Higher Certificate in Bible Teaching

Purpose

This qualification aims at equipping and become qualified learners as preachers and teachers of the Bible and theological truths for the Christian ministry. As trained preachers and teachers and pastoral counsellors, the learners (pastors, elders and deacons) will preach biblically based sermons and effectively manage local churches and enrich the lives of people in communities with pastoral counselling abilities. Those who may not attain pastoral positions will still be able to teach and preach sound biblical truths, demonstrate skills of Christian living needed to encourage, counsel and mentor others to grow in grace, faith and in a spiritual relationship with Christ. In this way, they will be able to contribute to moral regeneration and transformation in broken and hurting communities.

This qualification intends to equip Bible preachers and teachers. Amid the increasing unbiblical teachings, immorality, poverty and devastation, this qualification will:

• Provide character formation and enrich their lives to become competent in Christian ministry;
• Develop and mentor other leaders for spiritual growth and the development of churches and
• Simultaneously curbing destructive heretic tendencies that are increasingly spreading and exploit people in many societies within southern Africa.

The institution expects learners who complete the programme successfully to be able to work in their communities in order to promote the growth and development of said communities positively. They will be able to act ethically and live according to Christian values. On completion of the Higher Certificate in Bible Teaching programme, they will be able to teach others in a variety of contexts.

Rationale

The qualification emphasises

• Small, modularised units of content;
• Mastery of one unit before moving to the next;
• Immediate and frequent feedback to learners on their progress;
• Active learner involvement in the learning process is consistently effective in enhancing subject matter learning over more traditional learning formats.

Implementation of this qualification will offer training opportunities to more leaders, office bearers and members from different Christian denominations that are currently experiencing an acute shortage of well- trained and competent preachers and leaders. The established distance learning centre will enrol between seven to fifteen learners per academic year.

The qualification offers to learn access into higher education's Bachelor of Theology Degree or Bachelor of Arts in Theology. The training for those church leaders, church officers and members who serve or would like to work in the church and cannot meet minimum entry requirements into a Diploma or Degree in Theology qualification. The qualification offers both a learning pathway into higher education for:

• Learners serving in the local churches and communities;
• Some courses will be Work Integrated Learning (WIL) in a way while learning learners may be given opportunities to lead Bible study groups and to preach in their homes and local churches and provide necessary pastoral counselling to people in need.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Interpretation and Implementation.

The institution's rationale for RPL is part of the National Plan for Higher Education in South Africa, with specific reference to the emphasis on increased access to higher education. The evaluation of prior learning is an academic task like other forms of assessment and is done by academic experts in a given field, drawing on other experts if needed. RPL builds on knowledge and skills that adults have already acquired. RPL practices for specific qualifications are context-specific and framed appropriately to those differing contexts.

• RPL is available to all staff and wishing to gain access to the institution for study purposes. The institution's RPL uses ways that allow learners a reasonable chance of succeeding in their studies. Provision of academic support forms an integral part of the RPL process. Learners contribute towards RPL administration fees. The contribution will not exceed the cost of a full-time face-to-face subject or learning institution. The following are taken into account when establishing assessment mechanisms and assessing learning from work or life experience:

> Authenticity - the applicant can successfully demonstrate the learning outcome;

> Currency - the learning outcome is still valid and demonstrable;

> Quality - the learning reached the acceptable level;

> Relevance - the learning applies to the area claimed;

> Transferability - the learning outcome applies outside the specific context of learning;

> Comparability - the assessment mechanisms ensured that the prior learning is comparable in content and standard with the subject(s).

The standards applied in assessing prior learning should are not higher than those required to pass the learning programme. Once a learner has been awarded credit based on RPL, subsequent credit transfer based on these learning outcomes is not allowed. Final accountability for the successful implementation of this Policy lies with the Academic Management Committee. The Head of Department is responsible for the actual implementation of this Policy and their commitment to its implementation will form part of their performance appraisal areas.

Entry Requirements

The minimum entry requirement for this qualification is

• Senior Certificate, NQF Level 4.

Or

• National Senior Certificate, NQF Level 4 granting access to Higher Certificate studies.

Or

• National Certificate Vocational, NQF Level 4 granting access to Higher Certificate studies.

This qualification consists of the following compulsory and elective modules at Level 5, totalling 120 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, 120 Credits

• Character Values for Bible Teachers, 10 Credits.
• Survey of the Old Testament 1, 10 Credits.
• Survey of the Old Testament 2, 10 Credits.
• Survey of the New Testament 1, 10 Credits.
• Survey of the New Testament 2, 10 Credits.
• How to interpret the Bible, 10 Credits.
• Biblical and African Worldviews, 10 Credits.
• Understanding Bible Doctrine 1, 10 Credits.
• Understanding Bible Doctrine 2, 10 Credits.
• Preaching and Teaching the Bible 1, 10 Credits.
• Preaching and Teaching the Bible 2, 10 Credits.
• Biblical Ethics for Christian Living, 10 Credits.

1. Knowledge of the major teachings, events, literary divisions and places of the Bible and the significant events and key figures in church history as well as the correct understanding of the most useful principles and terms broadly relating to Bible-teaching ministry.
2. Develop and divide an awareness of how the central creedal systems.
3. Select and apply appropriate principles and methods of Bible interpretation, Bible teaching and preaching and biblical counselling in a local church and learning institution.
4. Identify the roots of everyday life problems and apply some standard procedures in helping counselees to solve or cope with those problems.
5. Conform to the ethical standards of character and social behaviour presented in the Bible to oppose crime and immorality and promote ethical values and ethics.
6. Select, collect, analyse, evaluate and apply necessary research skills by skilful information from the Bible as a primary source and from other sources (primarily literary, both digital or printed) and by acknowledging all sources in an accepted way.
7. Communicate Biblical truth orally and in written form in their vernacular language(s) and English.
8. Appreciate the multicultural church and society and an understanding of the various local worldviews.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome (Integrated)

• Identify and solve problems in which responses display that responsible decision using critical and creative thinking from the Biblical worldview into consideration.
• Work effectively with others as a member of a team or group.
• Organise and manage oneself and one's activities responsibly and effectively demonstrating ability in time management.
• Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information.
• Demonstrate an understanding of contemporary issues within society and the ability to engage these critically.
• Apply competent Interpretation of the Bible and present-day circumstances.
• Demonstrate an in-depth grasp of the Old and New Testaments and critical issues related to Interpretation and Presentation.
• Conduct research independently and competently.
• Apply classroom knowledge to the Work environment.
• Interpret the Bible sufficiently to be able to use the knowledge gained to teach the content coherently, and that the audience has a good grasp of the information and know-how to handle it in life.

Integrated Assessment

There is evidence of the integration of knowledge, skills and attitudes (values) across the assessment. Also, there must be opportunities for learners to show that the ability to demonstrate the achievement of several outcomes (both critical and specific) within a single assessment task. The assessment should focus on the application of the learners' learning.

All assessment will be continuous. The assessment will be regular, cyclical and formative. In line with an Outcomes-Based Education approach, learners should be assessed on an on-going basis in a variety of ways during the module.

Formative Assessment

Part of all assessment should be formative (i.e. for the benefit of learners' learning, rather than for educational decision-making). Formative assessments use a variety of methods.

Summative Assessments

There will be a minimum of two summative assessments during the term.