FIELD EDUCATION

Field Education at the School of Theology and Ministry is the practical application of skills learned in real life ministry context. Students are involved in actual internships and Field Education coursework as early as their second year at STM. In this way, we seek to develop the practice of ministry alongside personal spiritual and academic development. Depending on the student's academic program and proximity to the school, Field Education can take a variety of forms including more traditional church ministry, Clinical and Pastoral Education (CPE) in a medical environment, creative arts and spirituality internships, prison ministry, social justice ministry and more. The goal of Field Education is to stretch and grow the student in precisely those areas they are less comfortable or experienced with in order to stimulate further growth and learning.

Field Education is concerned with creating the crucible where students question, wrestle with and reflect upon the practice of a public theologian and a pastoral minister. How do individuals prepare for the leadership role and responsibility as a pastoral minister? How does one prepare for pastoral ministry? How does someone know when they are ready to be a pastoral leader? In the Field Education experience, the student is challenged to discover practical knowledge for public ministry.

Our program takes seriously the following:

• The individual's "call" to ministry is scrutinized and correlated with family origin.
• Pastoral leadership is approached as shared and transferred between leader and follower.
• Personal identity and the authority of one's self is affirmed.
• Theological reflection and integration go beyond simply applying technical skills or theory.
• Openness to explore that which is hidden or unknown, which includes the self and the context of ministry.
• The ability to view pastoral ministry as a practitioner, public person, and artist.

Elements of the program include:

• A context for the practice of ministry relevant to each student's experience and vocational gifts.
• Field placements are places of challenge and affirmation where one can practice the art of ministry in a public setting. Such places include but are not limited to: local congregations, hospitals, detention centers, campus ministries, church and community agencies, halfway houses, mental health programs and shelters.
• A three quarter sequential class which provides opportunity for using the disciplined tools of theological reflection and peer feedback.
• A learning environment which welcomes differences and fosters opportunities to transform our own experiences and assumptions.

Quality Discernment and Guidance:

• The faculty and program director assist students on an individual basis in discerning the context for the internships or practicum experience.
• A database is maintained with a listing of potential sites that offer unique possibilities to practice ministry in a public setting.

Contextual Education:

Contextual education takes on new meaning as students are invited to explore their passion for practical ministry in a variety of settings. It is in this phase of the degree program that students learn to be public theologians and reflective pastoral ministry practitioners. Students gain new insights and understandings from mentors, on site-supervisors and faculty, denominational leaders and the context of their internship.

The faculty for this aspect of the degree program is Dr. Richard Cunningham, Assistant Professor and Director of Field Education. He joined the School of Theology and Ministry faculty in 1995 and has developed a highly regarded and nationally recognized field education program. Currently he is engaged in a robust research project with church leaders to explore the problematic issues of pastoral ministry as well as "how" the theological school prepares one for the practice of ministry. Dr. Cunningham currently serves on the steering committee of the National Association for Theological Field Education.

Your questions, interest and inquiries about any aspect of the program are welcome.

Joy and Peace,

Dick Cunningham
Faculty, Director of Field Education