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 local church's needs and culture, especially
as it relates to leadership; (2) observe and experience the dynamics of local
church leadership and compare that to their own leadership style, history, and
philosophy; (3) theologically reflect on the relationship of power related to
pastoral responsibilities and the commitment to equipping 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 local congregation.
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 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 a
local church (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: