04.23 Discipline Requirements for Written Assessments

Biblical Studies: As students progress through College, they will be expected to demonstrate the methodological, exegetical, and theological skills being developed. First year students will be expected to answer the question and show an understanding of the relevant biblical texts. Second year students will be expected to address methodological questions, engage in basic exegesis and relate particular issues to the broad framework of biblical theology. Third year students should demonstrate such abilities at an intermediate level, and fourth years should do so at an advanced level.

Systematic Theology: The aim of theological writing is to present a clear, cogent and compelling account of biblical teaching on an aspect of reality, viewed from the perspective of God and his purposes as these are focused in Jesus Christ. This entails accurately and empathetically reading and interacting critically with the relevant primary and secondary sources (the Bible, reflection upon the issue over the history of theology, contemporary issues in both the world at large and in the theological academy). Coherence is a significant feature of any persuasive theological account and so evidence of the capacity to draw appropriate connections between ideas is an important feature of theological essays. As students progress through college, they will be expected to give increasing evidence of the various skills (research, analysis, synthesis) being developed.

Church History: Essays should report accurately and empathetically, interact critically with the relevant primary and secondary sources, reflect an awareness of relevant scholarly and historiographical issues. As students progress through college, they will be expected to give increasing evidence of the various historiographical skills (research, analysis, synthesis) being developed.

Ethics: Essays should locate the ethically relevant material and issues from the Bible and experience, reflect an understanding and appreciation of the variety of ethical stances, and critically assess various ethical stances against their wider philosophical and theological foundations. As students progress through college, they will be expected to give increasing evidence of the various ethical skills being developed. In addition to the above, fourth year essays should reflect an adequate understanding of sociological categories and the structures and institutions imbedded in various aspects of society (Australian society in particular).

Ministry: Written Assessments should demonstrate a capacity to identify and understand problems and issues in Christian ministry, and to explore and evaluate a range of possible responses.  In both the understanding of issues and the development of responses, theologically shaped critical reflection on all aspects of any given scenario is essential.  This will include an awareness of self, others, interpersonal relationships and the history which brought the situation about.  Throughout the degree the complexity of the ministry scenarios, and the level of sophistication and integration required in formulating a response, will increase.