Field Education Courses for the 2012 Fall Session

The Spiritual Internship Year, in response to the challenges of contemporary pastoral ministry, provides an intense formational experience in which the sciences foundational for Christian life and ministry are appropriated via: classroom instruction (philosophy, catechesis, scripture, and theology), extensive reading of classic spiritual authors and the Documents of Vatican II, Ignatian spiritual direction [Annotation 19], retreat experiences, field placement, formation in communal living and instruction in essay writing skills. Teaching methods: Lectures, seminars, retreat experiences, field trips and placement. Means of evaluation: Participation, presentation and final exam.

After completion of Supervised Field Placement, students meet as peers to learn and practice a method of theological reflection on their pastoral practice. Focused on theological, cultural, and personal dimensions of students' ministry practice and their developing pastoral identity. Reading, pastoral situation analysis presentation, short weekly papers, synthesis essay and interview.

This is the required theological and professional preparation for ministry two-credit course for the Master of Divinity Program.  It is a 500 hour ministry placement in a supervised ministry setting chosen by the student in consultation with the Director of Theological Field Education.  Supervised ministry provides divinity candidates with the opportunity to gain professional competence, build a framework for raising practical theological issues, acquire a comprehensive and realistic view of the church and its ministries, and develop a ministerial identity.
Means of evaluation:  Contextual analysis, case study, self-evaluation, and supervisor evaluation of the candidate.  Pass/Fail.

This praxis course is requied for all MDiv, MRE, MPS and Diploma students. It combines, weekly, three hours of classroom teaching and seminar work with eight hours in a supervised contextual education site. Classroom and seminar work includes structured discussion and biblical/theological reflection on ministry practice. Intentional learning covenants in the site and in a class small group provide opportunity to connect, to challenge and to integrate theoretical learning and practice and to develop the art of giving and receiving critical feedback and evaluation. Evaluation is based on successful completion of 8 written critical reflections, 6 verbatims, class presentations and participation, self, peer and site educator evaluation reports. Evaluation: 80% attendance at classes, satisfactory onsite covenantal fulfillment, class participation and completion of all assignments is required to successfully complete this pass/fail course. Unsatisfactory assignments will be reviewed with the instructor to negotiate possible remedial work. Unsatisfactory attendance at class or at onsite placements can result in dismissal from the class. *Successful completion of Context and Ministry, EMP1601, is a pre-requisite for this course. Students must meet with the instructor by the middle of March to negotiate on appropriate learning site for the following September. Placements in social and institutional settings and rural and urban congregations are available.

Introduction to the practicalities of parish leadership and ministry, including leading worship, facilitating small group ministry, offering counsel, developing lay leadership, stewardship, visioning and planning, teaching, dealing with conflict, overseeing children and youth ministries. Weekly readings, class participation, ministry project proposal, final exam.

This required course affords students opportunity to integrate their supervised eight-month internship with coursework learning, and to assess, with their instructor and their peers, their own readiness for ministry leadership. The class process involves seminar discussions of case studies generated from the internship experience and assigned reading materials. The written and evaluative component of the course requires participating in assembling core readings, a class presentation and a 20-25 page ministry praxis research paper. Evaluation: 80% attendance at classes, satisfactory completion of all assignments.