DESCRIPTION: The aim of this course is to provide practical experiences for
students who are taking the MA in Christian Leadership, Ministry of the Laity
Concentration. Students will focus especially on identifying the perceptions,
dilemmas, needs and institutional cultures of lay people involved in mutual
ministry in the church (GM586) or in the world (GM587). Participants will
engage in a project designed to prepare them to assist lay people to deal with
these aspects of their divine calling.
COURSE OBJECTIVES/LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students will (1) understand and
experience how to assess a given ministry's needs and culture, especially as it
relates to leadership; (2) observe and experience the dynamics of an
organization's leadership and compare that to their own leadership style,
history, and philosophy; (3) theologically reflect on the relationship of power
related to organizational responsibilities and the commitment to equipping all
of God's people for ministry; and (4) develop and practice a theologically
driven project that fits both the interest of the student and the needs of the
assigned organization.
RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: The practicum should help students identify the
particular challenges, tasks and skills involved in the ministry of or to the
laity in a congregation-based or secular context, as well as equip them to
become effective resource persons to lay people fulfilling their ministry in
the church and the world.
PRACTICUM FORMAT: Students will spend ten hours a week for ten weeks in one of
the above settings, i.e., a local church or secular situation (a total of 100
hours). One hour each week is to be spent with the approved supervisor for
evaluation, planning, theological reflection and prayer.
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 a practicum
site. The student should contact the Office of Field Education at 626-584-5387
or fe-odr@dept.fuller.edu to request the MACL Practicum materials. Then,
the student must submit the Internship and Supervisor applications. After the
student has submitted these applications, he or she must schedule an enrollment
interview with the Office of Field Education. If the Practicum is approved, the
student will then receive a Course Approval Notification that must be submitted
to the Academic Advisor prior to registration.
REQUIRED READING: The student will be provided with a reading list of
appropriate titles concerning lay leadership training and development. A
one-page report in the form of a synopsis with theological reflective comments
will be completed on each of three books.
ASSIGNMENTS: