew to Revelation and then considers how to read each contextually and interpret them for today. The biblical skills required for interpretation and exegesis writing are also covered, aiming to provide a sound basis for further biblical study.

Emma Stokes
In this course, we will get beneath the surface of one of the four Gospels (Luke). Why was it written in that particular way? What are its distinctive emphases? What does it contribute to our understanding of Jesus and the church’s faith, and how does it speak to our own day? Skills will be developed in exegesis, analysis of texts, research and presentation, theological awareness and interpretive competencies will be cultivated.

Caleb Haurua
This course allows the student to receive accreditation for supervised participation within a number of appropriate ministry contexts. Over the year the student will participate in 240 hours of practical ministry and will reflect upon this with the coordinator, a mentor, in a peer group, in a reflective essay and in a personal journal project.

Dr Phil Halstead
This course introduces learners to the theory and practice of pastoral care in a Christian framework involving an exploration of the biblical, theological, historical, and psychological underpinnings of pastoral care and the role that self-awareness and self-care plays in the lives of pastoral care givers. Several issues that are frequently encountered in pastoral care such as crises, grief, cancer and questions on listening to God are explored.

Dr Andrew Picard, Caleb Haurua and Jordyn Rapana
The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the theory and basic skills of understanding and interrogating culture. In so doing, it seeks to demonstrate how culture has a profound impact on the ways in which we view our own contexts, ourselves, and others’ situations.

Dr Phil Halstead with Dr Michael Rhodes
The Integrative Project, typically undertaken in the final year of the Bachelor of Applied Theology programme, is an opportunity for students to draw on their learning across the Applied Theology curriculum in order to resource understanding and faithful action in relation to an issue at the intersection of their faith, context and practice. Utilizing the integrative framework of Word, World and Work participants will make use of a range of sources of knowledge and approaches to understanding, bringing their faith, contexts and examples of practice into conversation with each other. Having considered the topic and questions that arise in relation to it from within each of those areas, students will develop a faithful Christian response to the issue (in one of a number of possible forms) that demonstrates attentiveness to faith, context and practice.

Sam Kilpatrick
This course aims to introduce students to ideas and practices that are fundamental to youth ministry in New Zealand. It will encourage students to begin the journey of thinking theologically and philosophically about youth ministry. Students will develop pragmatic/ practical skills within the ministry context as well as engaging with a range of recent scholarship that highlights various approaches to, and ethos of youth ministry.

This course uses experience of practical ministry as a basis for biblical and theological reflection and personal growth. Within a half-year period the student will perform 100 hours of practical ministry and reflect upon this with a supervisor, in an online peer group, and in a portfolio and essay. Students may be practitioners in a variety of contexts including pastoral leadership, youth leadership, children and family leadership and cross-cultural/missional ministry.
NB// The supervisor and ministry must be approved by the Co-ordinator of Field Education prior to the first day of the semester for first year students.

This course allows the student to receive credit for supervised training received in an appropriate ministry context. Over the year the student will perform 240 hours of practical ministry and will reflect upon this with a supervisor, in an online peer group, through the compilation of a ministry portfolio and in an essay.

Dr Michael Rhodes
This course is an introduction to reading and interpreting the Old Testament. It provides an overview of the OT, its historical-cultural setting, literary features and overarching theological themes. It also explores how different types of literature in the OT are to be interpreted within their own ancient context and from a Christian perspective as well as how their theological message may be applied today. Students will get practice at basic exegetical skills using OT texts aiming to provide sound basis for further biblical study.

Dr Christa McKirland
In this course we attempt to equip students to analyse and evaluate Christian understandings of the person and work of the Holy Spirit as presented in Scripture and bring those insights into dialogue with contemporary issues. After an introduction to the doctrine of the Trinity, its historical importance and contemporary place, several weeks are devoted to an examination of the biblical presentations of the Spirit, taking particular notice of the development of the doctrine form the Old to the New Testament. Special topics will be covered included: Spirit Christology, the Spirit in relation to the Trinity, and how Trinity and pneumatology are related to other loci of systematic theology.

Dr John Tucker and Dr Andrew Picard
This course explores the story of Christianity in Aotearoa New Zealand from 1814 through to the present day. It examines how the message of the gospel has shaped church and society over the last two hundred years. It illuminates the historical dimensions to many contemporary issues facing the New Zealand church. And it highlights how an understanding of the history of Christianity in Aotearoa is crucial to effective gospel ministry and mission in the country today.

Dr Michael Rhodes
This course examines two areas of Old Testament literature: Psalms, which express in poetic form Israel’s response to God in prayer and worship and the so-called wisdom literature, which deals with the question of how God’s people can be wise in the day-to-day, sometimes mundane, reality of life (Proverbs) as well as in the great challenges of suffering (Job), where general observations about life do not seem to hold. Wisdom literature also encompasses Ecclesiastes, a book that addresses the existential question of meaning and meaninglessness in life and Song of Songs which, although love poetry, also stand in the wisdom tradition of reflecting on love, sex, relationships and God.

Jonathan Robinson
As the Christian faith crossed ethnic and cultural boundaries there were practical implications to be worked out, concepts to be translated into new forms, problems to resolve. The Pauline Letters form an important part of the New Testament documenting the developing life and mission of the first Christian generations. This course studies Romans as a letter, probing background, function and ideas.

Emma Stokes
The Book of Acts is unique among the New Testament writings, connecting of story of Jesus in Luke’s Gospel to the continuing narrative of Jesus’ followers as they took their witness from the geographical centre of Jewish faith in Jerusalem across political, ethnic and cultural boundaries into the heart of the Roman Empire and its capital city. It is a book about mission produced in the context of early Christian mission. In this course we read it in relation to the understanding and practice of mission today, utilising tools of biblical study and of missiological reflection as we engage both the text and our contemporary mission contexts.

Caleb Haurua
This course allows the student to receive accreditation for supervised participation within a number of appropriate ministry contexts. Over the year the student will participate in 240 hours of practical ministry and will reflect upon this with the coordinator, a mentor, in a peer group, in a reflective essay and in a personal journal project. This course is focused on developing the student’s personal formation and self-awareness for ministry and follows a model of Reflective Practice.

Caleb Haurua
This course aims to enable Intermission students to engage with various social contexts and issues, and to practice the process of theological reflection in regard to those situations and topics. Students will interact with issues such as the environment, war, poverty, gender, immigration and sexuality.

Emma Stokes
This course is a gateway into Carey’s Applied Theology programme. Various strands of learning in Bible, theology, spirituality, history, culture and society, and the practice of ministry and mission are introduced with a common orientation towards knowing and serving God within the community of God’s people as participants in God’s mission.

Sam Kilpatrick
This course explores the nature of both the gospel and salvation through the lens of ministering to youth in New Zealand. It will also evaluate the presentation of the gospel in the context of the unique qualities of youth culture and the adolescent experience, making note of various ethnic differences in the New Zealand context. The course will help the student to think through the challenges for youth of living out the gospel in the 21st century, as well as developing ministry solutions, at both an individual and group level.

Jim McInnes
This course explores Christian Spirituality—how to live out the Christian faith—from a biblical, theological, and historical perspective. It introduces students to the major traditions and classic writings within Christian spirituality and engages with a selection of the most pressing issues in contemporary spirituality and ministry. This is a very practical course. Students will discover, practise and discuss a range of spiritual disciplines that will nurture their spiritual growth and sustain their witness and ministry.

Dr Mick Duncan
This course will examine various facets of life that students will encounter during their Intermission year. Students will explore through both biblical and theological approaches how they might interact with, and respond to these facets effectively as young Christians. This course will explore and probe a range of life facets, including: work, family, friendships, money, church, missional flatting, spirituality, holistic mission.

Dr Phil Halstead with Dr Michael Rhodes
The Integrative Project, typically undertaken in the final year of the Bachelor of Applied Theology programme, is an opportunity for students to draw on their learning across the Applied Theology curriculum in order to resource understanding and faithful action in relation to an issue at the intersection of their faith, context and practice. Utilizing the integrative framework of Word, World and Work participants will make use of a range of sources of knowledge and approaches to understanding, bringing their faith, contexts and examples of practice into conversation with each other. Having considered the topic and questions that arise in relation to it from within each of those areas, students will develop a faithful Christian response to the issue (in one of a number of possible forms) that demonstrates attentiveness to faith, context and practice.

Malcolm Gordon
This course strives to integrate both the practical and theological application of worship design and leadership in order to foster meaningful, contextual and biblically grounded response to God as His gathered community. It will explore the narrative nature of worship and liturgy and its formative potential. Students will be exposed to various worship experiences and worship leading guests throughout the actual practice of worship leadership and careful theological planning of creative, experiential, participatory, interactive and connective worship practices.

Dr Paul Windsor
This course provides students with an introduction to the theology and practice of Christian preaching. It starts by considering the nature and importance of preaching for the church’s life and mission. It then moves into the principles and skills of effective preaching. The course will equip students with a sound methodology for preparing and delivering sermons that are faithful, clear, relevant and engaging. It will introduce them to a range of different sermon types and the basic principles of effective oral communication. And it will help students to consider the qualities and practices that are essential to sustaining a preaching ministry. This is a very interactive course with considerable class time devoted to practising skills and evaluating sermons.

Sam Kilpatrick and Rachel Roche
All of us are part of a family of one sort or another. How do we make sense of family in today’s complex world? How do social and cultural changes influence our understanding of what families should be like, including marriage, gender roles, and parenting? This course examines the family and family life in contemporary New Zealand from theological and sociological perspectives. Students will be challenged to think through the implications of such perspectives and family trends in New Zealand for church life and ministry. This course has been developed to support the needs of students engaged in ministry particularly to children, young people, and families.

This course uses experience of practical ministry as a basis for biblical and theological reflection and personal growth. Within a half-year period the student will perform 100 hours of practical ministry and reflect upon this with a supervisor, in an online peer group, and in a portfolio and essay. Students may be practitioners in a variety of contexts including pastoral leadership, youth leadership, children and family leadership and cross-cultural/missional ministry.
NB// The supervisor and ministry must be approved by the Co-ordinator of Field Education prior to the first day of the semester for first year students.

The Research Essay provides students with an opportunity to undertake an in-depth study of a topic or issue in Applied Theology under the guidance of supervisor. The topic will normally be in an area that the student wishes to explore but is outside the scope of available courses in the academic programme. The student will acquire specialist knowledge of a specific field and develop skills in research, the evaluation of evidence and the articulation of ideas.

Dr Michael Rhodes and Jonathan Robinson
The Bible celebrates the good news of God’s kingdom, and places economic life at the centre of that gospel announcement. Contemporary Christians and churches, however, often feel significant tension between their economic lives and their lives as citizens of God’s kingdom. This course will provide a rigorous exploration of Old and New Testament texts that address theological economics and introduce students to some of the ways contemporary economic theories intersect with the Bible’s witness. We will also sit at the table with Christian business leaders, entrepreneurs, and social innovators to learn from those who lead creatively and courageously in pursuing God’s economy in our world today. The aim is to help you and your community to pursue God’s economy in your context, for the glory of God and the good of our neighbours.

Dr Andrew Picard and Dr Christa McKirland
The magnification of the #blacklivesmatter movement and protests about systemic racism around the world raise important issues for theology and the church, not least because of the church’s entanglement in the construction of the modern racial condition. This course examines historical and contemporary misappropriations of theology in the development of current racial issues, and explores the biblical and theological possibilities for a gospel centred account of the church’s anti racial witness to God’s kingdom. The aim is to understand the church’s historic and contemporary relationship to racism and examine biblical and theological possibilities for anti-racist discipleship.