PS 7511 - Applied Focus Practicum 1: Personal Ministry Formation
(NOTE: Changes in scheduling and other details pertinent to the winter semester)
Winter 2016
Providence Theological Seminary
Instructor: Al Thiessen, D. Min.
Email: al.thiessen@prov.ca
SYLLABUS
I.
Course Description:
A “hands on” experience in a church, hospital, counselling or para church setting under
the supervision of a qualified pastor or other ministry professional who will act as a
mentor/supervisor. Students will also be involved in cohort groups under the direction of
a faculty instructor where they will reflect on various dimensions of their practicum
experience.
Note: Students should read the Applied Focus Practicum Handbook (online edition
listed under Dr. Al Thiessen’s course offerings). According to the Practicum
Handbook, students should have an approved ministry site by the start of the first
semester. If you are unsure of how to find a suitable ministry site, please contact me at
the above e-mail. Options can be discussed.
Some thoughts on suitable ministry supervision sites:
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An approved site is one which has provided previous supervision in the last three years or
has a current arrangement with a supervisor to provide supervision as students become
available. (see current site locations below)
A proposed site is one requested by a student but assessed as suitable by the instructor.
Student must advise the instructor at least one month in advance so that the instructor can
assess the suitability of the site and so that mentors can have time to review the
requirements of the Applied Focus Practicum Handbook.
The supervision will occur over the 8 month period of the school year unless previous
arrangements have been made with the instructor.
Mentors will be current on the supervision and reporting features of the Applied Focus
Practicum Handbook.
Mentors will have had contact with the instructor for this course for purposes of training,
clarification, or support.
Travel and family considerations are a factor for some international students or students
that lack transportation. If this is the case, a ministry site should be chosen which best
supports this need.
Current Supervised Ministry Sites:
Niverville and St. Pierre:
Elim Mennonite Church
Maranatha Good News Center
St. Pierre Fellowship
In Steinbach:
Emmanuel Evangelical Free Church
In Winnipeg:
Willowlake Baptist
Faith Covenant Church
Soul Sanctuary
Fort Gary Evangelical Mennonite Church
II.
Objectives:
1. The student will enter into practical ministry experiences consistent with their field of
service and be supervised by a ministry mentor.
2. Students will demonstrate the ability to analyze and reflect on the issues and
opportunities specified in their Applied Focus Practicum Handbook and in the course
work specified in this syllabus.
3. Students will demonstrate a growing awareness of their call to ministry, strongest and
weakest skills, emotional and spiritual maturity, gifts and aptitude, and demonstrate
how they are responding to these features in their practicums. The reporting structure
will help in this regard.
4. Students will reflect on various aspects of ministry which may not be encountered in
their practicums. These may be issues raised by the student or the instructor.
III.
Course Requirements:
1. Contribute to the discussions in the cohort group and be regular in attendance (No
more than two unexcused absences will be permitted, except for students doing
distance practicums with approved alternate arrangements.)
2. Read and be familiar with the Applied Focus Practicum Handbook. This will
explain the cohort structure and guidelines for students and mentors.
3. Submit reports to the faculty instructor as required, according to the timetable
outlined in this syllabus. (All reports to be submitted can be found in the
Applied Focus Practicum Handbook. These include report forms for both
students and mentors….see the appendix.)
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Self –assessments, narratives, case studies of ministry situations, and feedback
from supervisor evaluations will be used as reflective discussions in the cohort
groups. Explanations about these reporting features will be presented in
the fall orientation, thus it is important that all students participate.
Supervisor evaluations may be submitted online since supervisors are not in
the colloquia and are often constrained by time and distance.
4. Read the textbook; Cole, Allan Hugh. From Midterms To Ministry: Practical
Theologians on Pastoral Beginnings (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2008)
Since this text will provide some of the content for discussion in the cohort
groups, students are asked to make notes (marginal or otherwise) on helpful
dimensions of each chapter. These notes will be helpful for recall when the book
will be discussed later in the semester.
IV.
Cohort Dates: Fridays 9:00-3:00
1. January 22nd First Seminar Day – Assignments due on Jan. 20
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First Case Study due,
First Narrative First Self -Assessment due
First Verbatim due
2. February 19th Second Seminar Day – Assignments due on Feb. 17
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First Mentor Evaluation due
2nd Case Study due
Second Narrative due
3. Mar. 18th Third Seminar Day – Assignments due on Mar. 16
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V.
Second Verbatim due
Final Self-Assessment due
Final mentor Evaluations due April 8th (exception to above due date)
Reading of Text Complete.
Grading
Cohort group participation ……………………………………………..30%
All reports submitted ……………………………………………………40%
(2 Self-Assessments, 2 Ministry Narratives, 2 mentor Evaluations)
2 case studies and 2 verbatims
submitted…………………………………………………………………..20%
Reading of text…...……………………………………………………….10%
VI.
Required Reading
Cole, Allan Hugh (editor). (2008) From Midterms to Ministry: Practical
Theologians on Pastoral Beginnings .Grand Rapids: Eerdmans. ISBN 978-08028-4002-8
VII.
Recommended Reading:
Books will be recommended over the course of the semester. Students should also be
prepared to recommend books from their own reading.