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Mentored Ministry (MM) at Eastern Mennonite Seminary refers to a variety of experiential learning opportunities within the overall curriculum. The purpose of Mentored Ministry is to serve the overall seminary curriculum by providing opportunities to to practice ministerial ministerial and public public leadership that that becomes transformative as one increasingly integrates integrates wise interpretation, maturing practice, and and discerning communication to to engage God’s saving mission in the world, embodied in Jesus Christ. Common to each of the programs within the Mentored Ministry Curriculum is an individual mentor relationship.
Requirements :
Six (6 SH) of MM credit is required for the MDiv, normally 6SH in Formation in Ministry. Three (3 SH) of MM credit is required for the MACL degreethe MACL degree.
Core course: 601/602 Formation in Ministry I&II (6SH):
This “core” of the MM curriculum is a two semester (3SH per semester) course that includes an internship. Participants normally spend at least half of their ministry practice time in a congregational setting. Formation in ministry is required of MDiv and MACL studentsand MACL students.
Guidelines/Requirements:
A minimum of 6SH of Mentored Ministry (MM) credits are required for the MDiv; a maximum of 15SH of MM may be earned.
Normally, a minimum of 3SH of the Mentored Ministry credits shall be earned in a congregational context. This is typically achieved through FS 601/602 Formation in Ministry. Students in the MDiv Pastoral Ministry Track shall earn a minimum of 6SH of MM credit in the congregational context.
FS 601/602 Formation in Ministry (6SH) is to be taken in the middle phase of a student’s seminary program. A prerequisite is FS 503 Formation in Spiritual Practices and 504 Formation in Narrative Identity and approval of degree candidacy.
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SMFE 601 Clinical Pastoral Education (6SH) may be taken at any point during the seminary experience excepting when a student is enrolled in another MM program.
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CPE is recommended for students in the Chaplaincy or Pastoral Counseling concentrations in the MDiv Specialized Ministries Track.
A student with significant congregational ministry experience (5 years or more) may petition to substitute SMFE601 substitute SMFE 601 Clinical Pastoral Education (6SH) in place of FS 601/602 Formation in Ministry I&II to meet the Mentored Ministry “core” requirement.
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We intend for our students to be mature in their ability to behave appropriately in intercultural situations by discerning which of their own cultural patterns and perspectives are, or are not, consistent with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Intentional intercultural experiences can magnify our own distinctives and convictions so that we no longer see them as normative, but as part of a cultural context. In this light, we also note that difference is a fact of every community, local and international. We need safe spaces to learn about diversity, within diversity, and from diversity. Ironically, the more “at home” we become in the diversity of our own identity and tradition (tested in encounters with various “others”) the more generous of spirit we can become toward diverse others.
EMS requires EMS requires that students engage in one intentional intercultural experience for academic credit. The experience may involve a variety of learning strategies such as ministry in a context different to one’s own, living with a host family while learning another language, or interfaith interaction. More specifically, students may fulfill the curriculum requirement in one of the following ways:
participating in an intercultural experience led by seminary faculty;
completing the course CM 613 A – Intercultural Church Experience; or
arranging a mentored ministry internship or directed study with significant intercultural dimensions;
Each intercultural experience will demonstrate integration of the four key components of Cultural Intelligence. The integration of these components will show evidence of a robust experience that contributes to increasing the capability of EMS students of EMS students to function effectively in intercultural settings:
Motivation, interest, and drive to adapt interculturally. (self-awareness)
Knowledge of the similarities and differences between cultures. (other-awareness)
Strategies for interpreting cues and planning for multicultural interactions. (planning to engage difference)
Skills that foster the ability to behave appropriately in intercultural situations. (developing skills)
In cases where students bring significant prior intentional intercultural experience, they may meet the intercultural requirement by taking the 1SH CM 572 – Intercultural Integration Seminar for further reflection on their maturing Cultural Intelligence. This alternative should be made available to international students comparing and reflecting on ministry within the U.S. context.
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Every May and June courses are offered in a variety of formats. An intensive unit of CPE is of CPE is offered from mid-June to mid-August. Students who qualify may take directed studies in areas not covered by courses offered in the curriculum. Also, ministry internships may be arranged through the director of field education.
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Shalom Academy
This annual event at the beginning of in early January has a long-standing tradition on the university campus. It has developed from a “Ministers Week” into a “School for Leadership Training” for lay leaders, pastors and current seminary students.
Many classes on a variety of subjects are planned. Bible studies, workshops and inspirational addresses round out the event. The program is integrated with the seminary schedule, allowing students to interact with attenders. Continuing education credit is offered to those attending the entire event. For students the SLT classes and plenary addresses normally replace the regular class work for the week.
More Information on School for Leadership Trainingoriginated as Ministers Week, then became known as the School for Leadership Training, and is now Shalom Academy for faith leaders in a variety of settings, including congregational lay leaders, pastoral ministry, chaplaincy, peace activism and nonprofit leadership. Current seminary students receive complimentary registration and are strongly encouraged to attend, as spring classes do not begin until after Shalom Academy. Keynote speakers and workshops give fresh perspectives on justice-inspired shalom, small group facilitators offer spaces to connect around shared interests, and excursions provide for relaxation and recreation with friends both old and new.