DESCRIPTION: This course (offered pass/fail for 4 units) is full time for nine
months and fulfills both FE1 and FE2 MIN 7 requirements simultaneously. This
internship, under the supervision of a pastor/ supervisor in a church, gives
students supervised experience in pastoral ministry in the local church.
COURSE OBJECTIVES/LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students will (1) have a clearer sense of
pastoral identity; (2) be better able to function in a pastoral role; (3) grow
in their moral and spiritual integrity as followers of Jesus Christ; (4) be
better able to engage in theological reflection in Christian ministry; (5)
appreciate the importance of theological reflection in Christian ministry; (6)
be more committed to the church.
RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: This course is designed to provide a means for
students to increase their skills and experience in a particular area of
pastoral ministry, as well as to meet the requirements which many denominations
have for a candidate's ministry preparation.
COURSE FORMAT: The course has three primary components: practical ministry,
supervision, and theological reflection. The student spends at least
thirty-five hours each week for three academic quarters (nine months) in the
local church involved in specific ministry assignments agreed upon by the
supervisor and student, and approved by the Office of Field Education. One hour
each week is to be spent with the approved on-site supervisor to discuss a)
professional direction, evaluation, and oversight of the student's ministry; b)
theological reflection and discussion of topics related to ministry as
identified by the student and supervisor; c) support and prayer. Students will
meet during the second quarter (FE533B) in a Reflection Group, led by a faculty
member or experienced pastor. These groups ordinarily meet three to four times,
for two hours each time. Each student participating will write and present one
case study from their internship experience.
ASSIGNMENTS: (1) Participation in a Preparatory Workshop during the first week
of the first quarter in which the student is registered for a FE course. (2)
Completion of a Learning Agreement by the supervisor and intern, to be turned
in to the Office of Field Education by the end of the second week of FE533A
(the first quarter of the internship). (3) Meeting during the first quarter
(FE533A) with the Director of Field Education, or other Field Education staff
as selected, for a progress report on the internship. (4) Completion of
Evaluation Reports by the student and the supervisor, to be turned in by the
end of the tenth week of EACH quarter. (5) Participation in a Theological
Reflection Group during the second quarter (FE533B), including completion of a
written case study to be submitted to the Office of Field Education the tenth
week of the first quarter (FE533A). (6) Participation in a minimum of four
Ministry Enrichment Seminars during the course of the internship, to be
arranged with the Office of Field Education.
PREREGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS: Before the student may register for this
course, several steps must be completed, a process that may take up to a
month, since the student is responsible to make arrangements for an internship
site. The first step is to read the preregistration materials available at www.fuller.edu/sot/fielded or in the Office of Field Education. After
the student has submitted internship and supervisor applications, he or she
must schedule an enrollment interview with the Office of Field Education. If
the internship is approved, the student will then receive a Course Approval
Notification that must be submitted to Academic Advisor prior to registration.
The student must also participate in the Field Education Preparatory Workshop
prior to actual involvement in the internship.
PREREQUISITES: None.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: The three-quarter sequence, FE533A, B, and C, meets
the complete MDiv core requirement in Field Education (MIN 7, both FE1 and
FE2). It is offered pass/fail for 4 units. It is an elective for the MA in
Theology (General Format) and meets requirements for some MA in [a specialized
ministry] degree programs.
FINAL EXAMINATION: None. Evaluation is through completion of the nine-month
internship as specified in the individual learning agreement and through
completion of all assignments listed above.