Page 24 - EMCAPP-Journal No. 8

Christian Psychology as a Challenge

A. May: In 2001, you finally founded the When the above-mentioned church decided to
Institute of Christian Psychology (ICP). How abort their plan for accreditation at the end of
long had it taken to prepare this and what was 2000, I proceeded with the establishment of the
your motivation to start? Institute of Christian Psychology in 2001.

N. Joubert: I started in 1999 with the At this stage I approached a registered Chri-
development of Christian Psychology as a stian Private Higher Education Institution in
subject for a Bachelor degree. This development South Africa, Die Afrikaanse Protestantse Aka-
was on request of a church that planned to apply demie (APA), with the proposal to firstly, inclu-
for accreditation and registration of their Bible de the planned Christian Psychology curricu-
School as a private higher education institute. lum in the 3 year Bachelor programme offered
At the time my idea was to develop Psychology by the (APA) and secondly, to support my idea
as a major subject that includes modules on to apply for accreditation of a 4 year Bachelor
Christian Psychology. in Psychology degree, which includes Christian
Psychology modules.
My motivation to agree to this request stemmed
from my PhD research and practice work. The This led to major curriculum developments du-
literature study I undertook for my PhD high- ring 2001 – 2003. The curriculum development
lighted the needs of clients to be able to discuss was executed in conjunction with a develop-
their spiritual issues in counseling. It also poin- ment of a teaching and learning strategy, which
ted to the lack of training in this area in the cur- comprises a combination of contact and di-
riculum of Psychology learning programmes stance modes of delivery. All distance learners
offered by most universities. receive DVD’s of all lectures, which entail the
video recording of all lectures. In 2008 a deci-
My vision was to legitimize and professiona- sion was made to develop a full online teaching
lize Christian Psychology by means of a well- and learning strategy and this process kicked
developed accre- off in 2009. Last
dited academic mentioned was
programme. In only completed
a pluralistic so- in its current for-
ciety where state mat at the end of
universities are 2013.
not allowed to This process
include religion taught me that
in their acade- the work is never
mic program- done in Higher
mes, unless it is Education be-
Theology, such cause one needs
an evolution was to stay abreast in
essential to meet a field where new
the needs of From the last visit to Mongolia 2015: developments
Christians. I was the participants, Willem and Nicolene are paramount.
thus passionate
and highly motivated to embark on the deve- As a result I now view my vision and mission
lopment of an academic programme featuring of the professionalization and legitimation of
Christian Psychology as a major subject. The Christian Psychology as a life-long mission,
idea of a registered Christian Higher Education which could take many forms. Offering a formal
Institution in South Africa where such a lear- academic program is one way of teaching and
ning programme could be offered stroked me as training prospective Christian psychologists,
a vision from God. but informal learning and offering continuing
professional development programs (CPD) are
alternatives and could be equally effective.
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