Catalog 2012-2014 - Anderson University School of Theology

Degree Programs — Theological Field Education, continued
Theological Field Education
STATEMENT OF PHILOSOPHY
The integration of the classroom experience with the practice of ministry is a major concern of the
seminary. Therefore, several areas of supervised theological field education are required. With supervision
from pastoral supervisors, mentors, associates in ministerial training, and others in the practice of Christian
ministry, students are given the opportunity to interpret, translate, and integrate knowledge gained in the
classroom into the practice of ministry in various ministry settings.
Theological Field Education primarily occurs in the local congregation, though many other ministry settings
offer constructive contexts for supervision and mentoring. The internship program brings students together
with selected field supervisors for supervised assignments in ministry. Additional non-parish experiences are
available. These are in institutional chaplaincies, national parks ministries, global mission ministry, and urban
ministries. In these contexts, students lessen the distance between the classroom and the practice of ministry.
CLINICAL PASTORAL EDUCATION
The School of Theology is a member of the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, an organization
of accredited clinical pastoral training opportunities for theological students and clergy. There are more
than 350 approved CPE sites in this county in clinical, medical, and psychiatric hospitals, parishes, prisons,
and other settings. A basic unit of CPE consists of at least 300 clinical hours and 100 educational hours.
The basic unit is available in a variety of forms to meet students’ scheduling concerns:
• Traditional: daily, 40 hours per week for 10 weeks.
• Extended: 16-20 hours per week for 20-24 weeks.
• Other variations
Academic credit is given for the satisfactory completion of such an accredited program.
FIELD EDUCATION
Master of Divinity students will complete two Field Education courses, THFE 7750 and THFE 7760.
Each course will immerse the student in the life of a congregation; if the student is not serving in a pastoral
role, the Director of Field Education will assign the student to an appropriate congregation. Each student will
work with a Pastoral Mentor, chosen and trained by the School of Theology to guide learning experiences.
Both courses will emphasize leadership in the church; church administration; and theology and leadership
of worship, evangelism, and biblical reconciliation. These two courses are built on the CPE model,
with didactics, clinical experience, and peer group reflection. Students will develop a portfolio to demonstrate
their competencies in leadership, administration, worship, evangelism, and biblical reconciliation; the
portfolio will be valuable when seeking placement in ministry.
SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES
Service opportunities are made available through regular courses, special seminars, and campus guests.
Service in the urban settings occurs in a rich variety of contexts, congregational styles, ministry models, and
leadership styles.
Anderson University School of Theology will cooperate with a variety of programs which provide
exposure to and training for ministry. Opportunities include:
• Special assignments in Theological Field Education, including national parks ministry;
scouting; chaplaincy; Appalachian ministries, with a focus on rural ministry; and internships,
with a focus on smaller churches.
• Other internship/contextual education opportunities, including cross-cultural ministry
and research, clinical pastoral internship, internship in educational ministry, or internship
in worship.
Believing that knowledge is to be tested in experience, internships, practicums, clinical training, workshops,
and field education are viewed as essential curricular ingredients.
34 Anderson University School of Theology Catalog, 2014-2015