Justice, advocacy and reconciliation are key biblical themes which frame our Christian witness and contribute to creating a world where people and the environment can flourish and become all that God wants them to be.
In an increasingly complex and globalised world, there is a critical need for us to identify and understand how the structures of society can facilitate or obstruct the flow of justice and how the Church can act in ways which promote justice, advocacy and reconciliation.
Redcliffe's exciting new MA in Justice, Advocacy and Reconciliation in Intercultural Contexts seeks to equip the rapidly-growing number of people involved in justice and mission-related activity. Students will explore Biblical frameworks, mission thinking and practice and explore a number of key issues in areas of socio-political, economic and environmental (in)justice.
The course is being developed in consultation with Christian Aid, International Justice Mission, Micah Challenge, CARE and Coventry Cathedral’s Reconciliation ministry, along with others who will be involved in the ongoing development and delivery of the course. It is subject to validation by the University of Gloucestershire and the planned start date is September 2012
Who is the course for?
- Mission agencies who require their members to develop biblical, theological and missiological frameworks in preparation for justice, advocacy or reconciliation-related work
- Partner agencies with members who wish to develop theological and missiological perspectives to undergird their justice-related expertise
- Those already engaged in mission who want to reflect biblically and missiologically on their role and activity
- Members of para-church agencies and non-governmental organisations working in related areas who wish to develop biblical and theological frameworks for reflective critique
- Missionaries on home leave, looking to reflect and engage with such issues, relevant to their mission context
- Church leaders and the wider Christian community engaged in justice-related ministry and who wish to add a theological/missiological framework
Course structure
Students complete three compulsory modules* and choose one further module from the options below.
- Method and content in missiological study*
- Just Mission - justice issues in intercultural contexts*
- Advocacy, Reconciliation and Peace-building in intercultural contexts*
- The mission of the Church in the context of post-colonialism and globalisation
- Theology of religions
- The Greening of mission
- Crucial issues in Asian mission and theology
- Crucial Issues in European mission and theology
- An introduction to global leadership
- Independent study module
The MA is available in full-time, part-time and flexible learning modes. For all modes, the taught
component of each module is delivered in intensive blocs, i.e lectures
run over several 2-4 day periods with time for personal study between
intensives.
Justice is still the ugly sister in theological education. This is an awful tragedy because it remains one of the most pervasive ideas and convictions in the Bible. Our reluctance to go beyond acts of kindness to explore and respond to systemic injustices has a great deal to do with a distinct lack of theological reflection. This new MA, and the jusTice Initiative is attempting to put that right and deserves our support. A more robust biblical reflection on this critical issue will produce a generation of men and women who are truly able to show the whole council of God, make a substantial difference to our biblical advocacy and in turn, make a material difference to the 1.4 billion people who still live in abject poverty.
Joel Edwards, International Director of Micah Challenge
The MA in Justice, Advocacy & Reconciliation is part of the activity of the jusTice initiative being developed and hosted at Redcliffe. The initiative aims to host a Justice and Mission lecture, and a visiting scholar in the coming, and subsequent, years. It also aims to develop a bi-annual consultation focusing on issues of Justice and Mission.
Studying the 'flexible learning mode' option
This distance learning style course combines is ideal for mission practitioners working overseas or on home assignment, international students, and those who are unable to spend an extended period of time away from the workplace or home.
More information
A full list of module options will shortly be available for download using the link opposite. Optional modules will run subject to sufficient numbers of students. Please do not hesitate to
get in touch if you have any questions, or use the links on the left.
The Postgraduate MA in Justice, Advocacy and Reconciliation in Intercultural Contexts is validated by the University of Gloucestershire. Planned start date is September 2012