The Salvation Army Booth College

The Missio Dei (mission of God) demonstrates compassion, justice and response to human need as central tenets for Christian life and practice. This unit will explore the theology and practice of social and community services as an expression of holistic Christian mission. Structural disadvantage and social issues will be examined, particularly as they relate to the delivery of contemporary social services in an Australian context.

The unit code contains information on the level of study, field, discipline, unit and college. Click here to learn what the unit code for this unit represents.

This unit is running as an online intensive.

2 to 13 February 2026

As this is an intensive unit, it is expected that students will be available every day during the two-week period. There will be a mix of personal work and online class discussions. 

Students will be required to engage with the online material each day and then join a Teams meeting for discussion most afternoons. Students should come to each class discussion having engaged with the material outlined for each day. The class discussions will assume students have worked through the online material and will be a discussion of the ideas and concepts of those topics.

Please note: Times subject to variation based on student locations and time zones.  

• Monday 2 February Introductions 10am – 11:30am (AEDT) 
• Tuesday 3 February Class discussion 2pm – 3pm (AEDT)
• Wednesday 4 February Class discussion 2pm – 3pm (AEDT)
• Thursday 5 February, Class discussion 2pm – 3pm (AEDT)
• Friday 6 February, No online class discussion  
• Monday 9 February, Class discussion 2pm – 3pm (AEDT)
• Tuesday 10 February, Class discussion 2pm – 3pm (AEDT)
• No online class Wednesday 11 February 
• Thursday 12 February, Class discussion 2pm – 3pm (AEDT)
• Friday 13 February 2pm – 3pm (AEDT) Final reflections

24 points post-graduate foundational in Field D, or equivalent

In an asynchronous environment students will engage carefully designed learning materials which may include readings, audio and video materials, a variety of learning activities, response to questions, refection upon practice. They will also attend structured synchronous online engagement sessions which will promote peer to peer engagement and learning.

*This unit is offered at Undergraduate and Postgraduate level. Students may engage with people across both levels when this unit is delivered.

Assessment 1 - 30%

Assessment 2 - 30%

Assessment 3 - 40%

Upon successful completion of this unit, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Articulate the biblical and theological convictions which underlie Christian engagement in social and community mission.

2. Appraise key developments in the provision of social services, both within the church and within civil society.

3. Apply a holistic (integral) mission response to the needs of the poor and marginalised and demonstrate its application in Salvation Army context.

4. Examine key components of contemporary social issues and identify constructive ways the Christian church can form part of the response to these issues.

5. Demonstrate an ability to apply Jesus' teaching concerning justice and compassion through mobilising the local church.

There is no required text for this unit.