This stream is designed for lay or ordained persons, from all traditions, who are interested in exploring the challenges of mission in the context of religious pluralism. This course brings a missional emphasis to the contemporary pluralist world for application in the vocation of mission and evangelism today.
We live in a world that is plural, and we seek to share our faith with all. This brings challenges when we seek to include people of living faith. This course helps us to think through these issues, understand the sensitivites needed and be able to share Christ with all. It is delivered full or part time.
There are two core units of study for the Mission (Religious Pluralism) stream:
- Mission and Religious Pluralism – main themes include a study of models of inter-faith understanding, being missional in a religiously plural world, and dialogue, syncretism, fundamentalism and confrontation. The course is assessed by a 6,000-7,000 word assignment.
- Mission and Religious Pluralism Literature – main themes include an exploration of texts from evangelical, pentecostal, ecumenical and Roman Catholic sources, among others. The course is assessed by a 6,000-7,000 word assignment.
This course can be undertaken part time at a number of different levels:
- Postgraduate Certificate in Mission (Religious Pluralism): a two-year part-time course incorporating the two units of study
- Postgraduate Diploma in Mission (Religious Pluralism): a two-year part-time course incorporating the two core units of study and two units of study from across the syllabus.
- MA in Mission (Religious Pluralism): a one-year full-time or a two-year part-time course incorporating the two units of study AND two units of study from across the syllabus, plus a Masters level dissertation of 12–15,000 words.
For part-time students, there is one teaching week and one Indepenent Study Unit for this stream. The module specific to the course, MRP1, is delivered in February each year. It is expected that part time students will work on average 12 hours a week for 30 weeks in each year in addition to researching a dissertation, if required. Full-time students will complete all the units relevant to their course in a year (up to four for MA level) and have until the following March to submit a dissertation, if required.
