Fall 2012-Summer 2013
Pasadena and Regional Campuses
FE533A/B/C
Ingram

FE533A/B/C: FULL-TIME NINE-MONTH CHURCH INTERNSHIP. Gwen Ingram.


DESCRIPTION: This course (pass/fail for 4 units) is full time for three quarters and fulfills both FE1 & FE2 MIN 7 requirements simultaneously. This internship, under the supervision of a pastor/supervisor in a church, leads to the development of competencies in specific areas of ministry as well as overall exposure to ministry praxis.

SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: This course is designed to provide a means for students to increase their skills and experience in pastoral ministry, as well as to meet the requirements that many denominations have for a candidate's ministry preparation. This course also helps prepare students for ministry by providing a context in which spiritual, theological, and ministry formation can occur.

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.

COURSE FORMAT: The course has three primary components: ministry praxis, supervision, and theological reflection. The student spends at least 35 hours each week for three academic quarters in the local church involved in specific ministry assignments agreed upon by the supervisor and student, and approved by the Field Education and Ministry Formation (FEMF) Office. One hour each week is to be spent in reflection 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) mentoring, support, spiritual formation, and prayer. Students will meet during the second quarter (FE533B) in a Theological Reflection Group, led by a faculty member or experienced pastor. These groups meet for a total of sixteen hours. Each student participant will write and present one case study and spiritual reflection from his or her internship experience. In addition, the student will have opportunities for spiritual formation through practice of individual spiritual disciplines throughout the course.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

  1. Participation in a Field Education "Orientation to Theological Reflection" during the first week of FE533A, with a response uploaded to Moodle.

  2. Completion of a Learning Agreement by the supervisor and intern, to be uploaded on Moodle by the end of the first week of FE533A (the first quarter of the internship).

  3. Meeting during the first quarter (FE533A) and the third quarter (FE533C) with a Field Education Advisor for a progress report on the internship.

  4. Completion of Quarterly Evaluations by the student and the supervisor, to be uploaded on Moodle 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 uploaded on Moodle by the tenth week of the first quarter (FE533A).

  6. Participation in two Ministry Enrichment Seminars, one during FE533A, and the other by the tenth week of FE533C.
Note: Evaluation is based on completion of the three-quarter internship as specified in the individual Learning Agreement and on-time, satisfactory completion of assignments and evaluations.

Note 2 (RC students): Students at Regional Campuses should refer to their syllabus regarding certain alternative online requirements.

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 on the Field Education webpage on Portico. After the student has submitted internship and supervisor applications, he or she must schedule an enrollment interview with the FEMF Office. If the internship is approved, the student and his/her Academic Advisor will receive a Course Approval Notification. The student must then contact the Advising Office to receive a Course Reference Number (CRN) in order to register for FE533A online. Each quarter of FE533A, B, and C has a different CRN. The student must register for each of the subsequent quarters online.

PREREQUISITES: Completion of 24 units before registering for this course.

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 (MAT).

This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. (July 2012)