Supervision means to “see beyond”.   Supervision is where you can talk about your work and through that process, see beyond the obvious and known aspects of your ministry to gain insight, discover new approaches, make adjustments, and gain encouragement.

Dr Michael Paterson views the story of Jesus’ interaction with the disciples on the road to Emmaus in Luke 24:13-35 as the best example in the bible of the role and work of supervision.

After Jesus spends time with the disciples ‘their hearts are warmed and their eyes are opened’, they have gained fresh insight. They are then able to go back to where they had come from with renewed passion and energy for the ministry to which they were called, to share the gospel of their living Saviour Jesus.

What is Pastoral Supervision?

We could define pastoral supervision as ‘a relationship between two or more disciples of Christ who meet and consider the ministry of one or more of them in a considered and deliberate fashion.’ This sort of relationship allows for each person being supervised to discuss their work, explore their responses, and review whilst developing further resources, skills, and strategies.

Supervision, by definition, is a reflective, supporting relationship.  One of the most helpful ways to view supervision is that of a pro-athlete and a personal trainer. The athlete is a professional in their field; gifted, skilled, and working to better themselves. The personal trainer may also be a skilled athlete, but their specialty is actually focused on increasing the development and effectiveness of others. The pro-athlete comes to the trainer to reflect on their abilities, skills, health, and for development. The athlete’s accomplishments are their own, and what they get from the trainer is commensurate with what they want out of the relationship.

Who Is Pastoral Supervision For?

As a general guide, the Diploma of Christian Ministry and Theology emphasis on Pastoral Supervision is required for anyone involved in Pastoral Ministry.

The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse concluded that all people in religious or pastoral ministry, including leader pastors, ministry directors, and lay elders engage in professional supervision with a qualified supervisor with some degree of separation from the institution within which they minister.

Recommendation 16.45  Consistent with Child Safe Standard 5, each religious institution should ensure that all people in religious or pastoral ministry, including religious leaders, have professional supervision with a trained professional or pastoral supervisor who has a degree of independence from the institution within which the person is in ministry.

Note Child Safe Standard 5 reads… “People working with children are suitable and supported.”

Beyond their recommendation, professional supervision has been a part of many professions, including nearly all the ‘caring’ professions for nearly fifty years. It is a helpful, functional, developed form of support. This kind of support is often lacking or not fully functional within Church or para-church ministry environments.

Each ministry worker, from the kid’s ministry director to the lead pastor should engage in supervision as often as they can.

Many religious denominations and groups are making it mandatory in some form or another for their ministry personnel due to the foreseen value and utility. This means that all pastors should be answerable to a qualified supervisor regardless of their role.

Who better to be a pastoral supervisor than those pastors who come from the coalface of ministry?  Who can better understand the trials and issues faced by pastors than an experienced man or woman of God?  To this end, Vision Colleges has introduced a new qualification the Diploma of Christian Ministry and Theology emphasis on Pastoral Supervision.

Diploma of Pastoral Supervision Overview

The course can be completed in one year as a distance education study program; the time frame is a guide only depending on the student’s capacity and the circumstances for study.

The course includes a broad range of challenging, faith-building, and biblically-based studies relevant to personal, pastoral, church, and community life. Students will learn to apply biblical principles to their daily lives and explain and share those Christian truths with others.  While certain Theology subjects have been nominated students may select substitute subjects and tailor the program to suit their ministry needs.

The diploma is a pre-requisite for the  “Advanced Diploma of Christian Ministry and Theology”

Pre-requisites

Certificate IV in Christian Ministry and Theology or similar Bible college qualification or a minimum of five years of verifiable ministry experience recognized by the denomination.

We have two options for pastors

Pastoral Supervision Option 1.

Pastors with several years of experience in ministry can complete the four Mandatory Elective units and receive an academic transcript for the subjects.

This option will satisfy the requirements for the Pastoral Supervisor.  It is the best option for those who hold a Diploma or above in ministry or Theology.

There is an option to upgrade to a full Diploma by Academic transfer if the student holds a diploma or above.

Pastoral Supervision Option 2.

New and less experienced pastors should complete the full Diploma Course which includes the four Mandatory Electives and six theology subjects.  This will attract a full Diploma of Christian Ministry and Theology emphasis on Pastoral Supervision.

There is an option for academic transfer for those who have appropriate Bible College qualifications.

Work placements

Students should be in a pastoral role in a local church or similar situation.  The student will be required to document their work experience for each unit to provide evidence of competencies.

Course details are further in this page.