DESCRIPTION: This course (offered pass/fail for 2 units) is the required nine-month church internship designed to give students supervised and evaluated experience in pastoral ministry in the local church.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students will (1) grow in their ability to engage in theological reflection by having regular opportunities to think critically about ministry in light of the Christian tradition; (2) deepen their understanding of the cultural context of ministry by immersing themselves in a specific context and regularly reflecting with their supervisor on the connection between context and ministry; (3) develop toward becoming spiritually mature and accountable practitioners by reflecting with their peers in a theological reflection group and with their supervisor in their internship on the connection between their faith and their ministry; (4) become better Christian leaders by having many opportunities to practice the responsibilities of ministry throughout their internship.

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 that 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 ten 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 (FE501B) 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--"Introduction to Theological Reflection"--during week one of the first quarter in which the student is registered for FE501. (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 FE501A (the first quarter of the internship). (3) Meeting during the first quarter (FE501A) and third quarter (FE501C) with the Director of Field Education, or other Field Education staff as selected, for a progress report on the internship. (4) Completion of Quarterly Evaluations 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 (FE501B), including completion of a written case study to be submitted to the Office of Field Education the tenth week of the first quarter (FE501A). (6) Participation in two Ministry Enrichment Seminars during the course of the internship.
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 and his/her Academic Advisor will receive a Course Approval Notification. The student must then contact the Academic Advisor to receive a Course Reference Number (CRN) in order to register for FE501A online. Each quarter of FE501A, B, and C has a different CRN. The student must register for each of the subsequent quarters online.
PREREQUISITES: None.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: The three-quarter sequence, FE501A, B, and C, is required to meet the FE1 MDiv core requirement in Field Education (MIN 7). It is offered pass/fail for 2 units. It meets the requirements for the MA in Pastoral Ministry degree program, and is an elective for the MA in Theology (General Format).
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. (11/08)