| CODE | MRT5830 | ||||||
| TITLE | Ethical Issues of Spiritual Companionship | ||||||
| UM LEVEL | 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course | ||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 7 | ||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 5 | ||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Moral Theology | ||||||
| DESCRIPTION | In this study-unit, an interdisciplinary approach will illustrate the internal connections between the ethical and the spiritual realms of spiritual companionship. The lectures will offer a more clearly defined idea of the ethical implications of this ministry. Those involved in the ministry of spiritual companionship need to be familiar with guidelines so as to ensure that spiritual care in ministry is appropriate. Issues of “confidentiality”, “parameters”, “referrals”, “power” and "spiritual abuse" will be looked into, with the implications they have for spiritual companionship and pastoral care in general. Study-Unit Aims: - To outline the ethical norms that underlie the experience of spiritual companionship; - To integrate the vocational and professional dimensions of spiritual companionship; - To explore how spiritual experience and ethical considerations are interrelated. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - to establish guidelines that ensure an appropriate development of the ministry of spiritual companionship; - to recognize the signs indicative of internal and more subtle forms of abuse, especially spiritual; - to identify the extent and limit up to which confidentiality must be observed. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - implement the ethical demands that this ministry contains; - investigate issues of competence; - argue scenarios wherein issues of power, dual roles, and conflict of interest are at play. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Texts: - KAREN LEBACQZ – JOSEPH D. DRISKILL, Ethics and Spiritual Care: A Guide for Pastors, Chaplains and Spiritual Directors, Abingdon Press, 2000. - GULA RICHARD M., Just Ministry. Professional Ethics for Patoral Ministries, Paulist Press, New York/Mahwah NJ 2010. - SANDERS RANDOLPH K., Christian Ethics: A Handbook for Psychologists, Therapists, and Pastors, InterVarsity Press, IL 2013. - CODE OF ETHICS OF THE AUSTRALIAN ECUMENICAL COUNCIL FOR SPIRITUAL DIRECTION: http://spiritualdirection.org.au/Electronic-resources/Code-of-Ethics-for-Spiritual-Directors.html. - GUIDELINES FOR ETHICAL CONDUCT – SPIRITUAL DIRECTORS INTERNATIONAL. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | ||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Joseph Farrugia |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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