INTRODUCTION

CS251/252 - Religious Leadership,Organization, Administration and Finance in Context

A. NATURE OF THE COURSE

1. Students are normally eligible for CS251/252 after successfully completing IS152 (Integration of Ministry and Local Theologies) and will usually be in their Middler (second) year at UTS.
2. There are two components to the course:

(a) the practice of ministry in a parish/congregational setting.

(b) a concurrent seminary course which focuses on leadership in ministry

and reflection on the contextual experiences.

B. OBJECTIVES OF THE COURSE

1. The course as a whole engages students in critical reflection on the nature of religious

leadership. In particular, students will:

(a) analyze the contextual nature of congregations as social, spiritual and

emotional organizations.

(b) show familiarity with different models of leadership and appreciation of

personal leadership styles.

(c) gain practice in and understanding of congregational dynamics and systems.

(d) further develop models of contextual analysis, theological reflection and self-evaluation in community.

2. Through field placements in ministry, students will have opportunity to reflect critically on their own capacities to lead and to serve. In consultation with field instructors, students will establish particular learning goals and objectives for exercising religious leadership. These might include such areas as: preaching, worship leadership, teaching and educational leadership, pastoral care experience, program and administrative leadership, participation and/or observation in planning and leading weddings and funerals.

Through these kinds of experiences and activities, students are enabled to reflect on their own exercise of ministry and leadership.

C. ESSENTIALS OF THE COURSE

1. Type of settings: a congregation or parish.
2. Finances

(a) The parish context agrees to pay the student a basic salary of $2,000 for the 32-week internship. This is taxable income; taxes should be withheld in the same manner as with other employees.

(b) Mileage is paid to the student for travel in the performance of contextual

assignments. Travel to and from the setting is usually not reimbursed, although extensive travel (over thirty miles one way to the setting) may be subsidized if negotiated with the congregation.

(c) Any expenses incurred in the performance of assigned tasks should be reimbursed to the student.

(d) A participation agreement noting these stipulations and signed by the field

instructor, a representative of the congregation, the student, and the context coordinator is required and will be part of the student's file.

3. Duration

(a) Normally the second week in September through the second week in May.

(b) Approximately 12 hours per week - including one hour per week for reflection and dialogue with the field instructor.

4. The Field Instructor

(a) The field instructor should be a designated individual who has program

responsibilities in the area of the student's assigned tasks - usually a pastor.

(b) The field instructor is expected to spend at least one hour per week with the student in reflection on the contextual experience. This hour should be distinct from any other staff meeting or planning time.

(c) The field instructor will appoint a four or five member Leadership Advisory

Group to advise, consult and offer feedback to the student.

(d) The field instructor will complete two written evaluations of the student – one

midyear and one at the end of the placement.

5. Leadership Advisory Group (LAG)

(a) The field instructor will appoint four or five people before the student begins work in the context to meet monthly with the intern and the field instructor to give counsel and evaluation to the student. A student may choose to add one or two additional members as she/he becomes more familiar with the setting.

(b) Each member of the Leadership Advisory Group will complete two written

evaluations of the student - one midyear and one at the end of the placement.

6. Placement Process

(a) The process begins with letters being sent to congregations inviting them to be involved in this educational experience and giving basic information about the process.

(b) Congregations wishing to take part are asked to submit an application giving a brief description of the character of their congregation and outlining where/how they would like to use the capabilities of the student. Students seeking placement complete a similar profile listing their areas of experience and what they hope to learn in this placement.

(c) To expedite a good match of interests and gifts and to limit the interview involvement time, Contextual Studies faculty review applications and coordinate preliminary interviews.

(d) Contextual Studies faculty review the feedback returned by both students and

congregations after the first interview to determine what matches seem

possible. Students and congregations are then notified that a match is recommended and asked to schedule a time with the student to meet at the site for a second interview. If a working arrangement for the coming year is mutually agreeable after this interview, Contextual Studies faculty should be notified of that decision. The Preliminary Participation Agreement should be completed and returned to the seminary before the end of spring term.

(e) No contract or other agreement between a student and a setting will be valid until the setting is approved by the course instructor based on its agreement to meet all course criteria.

(f) Students are not normally permitted to do the CS251/252 internship in their home congregations.

(g) Student pastor or parish settings, where the student is employed as the sole pastor or as a parish staff member for at least 20 hours per week, can be used

for the CS251/252 internship requirement if it is approved by the course instructor.