Rowman & Littlefield Publishers / Alban Books
Pages: 206
•
Trim: 6 x 9
978-1-56699-407-1 • Paperback • December 2010 • $32.00 • (£25.00)
978-1-56699-689-1 • eBook • December 2010 • $30.00 • (£25.00)
Matthew Floding is Director of Formation for Ministry and Associate Professor of Christian Ministry at Western Theological Seminary in Holland, Michigan. He has previously served as pastor and college chaplain and is a minister of Word and sacrament in the Reformed Church in America. He has also worked with congregations and theological schools in the U.S. and Canada to enhance field education experiences. He currently serves as chair of the Association for Theological Field Education.
Foreword
Preface
Chapter 1: What Is Theological Field Education?
Matthew Floding
Chapter 2: The Art of Supervision and Formation
Charlene Jin Lee
Chapter 3: Ministerial Reflection
Emily Click
Chapter 4: The Use of Case Studies in Field Education
Tim Sensing
Chapter 5: The Power of Reflecting with Peers
Donna R. Duensing
Chapter 6: The Forming Work of Congregations
Lee Carroll
Chapter 7: Self-Care and Community
Jaco Hamman
Chapter 8: Ministerial Ethics
Barbara Blodgett
Chapter 9: Language and Leadership
Lorraine Ste-Marie
Chapter 10: Considerations for Cross-Cultural Placement
Joanne Lindstrom
Chapter 11: Assessment and Theological Field Education
Sarah B. Drummond
Notes
Bibliography
Contributors
Field education is where those learning knowledge of the church's teachings reencounter the love of the church's people that first sent them to seminary. The result, we hope, is divine wisdom. This guide to field education makes that result much more likely. I rejoice for it.
— Jason Byassee, former Butler Chair in Homiletics and Biblical Hermeneutics at the Vancouver School of Theology
An indispensable read for students, field educators, faculty, CPE Supervisors, mentors/supervisors and congregations involved in contextual education and the pastoral formation process. Eleven nationally known, seasoned scholars and educators present rich and sobering elements, detailed examples based on theory, scripture, and research for students and educators. This book gets you in the proper frame for understanding the how and why of theological field education, and introduces you to the finer points of equipping one as a reflective pastoral practitioner.
— Richard Cunningham, Assistant Professor and Director of Contextual Education, School of Theology and Ministry, Seattle University
Welcome to Theological Field Education provides a solid introduction to the multifaceted discipline of training seminarians to become skilled pastors. Written by experienced FE professionals, it is an insightful, systematic, and theologically sound manual that I believe is a must-read for those beginning the challenging enterprise of theological field education.
— Deborah K. Davis, Director of Field Education, Princeton Theological Seminary
Ministry in today’s world is no longer business as usual. This book, written by seasoned leaders in theological field education, brings new perspective to the formation of students for ministry, and offers fresh ideas that will challenge and renew the thinking of students, mentors and field educators alike.
— Gwen A. Ingram, Director of Field Education and Ministry Formation, Fuller Theological Seminary
This book will transform your ministerial practice whether you are a student, novice, or seasoned veteran. The strength of this book is the diversity of viewpoints woven together by a common commitment to reflecting on how God calls forth creativity and excellence in ministry through collaborative intentionality. The authors speak from lived experience, dishing up practical case studies and personal examples that make their insights and tools for understanding ministry leap off the pages.
— William M. Kondrath, VISIONS, Inc.; executive coach; coeditor of the Journal of Religious Leadership
The distinction between field work (learning how to perform tasks) and field education (growing as people and professionals) is at the heart of this insightful collection of essays. Personal experiences, case studies, and practical exercises combine with theoretical expertise to illustrate the importance of placing the functions and practices of ministry within the larger framework of the formation of the whole person for effective preparation of candidates for ministry.
— Randy A. Nelson, Professor Emeritus of Contextual Education, Luther Seminary
Seminary students and supervisor-mentors preparing to embark on the journey of service-learning will find in these chapters a wealth of knowledge that will prepare them for the experience. The authors of each chapter speak directly to Field Education participants out of their area of expertise, so that by the end of the volume, a reader will have had the opportunity to learn from some of the finest Field Educators across North America.
— P. Alice Rogers, Assistant Professor in the Practice of Congregational Leadership, Candler School of Theology, Emory University
Welcome to Theological Field Education is an outstanding introductory volume and highly recommended for faculty, supervisors, students, and congregations interested in best practices for field education, all for the purpose of nurturing the next generation of ministry leaders.
— Teaching Theology & Religion