Bethel Seminary

Formation, Supervised Ministry & Placement

Current Students

So what’s involved in a Bethel Seminary Internship?

Man sitting

Internship Components

 



Expectations

  • Learner Objectives
  1. Demonstrate growth in spiritual discernment and theological reflection within the context of Christian service and ministry.
  2. Provide evidence of commitment to disciplines of Christian spiritual formation, personal maturation, and vocational skill development within the context of appropriate support and accountability relationships.
  3. Develop and implement a plan for spiritual, personal, and vocational growth.
  4. Provide evidence of spiritual, personal, and professional readiness for the Christian ministry to which the student believes she/he is called after graduation.
  • Prerequisites
  • SP001: Formation Assessments

  • SP500: Spiritual and Personal Formation: Foundations and Traditions

    • Attend Internship Information Meeting held during SP500
    • Spiritual Genogram Summary and Faith Traditions assignments from SP500 must be on file with the Supervised Ministry Department
  • PC501: Introduction to Pastoral Care (this prerequisite is for students beginning seminary fall of 2009 or after)
  • Pre-Approval
  • Before registration for Internship Course
  • Before hours accumulate toward internship requirements

Orientation

  • Orientation Meeting

Contact the Supervised Ministry department to set up a one-on-one internship orientation appointment. After this appointment, students will have access to the internship course to begin Pre-Internship Assignments. This course includes all resources and instructions for the internship process.

  • Pre-Internship Assignments

Two papers sorting through the foundational aspects of belief and ministry precede a second appointment. Three more assignments will detail specific plans, skills, and site for the internship activities.

  • Biblical Core Beliefs and Vision
  • Ministry Perspectives Paper

Internship Plan Meeting

  • Development Plan
  • Resume
  • Ministry Context Plan

Accountability Relationships

  • Bethel expects that all supervisors and mentors:
    • Be godly, mature, and have had extensive experience in ministry, preferably within a ministry context similar to the student’s own ministry setting
    • Have received the confirmation of a denomination or parachurch organization
    • Be committed to meeting regularly to assist the student achieve her/his developmental goals
Supervisor

A supervisor is a ministry leader within the student’s ministry context who will observe, affirm, guide, and direct the student with regard to her/his practicum ministry. The supervisor may or may not also function as the student’s mentor. The supervisor must be approved by the Director or Ministry Placement Coordinator.

Mentor

A mentor is a ministry leader who may or may not be within the student’s ministry context. Students identify and enter into a relationship with at least one mentor who will commit to assisting the student reach her/his Development Plan goals. The mentor(s) must be approved by the Director of Supervised Ministry or Ministry Placement Coordinator, both of whom are available to assist students in identifying suitable mentors. Special care must be exercised in selecting mentors; it is a vital component of effective and high quality field education experience.

Among other things, mentors are selected for their commitment and capacity to assist students in achieving their developmental goals. Depending upon the nature and range of a student’s developmental goals, sometimes more than one mentor is necessary.

Ministry Support Team

The Ministry Support Team (MST) members are selected by the student. The MST provides the kinds of relationships essential for a student’s stewardship of and accountability to her/his callings and strengths. The team should include the intern’s spouse and/or accountability partner, 1-2 vocational ministry peers, and 3-5 laity (people who participate with and/or receive ministry from the student). It is not required that all team members attend the same church or participate in the same ministry.

  • MST meetings should begin after the Ministry Context Plan is approved, and should be spaced evenly throughout the Practicum/Internship.
  • Pace Ministry Support Team (MST) meetings (at least six meetings) evenly throughout the internship.
  • Review the Ministry Support Team guidelines and provide information for your team members.

Internship Activities

  • Site Visit 

As students enter internship, a site visit with a Supervised Ministry Department representative is scheduled.

  • Off Campus Sermons 

Prior to graduation, students must present 6 different, off campus sermons. Sermons presented as part of seminary Community Life Gatherings or Bethel Seminary’s preaching competition are approved.

MACE (Master of Arts in Christian Education) students have different requirements: 2 sermons, 2 adult teaching lessons and 2 children’s teaching lessons or other combinations as approved.

Each of these sermons or MACE lessons must be evaluated by both the student and by at least one observer—a different observer for each sermon (MACE lesson). If married, one of the evaluations should be completed by the student’s spouse. The remaining evaluations should be completed by as wide a variety of people as possible.

If your ministry context is not conducive to completing this assignment, contact Judy Johnson (651-638-6164) to be placed on the pulpit supply list.

  • Internship Completion Meeting

This meeting is an opportunity to interact about the internship experience and understand the Evaluation and Reflection components.

Evaluation and Reflection

  • An opportunity to reflect upon and evaluate the Practicum/Internship, spiritual and personal formation, vocational calling, and readiness for ministry.


Evaluations will be requested upon completion of the Practicum/Internship hours. It is best for the student to review the evaluations prior to writing their final reflection.

  • Mentor/Supervisor Evaluation
  • Ministry Support Team Evaluation
  • Final Reflection Paper