FIELD-BASED LEARNING AND CONTEXTUAL EDUCATION
Theological field education is at the heart of our efforts to prepare leaders through a combination of traditional classroom studies and practical experiential learning. Field education not only prepares students to do the basic tasks of ministry, but it also enables them to know themselves and develop the arts of leadership. Field education helps students gain the skills of reflection needed to approach ministry challenges creatively.
At Claremont School of Theology, students usually enroll in field education during their second year of full-time study. Working in consultation with the Director of Field Education, they find placements appropriate to their vocational goals and development. This means that one student might work in a home for children, while another serves as a student pastor of a congregation. Students work 12-15 hours a week in the ministry setting and are entrusted with the full range of ministry responsibilities. In congregational settings this including pastoral care, outreach, administration, teaching, worship leadership, and preaching. They also participate in a weekly reflective seminar on campus to discuss their experiences in order to develop deeper understanding and more effective practice. Each student is supervised by a Supervising Mentor in the placement setting. Additionally, every student works with an advisory and support committee of five to six lay people from the congregation or organization.
Ministry in today's challenging environment calls for leaders who are prepared with basic skills, as well as with depth of faith that will carry them through uncertain times. Field education seeks to support students' faith development, vocational discernment, and formation as leaders. It is an exciting program for students who come to seminary with eagerness to offer their gifts in service to the church and wider community.
Urban Ministry
Claremont places particular emphasis on developing skills for ministry in the
urban setting. By drawing upon the Los Angeles environment, this program enables
students to learn in settings rich in multicultural challenges. For more information
on urban ministry programs, contact Helene Slessarev-Jamir, Mildred M. Hutchinson
Associate Professor of Urban Ministries, at (909) 447-2542 or hslessarevjamir
@ cst.edu
CURRENT PARTICIPANT INFORMATION
FUTURE PARTICIPANTS AND POTENTIAL STUDENTS
Students planning to enroll in field education: Please see the Introduction and Procedures for Students for an overview of field education requirements and the process of arranging a placement.
FIELD EDUCATION LEARNING SITES
The desire to provide a student quality learning experiences is the most important
characteristic of a Field Education Learning Site. The following specifics help
sketch an idea of what an excellent learning site might look like.
- An onsite Supervising Mentor who engages the student in weekly spiritual
reflection on the practice of ministry in that setting.
- Depth and breadth of lay leadership that can also engage the student monthly
in spiritual reflection on the practice of ministry in that setting.
- Flexibility to work in partnership with the student's gifts and growing
abilities
- A commitment to the broader church community.
- Commitment to expose the student to the breadth of responsibilities in the
practice of ministry in that setting.
- Freedom from deep divisions and conflicts.
For more information on becoming a Field Education Learning Site, we have provided
fact sheets for congregations
and faith communities and social
service organizations, and you may want to review the Handbooks. We invite
you to complete the Field
Education Learning Site Information form. We appreciate the opportunity
to explore a partnership with your church or organization in preparing our leaders
for the future.
Also, contact Karen Dalton, Dean of Extension Programs and Ministry Resources
and Director of Field Education (909) 447-2534 or kdalton @ cst.edu.
