Enhance

Enhance is a new program being offered through the Centre for Theology and Ministry in 2010.

Focusing on leaders engaged in ministry with Children & Families and Youth & Young Adults, Enhance facilitates a combination of learning by doing, learning through reflection and learning through integration of experiences – primarily through participation in an intentional community of practice.

The program invites you to:

•    study your choice of subjects
•    serve through your local church
•    stretch your understanding of yourself and ministry

Application to participate in Enhance is open to anyone contributing at least 8 hours of service per week (paid or volunteer) through their local congregation AND enrolled in at least one subject per semester at a theological college of their choice.

The centre-piece of Enhance is participation in the Enhanced Learning Community. (See Overview and Enhanced Learning Community)


Contact us now in you are interested in learning more!

Help is available from the Centre for Theology and Ministry
 

Depending on your particular focus in ministry, contact one of the following people to find out more:

• Chris Barnett (Children & Families)   
  9340 8806   
  chris [dot] barnett [at] ctm [dot] uca [dot] edu [dot] au

• Drew Hanna (Youth & Young Adults)  
  9340 8808   
  drew [dot] hanna [at] ctm [dot] uca [dot] edu [dot] au

• Peter Mallen (General enquiries)   
  9340 8816   
  peter [dot] mallen [at] ctm [dot] uca [dot] edu [dot] au

Study Component    Applicants make their own choice regarding their preferred subjects and theological institution. Participants need to meet the requirements of their chosen college and are expected to pay for the costs of their study. Access to “Fee Help” or other financial support are subject to the usual criteria. CTM staff are available to help with subject and theological college choices. (See Study Information)

Serving Component    Applicants are to make their own arrangements with their church and are subject to the practices and policies of the local congregation’s denomination (or congregation as applicable). It is recognised that there will be a variety of arrangements in place ranging from those who are purely volunteers through to those who are in full-time employment.  

Stretching Component    Once applicants are in a position to demonstrate their actual or intended study and serving components are in place, they may apply to participate in the Enhanced Learning Community.

Enhanced Learning Community
This community provides an opportunity for learning, reflecting on current ministry and integrating experiences in a peer setting. Gathering together on a fortnightly basis during semesters*, participants will share stories, support one another and be stretched through engagement with experienced ministry practitioners. One definition of such a community of practice is that it is a ‘group of people who share a concern or a passion for something they do and learn how to do it better as they interact regularly’ (Wenger, 2006).

The Enhanced Learning Community offers a safe environment for mutual accountability, discerning future directions in ministry and praying together. Participants will be encouraged to share the reality of their ministry experiences with peers in a position to empathise and provide feedback.

The Enhanced Learning Community takes seriously that we are all learners who are uniquely gifted and called for Christian service – irrespective of age, gender or denominational background. A diversity of life experience across the participants considerably enhances the growth potential of the group. It recognises that each participant brings wisdom and knowledge, and is both a learner and a teacher of others. Participation in the community seeks to encourage an attitude of lifelong learning.

* = An alternate model for gathering will be available for Regional participants. On-line subjects and/or intensives are more likely to be the preferred study option and gathering as an Enhanced Learning Community will take place on at least a monthly basis – ideally in a suitable regional location – subject to numbers.   



Presbyteries will play a valuable role in the development of Enhance as they raise awareness of the program, assist congregations in identifying suitable participants and encourage participation in the program.
•    For Melbourne metro participants, the expectation is that the regular gathering as an Enhanced Learning Community will take place on a fortnightly basis during academic semesters.
•    For Regional participants, on-line subjects and/or intensives are more likely to be the preferred study option and gathering as an Enhanced Learning Community will take place on at least a monthly basis – ideally in a suitable regional location – subject to numbers.   

Enhance, the Period of Discernment and Ministry Pathways

Elements of Enhance are quite similar to some Period of Discernment requirements. These include the study component, the intentional reflection on ministry and the discerning of future direction in ministry. There are also significant differences – group responsible for oversight (CTM vs. presbytery), area of ministry (working in an established ministry vs. exploring potential areas of ministry). It may be that a Period of Discernment could overlap or complement the Enhance program. Hence if a Uniting Church participant in Enhance is considering entering the Period of Discernment process, CTM will encourage them to talk with their Presbytery about what may be common elements. Particular care will also be needed in choosing their study component.

Nb. Enhance does not seek to replace existing requirements regarding the Period of Discernment but may offer alternative options for fulfilling some of the requirements.
 

Why is study included in the program?

The journey of faith is an adventure in discovery as we learn more about God, ourselves and ministry in the world.  Stretching our minds is one good way to gain greater understanding of each of these areas and so to be better equipped for ministry. Just as we learn by doing we also learn by reflection and hence it is helpful to combine these different ways of learning. Some of the benefits of theological study include encountering God afresh through the Scriptures, learning more about yourself and your gifts for witness and service, developing new skills for ministry and exploring ways to connect faith with contemporary issues.

Flexibility of Choice

There are a number of ways to fulfil these goals and Enhance has been designed to give you maximum flexibility in choosing your study component in terms of choice of subjects, choice of theological institution and choice of study delivery. We recognise that participants range from those who have not studied for a long time through to those who are undertaking postgraduate work. Potential participants may appreciate knowing that Chris Barnett, Drew Hanna and Peter Mallen from the Centre for Theology and Ministry are available to assist you in making your selections.

Some Examples of Study Options    

Different levels of study and modes of engagement will be suitable for different participants depending on previous experience of study, geographical location, life-stage, work/home context and other commitments. Thus regional participants may find on-line subjects more suitable, those with family commitments may find intensives preferable wherever possible while others may appreciate the discipline of weekly face to face engagement.

By way of example, some specific options include…

Cert IV        Tabor College (Ringwood North) offers this as does Uniting College (Adelaide) in an on-line format     

Diploma    Whitley College (Parkville) offers a variety of study formats and Trinity College has a fully on-line option.

Degree        Most colleges offer subjects at this level

Graduate Diploma    UFT (Parkville) has an offering that includes On-Line options at this level

Postgraduate     Check with individual colleges regarding requirements for acceptance into Postgraduate programs

Relationship between Enhance and the chosen theological college

Enhance has been intentionally designed so that the Study Component is a direct relationship between the participant and their chosen theological institution. That is, responsibility for the Study Component (the formal academic requirement) is independent of the Centre for Theology and Ministry. It is important, however, that potential Enhance participants considering formal Ministry training in their specific denomination take particular care in choosing their Study Component. This may affect both their choice of college and level of study (e.g. at degree level). This should be checked prior to committing to a specific course of study.

Time commitment

Potential Enhance participants need to seriously consider the time they have available to address all aspects of the program – their study load, their commitment to their local congregation, their participation in the Enhanced Learning Community – in the light of their own unique circumstances.

No academic credit for Enhanced Learning Community

Due to the desire to minimise cost and maintain maximum flexibility with regard to content, the decision has been made not to seek academic accreditation for participation in the Enhanced Learning Community as a formal unit of study. Thus, participation in the Enhanced Learning Community does not contribute to any formal academic requirements.  

For more information on potential study options, please contact Chris Barnett, Drew Hanna or Peter Mallen




Participants are expected to pay the fees of their study component as per the normal requirements of their chosen college. Access to “Fee Help” or other financial support is available subject to the usual criteria.

There is an additional cost of $400 (payable to the Centre for Theology and Ministry) to cover the costs associated with the Enhanced Learning Community. It is expected that the local congregation of participants may contribute a significant proportion – if not all – of this cost as evidence of its support. In addition, the denominations of participants may be encouraged to provide support for participants through the provision of Grants, Bursaries, or Scholarships.

CTM is exploring ways in which lay education grants may be made available to Uniting Church participants to assist them with meeting the costs associated with studying (depending on the