Restorative Justice Emphasis Now Offered to Santa Clara Pastoral Ministries Grad Students, Professionals
SCU’s Graduate Program in Pastoral Ministries is offering a new emphasis in Restorative Justice and Chaplaincy to students earning a Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministries as well as professionals seeking to enter the field.
SANTA CLARA, Ca., August 26, 2019—Santa Clara University’s Graduate Program in Pastoral Ministries (GPPM) is expanding its offerings with an emphasis in Restorative Justice and Chaplaincy to students earning a Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministries. Due to demand in the field, the emphasis is also open to non-degree seeking students who are interested in restorative justice and chaplaincy work.
“Our program will help students become more adept at understanding restorative justice and the ways that its practices can enhance one’s personal life and spirituality for ministry to others in need,” says GPPM Director Joseph Morris.
Seeking to aid people experiencing trauma, violence, loss, or disenfranchisement, Morris explains restorative justice aims to heal, rehabilitate, and restore broken relationships. It has long been an underutilized approach to helping broken or struggling communities.
“Restorative justice has very concrete practices and skills that embody an approach to ministry that seeks to mirror that of Jesus Christ,” says Morris. “While the general program does this, our new emphasis looks at the experience of practitioners of restorative justice today and asks ‘How can we provide training and theological and spiritual formation for others interested in doing this ministry?’ It provides a concrete way to approach and do ministry.”
With students spread across seven dioceses in California, including San Jose, Sacramento, Monterey, Oakland, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and San Diego, students engage in the courses in two different ways: traditional courses offered on campus at SCU, or a blended approach with a combination of in-person meetings and online classes facilitated through synchronous video conferencing.
The new concentration will be facilitated through two restorative justice “hubs” housed in Catholic Diocese-owned centers in Oakland and San Diego. These hubs will provide space for three required in-person classes, and will give primarily online students the opportunity to meet others in their program face to face.
Aiming to educate leaders dedicated to serving in diverse global ecclesial environments and creating community in pastoral settings, students and graduates of the program work in parishes, educational institutions, diocesan offices, and non-profits in a variety of roles. The addition of this new emphasis will better prepare students to serve in particular positions including prison chaplaincy, restorative circles in schools, bereavement ministry, restoring community workshops, advocacy ministry, victim-offender dialogues, re-entry programs, and mediation, among others. Additionally, it can act as a path towards a salaried career as a chaplain or restorative justice minister.
Scholarships and financial aid assistance are available.
About the Graduate Program in Pastoral Ministries
Founded in 1983, the Graduate Program in Pastoral Ministries at Santa Clara University offers small classes in both face-to-face and online blended formats for those pursuing a master's degree in Pastoral Ministries. Tailored to students’ ministry goals, the program provides a strong theological foundation to an international body of students. Learn more at www.scu.edu/pastoralministries
About the College of Arts and Sciences at Santa Clara University
The College of Arts and Sciences is the heart of Santa Clara University. Our faculty integrate transformative teaching and innovative scholarship to engage students in the processes of learning, discovery, and reflection as members of a community of scholars. For more information, visit www.scu.edu/cas.