Spirituality Ministry And Field Education

Most seminaries now require their students to get real world training by way of supervised theological field education. This volume presents the wide array of issues that must be understood in order to integrate theological education and practical ministry, including the importance of theological field education, its purpose and challenges, the need for flexibility in meeting different students' needs, and the resources available to create a meaningful and educational experience.

Field education is an opportunity for students to develop ministry skills, practice ministerial reflection, discern their call, experience professional collegiality, and undergo personal transformation. Field education offers them a place to practice ministry and a space to reflect on it, to integrate theory and practice, and grow towards competency. In Welcome to Theological Field Education! eleven directors of field education in seminaries and divinity schools across North America pass on their wisdom to both students and their supervisors. Edited by Matthew Floding, director of field education at Western Seminary in Holland, Michigan, this volume covers critical topics such as the art of supervision and formation, the use of case studies and peer reflection groups, self-care and ministerial ethics, and assessment. Formation for ministry is especially challenging at this time in the church's life. First, the explosion of knowledge, pluralism, and consumerism and a host of other complicating factors make huge demands on what a minister must know to be effective in ministry. Second, with the erosion of thick religious subcultures, the novice minister has fewer sources of practical wisdom to draw upon. The next generation of ministers, if they are to be more fully formed for ministry, depends on skilled mentoring alongside wise supervisors. This book is the tool to help them make the most of their field education experience.

Theological field education, in which a ministry student steps out of the classroom and begins practicing with the supervision of a mentor, is a critical part of accredited ministry programs. Engage equips both students and their supervisor-mentors to engage in this important opportunity with energy and imagination, and it prepares students for the challenging work of integrating theory into real-world practice. Engage provides coaching from recognized experts in the arts of ministry: preaching, administration, evangelism, pastoral care, public ministry, leadership, faith formation, liturgical arts and more. Other chapters address themes such as race, gender, and ministry across faith traditions (or no faith tradition). The book addresses field education in a range of contexts—from churches to non-profits. Engage offers a valuable resource for students making the most of their transition from the classroom into real world ministry with all its joys and many challenges.

Theological field education is an eye-opening process for young ministers as they begin the challenging work of integrating theory into real-world practice. Enlighten: Formational Learning in Theological Field Education shines a light on specific learning methods student ministers and their mentors can leverage to make the most of their field experience. Expanding on the knowledge gathered in Engage:A Theological Field Education Toolkit and Empower: A Guide for Supervisor-Mentors in Theological Field Education, this book challenges students, peer reflection group members, and supervisor-mentors to utilize each learning theory to achieve deeper formation. Contributors to the volume introduce individual theories and identify potential areas of resistance and opportunities for growth through illustrative case studies. These practical examples provide support for students facing common obstacles while encouraging all participants in the field education process to be open to new avenues of growth.

An applied spirituality handbook that covers an array of topics relevant to professionals' daily work in pastoral care

The word "supervision" can have a negative connotation to those being supervised and leaders alike. You don't have to read very far in Transforming the Rough Places to realize that there is nothing negative about the supervision that Dr. Pohly describes. The result of years of research and experience, Dr. Pohly's method and rationale offer tools to make supervision a positive experience for all those involved. What he describes is a value-centered leadership style that focuses equally on the ministry or task to be done and the person doing the task. Practicing these skills in supervision can easily enhance all business, ministry, and personal relationships. Discover what it means to lead in a way that can be transformative for the individual and the institution.

As the second book in the Explorations in Theological Field Education series,Empower is a toolkit for mentors working with beginning ministers. Chapters from ministry practitioners and field education program directors offer lessons gained through hundreds of hours of mentoring experience. Seasoned practitioners reveal how to do the work of mentoring in ways that are “fitting” to the particular needs of students with whom they have worked. This volume, then, is not a cookbook or a manual. It is itself a mentoring guide to those who wish to deepen and expand the craft of mentoring. Its goal is to meet ministry mentors in their journey towards skillful mentoring, and to provide guidance and support to help them hone their craft.