The Field Education program provides students with opportunities to serve the church of Jesus Christ and the world. The program depends on partner churches and agencies that are willing to offer themselves as laboratories where the art of ministry is considered and practiced. A set of unique partnerships develop between the student, the Seminary, the supervisor, and those at the ministry site. Partnership implies a relationship based on mutual trust fostered through two-way communication and tangible support. Partnership produces the best sites and supervision.
All sites and supervisors must meet certain criteria to be approved by the Office of Field Education and Vocational Placement.
Sites Must:
- Provide a context for learning and serving that meets the student’s educational and professional development needs in addition to the ministerial needs of the site.
- Provide opportunities to work with people on meaningful issues.
- Provide significant tasks that a student can accomplish and learn from on a part-time (during the academic year) and short-term (less than one year) basis.
- Provide a stable, welcoming environment with consistent direction and oversight.
- Provide a theologically trained and qualified supervisor OR a qualified supervisor AND a theologically trained conversation partner to conduct theological reflection with the student.
- Submit an update to their site profile annually, which includes a description of all available placements with educational objectives and criteria for evaluation.
Supervisors Must:
- Possess an MDiv or equivalent degree; in the case of specialized ministries, supervisors must possess appropriate professional certification.
- Have been in ministry for three (3) years and on-site for one (1) year.
- Participate in New Site Supervisor Training provided by PTS staff.
- Agree to comply with all PTS policies, including those related to Title IX and Title VI.
- Comply with a background check through PTS every three (3) years.
- Complete all required documentation and evaluations in a timely manner.
- Enable a student to function in roles appropriate to their status as students in formation.
- Provide opportunities for the student to gain new knowledge and experience rather than simply practice what they already know;
- Facilitate learning through ongoing conversation and reflection.
If you are interested in becoming a field education site/supervisor, please contact our office via email at [email protected].
If you are an active site/supervisor, click here to update your site profile. If you have forgotten your username and password, please contact [email protected].