Welcome to the Theological Field Education

by Matthew Floding (Editor)

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.

220 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[Noah · Rating 4 out of 5]

As with any book written by multiple authors, some chapter are better than others, and there are some moments that feel especially... basic. But this does cover a useful array of topics, offering a starting point for considering theological reflection, learning goals, the role of congregations, supervision, ministerial ethics and boundaries, etc. And I appreciate that each chapter weaves assessing the intern and the supervisor.

[Kara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this for a class that I took as part of supervisory training for field education. It has been a helpful read. I am getting a lot out of the book as helping my students, whether in field education, or just student workers reach their fullest potential.