Learning Programme Overview
1. Orientation:
The programme begins with robust and interactive sessions.
2. Knowledge Modules (KM):
This programme constitutes 13 knowledge modules.
This part of the program is done online. It includes submitting assignments for continuous assessment.
Each module concludes with a final summative assessment to ensure your mastery of the required competencies.
Your Learner Guide and additional resources will be accessed online. Much of your reading and research material will be available through our onedrive. You will receive a link to download this material.
You cover a Module at a time and may only move to the next module upon satisfactory completion of each. You receive the status of Module Competency upon completion.
Certain textbooks will be prescribed and bought additionally. Please review and refer to the textbook learning matrix . We have chosen books that will have a lasting place in your ministry.
3. Practical Component (You have 16 Practical Modules):
Practical tasks will be intergraded as part of your Knowledge Component. You begin with the 16 Practical Modules after Knowledge Module-07.
You will receive an online Practical Learner Guide which explains the required practical projects.
You will submit evidence in the form of reports, essays, evaluations, etc., similar to the way your KM assignments are submitted.
4. Apprenticeship (Workplace Component – You will have 5 Work Modules):
Occupational training requires an apprenticeship. During this training programme, you will complete this work placement either in your local church or in the ministry you currently work in. The Work Component begins 6 months into this program. For you, this will begin in July 2021 – Term 2 and Term 3.
Ministry Supervisor – Because this is an Occupational Certificate, you are required to nominate your Workplace Supervisor. This person must be willing to supervise the workplace component of this program and complete the Work Module Reporting Form.
Our admin office will be the contact person for your Ministry Supervisor and will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with them as a partner in your learning programme. Your nominee may either be:
- Your senior pastoral leader or another spiritual leader on staff where you will do your Work Modules.
- Another respected pastor in your community/fraternity/denomination/movement, or a retired pastor able to supervise your work modules (If you are already a working pastor, and require the oversight of another ordained minister who can observe your Work Modules)
- A Faith-Based Organisation (NPO) leader (If you are volunteering or working with such, and can complete the Work Modules in this context).
You will nominate this supervisor in your first 6 months and RaGLA will formalise this person’s role through a Memorandum of Understanding, which is signed by both RaGLA and the Supervisor.
Below is a graph to show you the alignment of the KM’s, PM’s and WM’s:
| KM-01, Essentials and characteristics of religious practitioners | ||
| KM-02, The Bible and Bible interpretation | ||
| KM-03, Basic Christian concepts | ||
| KM-04, Christian ethics | ||
| KM-05, History of the church and an overview of a variety of Christian traditions | ||
| KM-06, Principles of building the faith community | ||
| KM-07, Principles of preaching | PM-01, Prepare sermons that will address the spiritual and contextual needs of the faith community | WM-01, Prepare and conduct a worship service to nurture the relationship with God |
| KM-08, Principles of conducting services | PM-02, Conduct worship services within the faith community, | |
| KM-09, Spiritual formation, life skills training and value system development | PM-03, Interact with groups and individuals in order to facilitate spiritual growth | WM-02, Plan and conduct teachings, and develop ministry activities, to enhance the quality of fellowship and mutual care |
| PM-04, Nurture fellowship among members of the faith community | ||
| KM-10, Principles of pastoral counselling in a Christian context | PM-05, Lead the faith community to show loving care in times of need or crisis | |
| PM-06, Lead the faith community to live according to a Christian value system and Christian virtues | ||
| PM 07, Develop pro-active and reactive (coping) life skills in the faith community through preaching and teaching and mentoring | WM-03, Develop pro-active and reactive (coping) life skills and nurture Christian values in a faith community | |
| KM-12, Principles of church leadership and ministry management | PM-08, Lead a faith community through visionary spiritual leadership (strategic management as a spiritual discipline) | WM-04, Engage the leadership of a faith community in discussions on visional leadership and operational management practices |
| PM-09, Build the spiritual leadership capacity of the congregation / faith community | ||
| KM-13, Church administration, accountability and financial management | PM-10, Facilitate effective ministries in a faith community (operational management as a spiritual discipline) | |
| PM-11, Facilitate stewardship processes in the faith community (stewardship as a spiritual discipline) | ||
| KM-11, The missional calling of the Church, | PM-12, Mobilise the faith community to share the good news of Jesus Christ with the world | |
| PM-13, Plan and execute outreach programs to deal with socio-economic and other relevant needs in the wider community | WM-05, Plan and execute an outreach or community development project in a community | |
| PM-14, Initiate and / or participate in interventions to deal with needs and emergency situations in the community | ||
| PM-15, Participate in inter-faith community development initiatives | ||
| PM-16, Plan and manage the effective use of media | ||
5. External Intergrated Summative Assessment: Upon programme completion, the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) will invite audit your Statement of Results and invite you to sit for an External Intergrated Summative Assessment (EISA). This includes the writing of 2 3-hour papers, testing your ability to do the work of a Christian leader in ministry. We will prepare you through sample exam papers. We will also assist you to coordinate the venue and date of the supervised exit assessment.
6. Certification and Graduation: Upon successful completion of this programme and the External Integrated Summative Assessment, you will be awarded a SAQA recognised NQF5 National Certificate; namely, the Occupational Certificate: Christian Religious Professional.
The Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO https://www.qcto.org.za) invites learners to sit for the national exam, which includes 2 papers of 3 hours each. These exams are normally written at an exam centre, on a Saturday. We will arrange for you to write your exit exam at an exam centre close to where you live.
Graduation Ceremony details will then be communicated.