SAQA All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Describe and evaluate own denomination 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
115948  Describe and evaluate own denomination 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Christian Theology and Ministry 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 07 - Human and Social Studies Religious and Ethical Foundations of Society 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 5  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L5  12 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 2018-07-01  2023-06-30  SAQA 06120/18 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2024-06-30   2027-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard. 

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
This unit standard will be useful to people who wish to use the in-depth understanding of their corporate Christian identity in order to communicate such an understanding to others.

People credited with this unit standard are able to:
  • Describe their denominational identity
  • Describe the function of church polity
  • Evaluate their denominations' doctrinal beliefs.
  • Evaluate their denominations' structures.
  • Evaluate disciplinary practices in their own denomination. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    The credit calculation is based on the assumption that learners are already competent in terms of the following outcomes or areas of learning when starting to learn towards this unit standard:
  • Communication Level 4. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    The following scope and context applies to the whole unit standard:

    The term denomination applies to any grouping of Christian congregations that has a distinct sense of identity, whether defined doctrinally, culturally or through practice. It also applies to any individual congregation which has similar distinctives and does not link to a larger collective organisation.

    Specific range statements are provided in the body of the unit standard where they apply to particular specific outcomes or assessment criteria.

    For the purposes of this unit standard, the word polity refers to sub-culture, leadership structure, decision-making process, doctrinal procedures, policies, disciplines, etcetera. 

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Describe your denominational identity. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The denomination's origins and development are presented historically. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    The historical scope should include reference to relationship with other denominations.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The distinctives of the denomination are identified in broad outline. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    The identifiers must include at least worship patterns, doctrinal beliefs and formulations, structures of ministry, and ethical distinctives.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The spirituality of the denomination is defined in relation to the learner's own Christian practice. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Describe the role of polity in the life of your denomination. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The key elements of the polity are described. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Sources to include the denomination's key constitutional documents.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The practical outworking of the polity is illustrated by means of diagrams or charts. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Where applicable, the local and provincial modes of administration are to be illustrated.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Dissonances between theory and practice are identified. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Simple disagreements between official denominational polity and contemporary practice are described.
     

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Evaluate their denominations' doctrinal beliefs. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    The evaluation is done in the context of comparison with other denominations. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Key doctrinal beliefs of learner's denomination are described. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Key doctrinal differences with other denominations are cross-tabulated. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    At least three denominations are to be compared. One of these will be the learner's own denomination. The choice of doctrinal differences to be cross-tabulated should include exemplars of those differences which lead to contemporary disputes or divisions, as well as exemplars on which the denomination's history and growth are based.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The sources of the chosen doctrines are defined and critiqued. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Specific biblical passages and other documents are identified.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The impact of doctrinal differences on contemporary ecumenical activity is assessed. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Ecumenical activity refers to activity among Christian churches and organisations.
     

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 4 
    Evaluate their denominations' structures. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    The evaluation is done in the context of comparison with other denominations. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Key structural differences of denominations are cross-tabulated. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    At least three denominations are to be compared. One of these will be the learner's own denomination.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The sources of the chosen structures are defined and critiqued. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Structures to be discussed include those of ministry, ecclesiology, and administration.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The impact of structural differences on contemporary ecumenical activity is assessed. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 5 
    Evaluate disciplinary practices in your own denomination. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The disciplinary practice of the learner's denomination is described and evaluated. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Case studies of the application of discipline are presented. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Two case studies are to be presented.
     


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • Providers of learning towards this unit standard will need to meet the accreditation requirements of the relevant ETQA.

    Moderation Option:
  • The moderation requirements of the relevant ETQA must be met in order to award credit to learners for this unit standard. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
    The following essential embedded knowledge will be assessed through assessment of the specific outcomes in terms of the stipulated assessment criteria. Candidates are unlikely to achieve all the specific outcomes, to the standards described in the assessment criteria, without knowledge of the listed embedded knowledge. This means that for the most part, the possession or lack of the knowledge can be directly inferred from the quality of the candidate's performance. Where direct assessment of knowledge is required, assessment criteria have been included in the body of the unit standard.
  • Liturgical formulations.
  • Doctrinal statements.
  • Church polity.
  • Church history of the denomination.
  • Comparative material for at least two other denominations. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Identify and solve problems: critique of approaches to ecclesial discipline and the practical application of discipline. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Work effectively with others and in teams: consultation with members of other denominations. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, analyse, organise and critically evaluate information: gather key information about a range of denominations; critique it in relation to scripture; evaluate through comparison. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    Understand the world as a set of inter-related parts of a system: ecumenical critique demonstrates the inter-relatedness of groups with a history of division and dispute. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO CONTRIBUTING 
    Contribute to the full development of oneself: one's religious and spiritual identity as part of one's human identity. 

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    Assessors should keep the following general principles in mind when designing and conducting assessments against this unit standard:
  • Focus the assessment activities on gathering evidence in terms of the main outcome expressed in the title to ensure assessment is integrated rather than fragmented. Remember we want to declare the person competent in terms of the title. Where assessment at title level is unmanageable, then focus assessment around each specific outcome, or groups of specific outcomes.
  • Make sure evidence is gathered across the entire range, wherever it applies. Assessment activities should be as close to the real performance as possible, and where simulations or role-plays are used, there should be supporting evidence to show the candidate is able to perform in the real situation.
  • Do not focus the assessment activities on each assessment criterion. Rather make sure the assessment activities focus on outcomes and are sufficient to enable evidence to be gathered around all the assessment criteria.
  • The assessment criteria provide the specifications against which assessment judgements should be made. In most cases, knowledge can be inferred from the quality of the performances, but in other cases, knowledge and understanding will have to be tested through questioning techniques. Where this is required, there will be assessment criteria to specify the standard required.
  • The task of the assessor is to gather sufficient evidence, of the prescribed type and quality, as specified in this unit standard, that the candidate can achieve the outcomes again and again and again. This means assessors will have to judge how many repeat performances are required before they believe the performance is reproducible.
  • All assessments should be conducted in line with the following well documented principles of assessment: appropriateness, fairness, manageability, integration into work or learning, validity, direct, authentic, sufficient, systematic, open and consistent.

    The following particular issues should be taken into consideration when assessing against this unit standard:
  • The denomination is broader than any one person's experience of it. Sensitively to other perspectives within the tradition should be looked for.
  • A critical appreciation of the provisional character of denominational identity is important for the avoidance of prejudiced and fundamentalist attitudes. 
    		•

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this unit standard was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. 

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    Definition of Terms:
  • Terms have been clarified as far as possible through the use of range statements. 
    		•

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Elective  48917   National Diploma: Theology and Ministry  Level 5  NQF Level 05  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  As per Learning Programmes recorded against this Qual 
    Elective  62609   National Diploma: Theology and Ministry  Level 6  NQF Level 06  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  As per Learning Programmes recorded against this Qual 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    NONE 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.