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 and evaluated experience in pastoral ministry in the local
church.
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. The agenda
should address (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 Field Education Orientation 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) and the third quarter (FE533C) 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 three Ministry Enrichment Seminars during the
course of the internship and a required "Introduction to Theological
Reflection" seminar during the first quarter (FE533A).
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. 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 Orientation 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 based on completion of the nine-month
internship as specified in the individual learning agreement and on-time
completion of assignments as listed above.
This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. (11/07)