Ministry in Context
Ministry in Context is a field education component of the Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree program that provides students the occasion to explore and discover the joys, challenges, and opportunities for ministry and leadership in the congregation and in social ministry agencies. Ministry in Context Parish is concurrent with classroom work and allows the student to apply and contextualize what they are learning and discovering in the classroom. This concurrent nature also deepens the learning in the classroom as the student brings new questions and insights from the parish to the classroom.
What does the student do?
Ministry in Context takes place over three semesters of the M.Div. program. For those in residence for the first year it will begin during the spring semester of the first year, and fall and spring semesters of the second year. During these semesters the student is expected to spend six hours per week participating, leading, and observing in the ministries of the congregation. Some examples of what a student might do range from preaching, worship leadership, pastoral care, community organizing, and meeting facilitation. Throughout the three semesters the student is expected to facilitate two meetings per semester with his or her Ministry in Context Lay Committee, meet at least once a month with the supervising pastor, and complete the Student Ministry in Context Evaluation at the end of each semester.
What is expected of the supervisors of Ministry in Context students?
The pastor of the congregation and the designated person of the social ministry agency where the student is placed for the Ministry in Context requirement act as the student’s supervisors and are expected to meet with the student at least once a month; these meetings provide time to reflect on how the work is going, highlighting both areas of strength as well as areas for growth. A Lay Committee of at least three lay members of the congregation or agency is also established, and is expected to meet with the student at least twice each semester to reflect with the student on areas of strength as well as areas for growth. Both the supervising pastor and the Lay Committee are expected to complete evaluations at the end of each semester.
To apply to become a Ministry in Context site, please complete the appropriate Site Application form below and return it to the Contextual Education office:
- MIC 1 and 2 Site Application for Residential Learners (sites within the San Francisco Bay Area)
- MIC 1 and 2 Site Application for Distributed Learners (sites outside of the San Francisco Bay Area)