1. Welcome Note
Dear student, greetings! I am pleased to welcome you to this module that will help you to understand mission of the church in practice; thus how the church reaches on the people with provisions to their needs. Yet people are spiritually struggling but also, physically, socially, emotionally and intellectually. Church is not there for only preaching, it even feeds, educates, cures, does counselling... People are suffering from different humiliations, they need someone to care, support and empower. The church is there ready for that ministry. I hope you will enjoy the course!
2. Module Title: Diaconal ministry
3. Module Code: THE 3132
4. Number of Credits: 10
5. Brief Description and Content of the Module
Diaconal ministry discusses the other dimension of the mission of the church, mission in actions. The church activities which seeks to free people from their humiliating situations including poverty, sicknesses, illiteracy and other injustices that prevent them from enjoying the love of God; in other words, their rights. Definition and history of diakonia; it discusses some Church father’s teaching on the deaconate, diakonia in contemporary time, biblical and theological basis for diakonia, challenges in diaconal Ministry, some orientation, Diakonia in our Rwandan culture and prophetic and advocacy role of the church.
It aims at:
Giving to the students, basic knowledge of the concepts of the diaconal service in the Bible, and in the actual situations of the Churches
· Enabling the students to Identify current diaconal challenges for the churches in Rwanda and the way forward to address these challenges
Giving basic knowledge on caring for aged person and someone with disabilities.
ways to get help and support People with disabilities
· Enabling student to understand biblical and theological approaches to disabilities and aged people.
· Giving to student basic knowledge on pastoral care of People with disabilities, aged People and substance rug addicted People.
· Helping student to develop an understanding and capacity to become advocates for social justice in their current or future work as church ministers.
Enabling student to understand the Biblical foundations and critical issues of human rights advocacy
· Equipping student with strategies for advocacy as future church minister
6.Learning Outcomes
6.1. Knowledge and Understanding
Having successfully completed the module, students should be able to:
Explain the concepts of the diaconal service in the Bible, and in the actual situations of the Churches;
Describe the diaconal aspects in the Rwandan culture and today’s diaconal challenges for the churches in Rwanda;
Explain how stigmatization is done and the contribution of churches and Faith Braised Organizations in Rwanda in the fight stigma toward people with disabilities and drug addicted;
Describe symptoms of Drug addiction and its prevention;
Explain theological approaches for caring aged people, people with disabilities and drug addicted people;
Define the meaning of advocacy and how it relates to Human rights principles.
6.2. Cognitive / Intellectual Skills / Application of Knowledge
Having successfully completed the module, students should be able to:
Describe how deacon service is done in our respective churches today and challenges;
Identify diaconal challenges that his/her church is facing and propose some ways for solution or mitigations;
Demonstrate how diaconal service is a tool of church growth;
Able to fight against stigma towards the people with disabilities and Drug addicted People;
To suggest some measure to make churches, places of player inclusive and accessible for People with disabilities;
Develop effective strategies for advocates in social justice for disadvantaged and minority groups.
6.3.Communication / ICT / Numeracy / Analytic Techniques / Practical Skills
Having successfully completed the module, students should be able to:
Create diaconal activities which could help the growth of church;
Fight against stigma towards the people with disabilities and drug addicted people;
Develop different ways of diaconal ministry within the church;
Create awareness to the community about inclusiveness of People with disabilities;
Fight against stigma of people with disabilities and drug addicted people;
Advocate and lobby to influence positive change.
6.4. General transferable skills
Having successfully completed the module, students should be able to:
Sensitize the community to avoid stigma towards People with disabilities;
Preach on social injustice;
Help the needy using the diaconal service within the church;
Train and empower leadership in good advocacy practices within the Church.
7. Learning and Teaching Strategy
Face to face lectures, group discussions, seminars and workshops, practical classes and library works.
8. Strategy for Assessment
In-course assignments (Individual and group), presentations and final examination.
9. Resources
Alston, P., & Robinson, M. (2005) Human rights and development: Towards mutual rein-forcement: Oxford University Press, Oxford; New York.
Kihumbu, Tairu, the African and the AIDS, holocaust: a historical and medical perspective, Phoenix Publishers, Nairobi 2004.
Mbiti, S. J. 1994 African religions and Philosophy; London; East African Educational Publishers Ltd.
Kolb, D. (1985). Learning style inventory, Boston, Massachusetts: McBer and Company.
MUSA, D. (2004)’ Africa praying: A handbook on HIV-AIDS, sensitive sermon guidelines and liturgy, WCC Publications, Geneva.
MUSA D. (2004). HIV-AIDS and the curriculum: Methods of integrating HIV-AIDS in theological programs, WCC Publications, Geneva.
Malcolm, T. (2002) Key concept in Adult education and training, 2nd edition, London: Routledge-Falmer
The Africa Desk of the World Council of Churches Commission on Inter-Church Aid, Refugee and World Service (1991) Diakonia, Towards Christian Service for our Time: Geneva; CICARWS.
10. Teaching/Technical Assistance
Projector, books, articles, handout notes
11. Module leader
This module is facilitated by Nsengimana Benoit Israel, a Pastor in the Anglican Church of Rwanda who is also serving as the Dean of the Faculty of Theology and Religion.
Tel: +250788802739
e-mail address: gateteisrael@gmail.com
Co-leader
Mukakirunga Gaudence
Dear student, greetings! I am pleased to welcome you to this module that will help you to understand mission of the church in practice; thus how the church reaches on the people with provisions to their needs. Yet people are spiritually struggling but also, physically, socially, emotionally and intellectually. Church is not there for only preaching, it even feeds, educates, cures, does counselling... People are suffering from different humiliations, they need someone to care, support and empower. The church is there ready for that ministry. I hope you will enjoy the course!
2. Module Title: Diaconal ministry
3. Module Code: THE 3132
4. Number of Credits: 10
5. Brief Description and Content of the Module
Diaconal ministry discusses the other dimension of the mission of the church, mission in actions. The church activities which seeks to free people from their humiliating situations including poverty, sicknesses, illiteracy and other injustices that prevent them from enjoying the love of God; in other words, their rights. Definition and history of diakonia; it discusses some Church father’s teaching on the deaconate, diakonia in contemporary time, biblical and theological basis for diakonia, challenges in diaconal Ministry, some orientation, Diakonia in our Rwandan culture and prophetic and advocacy role of the church.
It aims at:
Giving to the students, basic knowledge of the concepts of the diaconal service in the Bible, and in the actual situations of the Churches
· Enabling the students to Identify current diaconal challenges for the churches in Rwanda and the way forward to address these challenges
Giving basic knowledge on caring for aged person and someone with disabilities.
ways to get help and support People with disabilities
· Enabling student to understand biblical and theological approaches to disabilities and aged people.
· Giving to student basic knowledge on pastoral care of People with disabilities, aged People and substance rug addicted People.
· Helping student to develop an understanding and capacity to become advocates for social justice in their current or future work as church ministers.
Enabling student to understand the Biblical foundations and critical issues of human rights advocacy
· Equipping student with strategies for advocacy as future church minister
6.Learning Outcomes
6.1. Knowledge and Understanding
Having successfully completed the module, students should be able to:
Explain the concepts of the diaconal service in the Bible, and in the actual situations of the Churches;
Describe the diaconal aspects in the Rwandan culture and today’s diaconal challenges for the churches in Rwanda;
Explain how stigmatization is done and the contribution of churches and Faith Braised Organizations in Rwanda in the fight stigma toward people with disabilities and drug addicted;
Describe symptoms of Drug addiction and its prevention;
Explain theological approaches for caring aged people, people with disabilities and drug addicted people;
Define the meaning of advocacy and how it relates to Human rights principles.
6.2. Cognitive / Intellectual Skills / Application of Knowledge
Having successfully completed the module, students should be able to:
Describe how deacon service is done in our respective churches today and challenges;
Identify diaconal challenges that his/her church is facing and propose some ways for solution or mitigations;
Demonstrate how diaconal service is a tool of church growth;
Able to fight against stigma towards the people with disabilities and Drug addicted People;
To suggest some measure to make churches, places of player inclusive and accessible for People with disabilities;
Develop effective strategies for advocates in social justice for disadvantaged and minority groups.
6.3.Communication / ICT / Numeracy / Analytic Techniques / Practical Skills
Having successfully completed the module, students should be able to:
Create diaconal activities which could help the growth of church;
Fight against stigma towards the people with disabilities and drug addicted people;
Develop different ways of diaconal ministry within the church;
Create awareness to the community about inclusiveness of People with disabilities;
Fight against stigma of people with disabilities and drug addicted people;
Advocate and lobby to influence positive change.
6.4. General transferable skills
Having successfully completed the module, students should be able to:
Sensitize the community to avoid stigma towards People with disabilities;
Preach on social injustice;
Help the needy using the diaconal service within the church;
Train and empower leadership in good advocacy practices within the Church.
7. Learning and Teaching Strategy
Face to face lectures, group discussions, seminars and workshops, practical classes and library works.
8. Strategy for Assessment
In-course assignments (Individual and group), presentations and final examination.
9. Resources
Alston, P., & Robinson, M. (2005) Human rights and development: Towards mutual rein-forcement: Oxford University Press, Oxford; New York.
Kihumbu, Tairu, the African and the AIDS, holocaust: a historical and medical perspective, Phoenix Publishers, Nairobi 2004.
Mbiti, S. J. 1994 African religions and Philosophy; London; East African Educational Publishers Ltd.
Kolb, D. (1985). Learning style inventory, Boston, Massachusetts: McBer and Company.
MUSA, D. (2004)’ Africa praying: A handbook on HIV-AIDS, sensitive sermon guidelines and liturgy, WCC Publications, Geneva.
MUSA D. (2004). HIV-AIDS and the curriculum: Methods of integrating HIV-AIDS in theological programs, WCC Publications, Geneva.
Malcolm, T. (2002) Key concept in Adult education and training, 2nd edition, London: Routledge-Falmer
The Africa Desk of the World Council of Churches Commission on Inter-Church Aid, Refugee and World Service (1991) Diakonia, Towards Christian Service for our Time: Geneva; CICARWS.
10. Teaching/Technical Assistance
Projector, books, articles, handout notes
11. Module leader
This module is facilitated by Nsengimana Benoit Israel, a Pastor in the Anglican Church of Rwanda who is also serving as the Dean of the Faculty of Theology and Religion.
Tel: +250788802739
e-mail address: gateteisrael@gmail.com
Co-leader
Mukakirunga Gaudence
- Teacher: MUKAKIRUNGA Gaudence
- Teacher: Benoit Israel Nsengimana