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Human and Social Studies › Religious and Ethical Foundations of Society

Church Pastoral Care And Ministry Skills Development Training

SAQA US 115983 | NQF 5 | Credits 10 | Duration 7 Days
From $1,523 per delegate

Description

This course equips church leaders and pastoral workers with the practical skills and theological grounding needed for effective pastoral care and ministry administration. Participants will learn to provide compassionate support, manage church operations, and develop ministry strategies that align with biblical principles and South African community contexts.

Learning Outcomes

  • Apply biblical principles to pastoral counselling and care situations.
  • Demonstrate effective communication and active listening skills in ministry contexts.
  • Analyze community needs and design appropriate pastoral interventions.
  • Implement administrative and record-keeping procedures for church ministries.
  • Evaluate ethical and legal considerations in pastoral practice.
  • Develop a personal ministry plan for ongoing spiritual and professional growth.

Target Audience

This course is designed for pastors, ministry leaders, lay counsellors, and church volunteers seeking to enhance their pastoral care and ministry management skills in a structured, accredited framework.

Prerequisites

None — open enrollment.

Course Outline

Day 1: Foundations of Pastoral Care and Ministry

Objectives:
• Understand the biblical and theological basis for pastoral care.
• Identify the roles and responsibilities of a pastoral caregiver.
• Explore the principles of servant leadership in ministry.
• Recognize the importance of ethical conduct in pastoral work.

Topics:
• Introduction to pastoral care: definition and scope.
• Biblical foundations: Old and New Testament perspectives.
• The pastoral caregiver as a servant leader.
• Ethical guidelines and confidentiality in ministry.
• Overview of the South African context for pastoral care.
• Self-care for the caregiver: preventing burnout.
• Introduction to the unit standard and outcomes.

Day 2: Communication and Counselling Skills

Objectives:
• Develop active listening and empathetic communication skills.
• Apply basic counselling techniques in pastoral settings.
• Conduct effective pastoral interviews and assessments.
• Demonstrate appropriate verbal and non-verbal communication.

Topics:
• Active listening and reflection techniques.
• Empathy and validation in pastoral conversations.
• Basic counselling models: person-centered and solution-focused.
• Conducting pastoral assessments and intake interviews.
• Non-verbal communication and cultural sensitivity.
• Handling difficult conversations and conflict.
• Role-play exercises for skill practice.

Day 3: Understanding Human Development and Crises

Objectives:
• Describe key stages of human development and their pastoral implications.
• Identify common life crises and their impact on individuals.
• Apply developmental theory to pastoral care interventions.
• Support individuals through grief, loss, and trauma.

Topics:
• Overview of human development: Erikson's stages.
• Life transitions: adolescence, marriage, parenting, aging.
• Understanding grief and loss: Kübler-Ross model.
• Trauma-informed pastoral care.
• Crisis intervention and referral strategies.
• Case studies on developmental crises.
• Self-reflection on personal development and biases.

Day 4: Pastoral Care in Diverse Contexts

Objectives:
• Adapt pastoral care to diverse cultural and socio-economic contexts.
• Address the needs of marginalized and vulnerable groups.
• Practice cultural humility and inclusivity in ministry.
• Understand the impact of poverty, HIV/AIDS, and inequality.

Topics:
• Cultural competence and humility in pastoral work.
• Pastoral care for the poor and marginalized.
• Ministry to people living with HIV/AIDS and chronic illness.
• Gender sensitivity and care for survivors of abuse.
• Disability and mental health awareness.
• Community mapping and needs assessment.
• Developing contextually relevant interventions.

Day 5: Group Ministry and Facilitation Skills

Objectives:
• Facilitate small group discussions and support groups.
• Design and lead pastoral workshops and Bible studies.
• Manage group dynamics and conflict in group settings.
• Evaluate group effectiveness and outcomes.

Topics:
• Principles of group facilitation.
• Forming and sustaining support groups.
• Leading Bible studies and prayer groups.
• Conflict resolution in groups.
• Collaborative ministry and team building.
• Planning and evaluating group sessions.
• Practical facilitation exercises.

Day 6: Integrating Pastoral Care with Church Ministries

Objectives:
• Coordinate pastoral care with other church ministries.
• Develop a pastoral care plan for the local church.
• Implement referral systems and partnerships.
• Evaluate the impact of pastoral care on church health.

Topics:
• Integrating pastoral care with worship, discipleship, and outreach.
• Developing a church pastoral care policy.
• Referral networks: mental health, social services, and medical care.
• Pastoral care for church leaders and volunteers.
• Measuring outcomes and continuous improvement.
• Case studies of successful integration.
• Creating a personal action plan.

Day 7: Practical Application and Assessment

Objectives:
• Demonstrate competence in pastoral care skills through role-play.
• Present a pastoral care plan for a real or simulated scenario.
• Reflect on personal growth and future development.
• Complete summative assessments for the unit standard.

Topics:
• Summative practical assessments: role-plays and case studies.
• Presentation of pastoral care plans.
• Peer and facilitator feedback sessions.
• Reflection on learning journey.
• Developing a personal development plan.
• Certification requirements and next steps.
• Closing ceremony and evaluation.

Practicals

No practicals for this training.

This course is made up of exercises and case studies delivered alongside the theory — no separate practical sessions are required to complete it.

Summatives

Each delegate is assessed continuously throughout the course and a final summative test at the end.

Daily Exercises — 30%

Every training day ends with a multiple-choice exercise scored out of 100%. The scores from each daily exercise are averaged across the duration of the course to produce a Daily Average mark, which contributes 30% to the final total.

Final Test — 70%

On the last day a final summative test is written. It is a multiple-choice paper with multiple-answer questions: each question may have more than one correct option, and a single wrong selection on a question marks the entire question wrong — no partial credit. The final test is scored out of 100% and contributes 70% to the overall mark.

Final Total
Component Out of Weight
Daily Average (multiple choice) 100% 30%
Final Test (multi-answer multiple choice) 100% 70%
Final Total — 100%

All marks are recorded on the AATICD LMS and visible to each learner under their account.

Certificate

Certificate of Completion

Awarded to delegates who achieve an overall mark of 50% or higher on the Final Total (Daily Average 30% + Final Test 70%).

How it works
  • Certificates are auto-generated on the AATICD LMS as soon as the marks pass the 50% threshold.
  • Each certificate is a branded PDF with the delegate's name, the course title, the unit standard ID, NQF level, credits, and the date of issue.
  • You can download or print your certificate from your LMS dashboard at any time after issue — there's no reissue fee and no expiry date.
  • If you scored under 50% you can sit the final test again at the next scheduled session at no extra cost.
Where to find it

Sign in to the LMS, open your dashboard, and your certificates appear under My Certificates. Each entry has a View / Download button and a print option.

Training Discounts

Group discounts apply automatically — the more delegates you enrol, the greater the saving. Discounts are calculated at 3% per 5 delegates, scaling up to 40% off for 100+ delegates.

Delegates Discount
5 3% off
10 6% off
15 9% off
20 12% off
25 15% off
30 18% off
50 30% off
75 35% off
100 40% off

3% discount per 5 delegates, up to 40% off for 100+ delegates. Contact us for a custom group quote.

Upcoming Training Sessions
Online training — attend live sessions from anywhere via our virtual classroom.
Start End Delivery Season Price Action
Tue 08 Sep 2026 Wed 16 Sep 2026 Virtual Spring 2026 $1,523 Register
Mon 28 Sep 2026 Tue 06 Oct 2026 Virtual Spring 2026 $1,523 Register
Fri 23 Oct 2026 Mon 02 Nov 2026 Virtual Spring 2026 $1,523 Register
Fri 11 Dec 2026 Mon 21 Dec 2026 Virtual Summer 2026 $1,523 Register
Thu 14 Jan 2027 Fri 22 Jan 2027 Virtual Summer 2026 $1,523 Register
Wed 17 Feb 2027 Thu 25 Feb 2027 Virtual Summer 2026 $1,523 Register
Tue 02 Mar 2027 Wed 10 Mar 2027 Virtual Autumn 2027 $1,523 Register
Mon 08 Mar 2027 Tue 16 Mar 2027 Virtual Autumn 2027 $1,523 Register
Fri 19 Mar 2027 Mon 29 Mar 2027 Virtual Autumn 2027 $1,523 Register
Thu 10 Jun 2027 Fri 18 Jun 2027 Virtual Winter 2027 $1,523 Register
Wed 30 Jun 2027 Thu 08 Jul 2027 Virtual Winter 2027 $1,523 Register
Tue 20 Jul 2027 Wed 28 Jul 2027 Virtual Winter 2027 $1,523 Register
Mon 06 Sep 2027 Tue 14 Sep 2027 Virtual Spring 2027 $1,523 Register
Fri 01 Oct 2027 Mon 11 Oct 2027 Virtual Spring 2027 $1,523 Register
Thu 21 Oct 2027 Fri 29 Oct 2027 Virtual Spring 2027 $1,523 Register
Fri 10 Dec 2027 Mon 20 Dec 2027 Virtual Summer 2027 $1,523 Register
Thu 30 Dec 2027 Fri 07 Jan 2028 Virtual Summer 2027 $1,523 Register
Wed 19 Jan 2028 Thu 27 Jan 2028 Virtual Summer 2027 $1,523 Register
On-Campus training — face-to-face sessions at our training venues across Africa and beyond.
Showing all 492 sessions across 26 venues
Start End Venue Season Price Action
Mon 10 Aug 2026 Tue 18 Aug 2026 Cape Town, South Africa Winter 2026 $3,769 Register
Tue 11 Aug 2026 Wed 19 Aug 2026 Dubai, UAE Winter 2026 $5,929 Register
Wed 12 Aug 2026 Thu 20 Aug 2026 Pretoria, South Africa Winter 2026 $2,284 Register
Thu 13 Aug 2026 Fri 21 Aug 2026 Abu Dhabi, UAE Winter 2026 $5,929 Register
Fri 14 Aug 2026 Mon 24 Aug 2026 Durban, South Africa Winter 2026 $3,607 Register
In-House training — we bring the trainer to your organisation, tailored to your team.
Start End Delivery Season Price Action
Wed 16 Sep 2026 Thu 24 Sep 2026 Your Premises Spring 2026 $1,982 Register
Tue 06 Oct 2026 Wed 14 Oct 2026 Your Premises Spring 2026 $1,982 Register
Mon 26 Oct 2026 Tue 03 Nov 2026 Your Premises Spring 2026 $1,982 Register
Mon 14 Dec 2026 Tue 22 Dec 2026 Your Premises Summer 2026 $1,982 Register
Fri 22 Jan 2027 Mon 01 Feb 2027 Your Premises Summer 2026 $1,982 Register
Thu 25 Feb 2027 Fri 05 Mar 2027 Your Premises Summer 2026 $1,982 Register
Wed 10 Mar 2027 Thu 18 Mar 2027 Your Premises Autumn 2027 $1,982 Register
Tue 16 Mar 2027 Wed 24 Mar 2027 Your Premises Autumn 2027 $1,982 Register
Mon 22 Mar 2027 Tue 30 Mar 2027 Your Premises Autumn 2027 $1,982 Register
Fri 18 Jun 2027 Mon 28 Jun 2027 Your Premises Winter 2027 $1,982 Register
Thu 08 Jul 2027 Fri 16 Jul 2027 Your Premises Winter 2027 $1,982 Register
Wed 28 Jul 2027 Thu 05 Aug 2027 Your Premises Winter 2027 $1,982 Register
Tue 14 Sep 2027 Wed 22 Sep 2027 Your Premises Spring 2027 $1,982 Register
Mon 04 Oct 2027 Tue 12 Oct 2027 Your Premises Spring 2027 $1,982 Register
Fri 29 Oct 2027 Mon 08 Nov 2027 Your Premises Spring 2027 $1,982 Register
Mon 13 Dec 2027 Tue 21 Dec 2027 Your Premises Summer 2027 $1,982 Register
Fri 07 Jan 2028 Mon 17 Jan 2028 Your Premises Summer 2027 $1,982 Register
Thu 27 Jan 2028 Fri 04 Feb 2028 Your Premises Summer 2027 $1,982 Register
Training Discounts
Delegates Discount
5 3% off
10 6% off
15 9% off
20 12% off
25 15% off
30 18% off
50 30% off
75 35% off
100 40% off

3% off per 5 delegates, up to 40% for 100+

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