DESCRIPTION: The aim of this course is to provide practical experiences for
students who are taking the MA in Christian Leadership (General Format).
Students will focus especially on identifying the perceptions, dilemmas, needs,
and institutional cultures of God's people involved in mutual ministry in the
church. Participants will engage in a project designed to prepare them to
assist God's people to deal with these aspects of their divine calling.
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 ministry in a
congregation-based context, as well as equip them to become effective resource
persons to the community of faith as it fulfills its 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 fielded@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 Christian 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: