Objectives & Policies

Objectives

  1. To experience the role of a pastor or ministry leader in the fieldwork process.
  2. To discover ministry needs and subsequently seek deeper theological understanding and study in the learner’s respective ministry area through the fieldwork process.
  3. To provide opportunities for the learner to discover his/her ministry gifts and weaknesses with the hope of enabling the learner to continue serving the Lord with faith and perseverance.
  4. To help the learner explore and ascertain future ministry direction.
  5. To give the learner the opportunity to understand principles of effective ministry and learn to become a good and faithful servant.

Policies

  1. Field education is an integral part of the seminary’s overall training. Students who have six years of full-time pastoral experience, after petition and verification, may be exempt from field education courses. Students who have three years of full-time missionary experience, after petition and verification, may be exempt from the short-term mission course.
  2. All full-time students shall not begin field education work in the church or para-church organization on their own during their first year at the seminary. Master’s students, under the arrangement and supervision of the Field Education Office, shall observe churches or organizations of different models and turn in a fieldwork report once a year (at least two times total before graduation).
  3. Master of Divinity students must complete two semesters of field education work, short-term mission practice, and summer pastoral practice. (Students may sign up for field education in the second year of their seminary studies.)
  4. Students pursuing a Master of Arts in Christian Studies must complete short-term mission practice.
  5. Field Education Individual Instruction is designed for students who desire to research and explore one or two areas of church ministry more deeply. No more than two credits in field education can be counted toward Master of Divinity graduation credits, and no more than one credit in field education can be counted toward Master of Arts in Christian Studies graduation credits.
  6. Master of Theology and Doctor of Ministry students must register for Research Practice (fieldwork area must be related to dissertation topic).
  7. Master’s students may register at the Office of Academics for field education during their second year at the seminary. Students may make their own arrangement or request the help of the Field Education counselor in selecting the church or organization for their fieldwork. All fieldwork assignments need to be registered under and reported to the Field Education Office (F1 students also need to report fieldwork and complete its respective form at the International Students Office.) Fieldwork may officially begin once all of the above has been complete. Churches and para-church organizations approved by the Field Education Office of the seminary are considered suitable places for field education.
  8. As a principle, fieldwork at churches should be conducted during weekends; field work at para-church organizations should be conducted based on circumstances. Fieldwork should not exceed sixteen hours per week lest students’ studies are affected.
  9. Field education compensation given to seminary students by the church or organization where the students practice shall be as follows: compensation for local students (US citizen or student with permanent residence status) shall be reported through the 1099 for tax purposes, compensation for international students (F1 students) shall be reported through the W2 and not the 1099 to avoid affecting their immigration status and job application in the future. (Please refer to International Students Field Education Guidelines or consult an accountant.)