Abilene Christian University desires to work cooperatively with local congregations to educate men and women for ministry throughout the world. Some of the most important learning moments in a person’s education occur when the student is learning while serving. Your congregation has an opportunity to provide a place for life-changing "education" by inviting one or more students from Abilene Christian University’s Graduate School of Theology to serve as a ministry intern.

Supervised Practice of Ministry at Abilene Christian University is a compulsory component of study for persons in the Master of Divinity (M.Div.) program and the Master of Christian Ministry (MACM) program. For the M. Div. intern, Internships normally are taken after the second year of a three-year program. For the MAMC intern, Internships are between the first and second year of the two-year program.

At the risk of oversimplification, Supervised Practice of Ministry has four primary purposes:

• To integrate theology, theoretical learning, and field experience.
• To develop and refine skills, experiences, and perspectives appropriate to ministerial competence.
• To aid in the process of clarifying one's personal identity with an emerging ministerial identity.
• To deepen Christian commitment.

Under the supervision of a minister, the intern achieves these goals as s/he serves the congregation and the community at large. An Intern Support Team made up of five to seven members of the congregation gives feedback regularly throughout the Internship. The intern, minister, and congregational Intern Support Team formulate and monitor a Learning Covenant that identifies the intern's learning goals and the resources available for meeting them.

The primary purpose of the Internship is integration. Now in the second year of their degree program, interns full of newly acquired theory and theology have the opportunity to tap this knowledge base in the practice of ministry. Under the guidance of ministers/supervisors, the interns perform ministry and then reflect theologically upon what has occurred.

This theological reflection and integration process is aided by the minister/supervisor who has knowledge of the dynamics of the ministry setting and by the Director of the Program. Through this process the intern is allowed to practice ministry and develop a theology of ministry.

The second purpose of the SPM Program is to develop ministerial skills. In all supervised field placements the intern works under the guidance of a senior ministerial person. The minister/supervisor not only becomes a resource base for the intern, but also models a style of ministry for the intern to observe. The exposure of the interns to various models of ministry gives opportunity to study and adopt a ministry pattern unique to his or her style. The intent is not that the intern should become the clone of the supervisor, but rather that in the process of supervision, ministerial skills may be learned and developed into the intern's own unique style of ministry.

The third purpose of the SPM Program is to begin the process of clarifying one's own ministerial identity. This is a life long activity, but it begins with the experience of ministry and the integration of that experience with theology. The integration process and the development of ministerial skills necessitate the integration of one's personality and identity with the task of ministry. The process of ministerial identity begins during the Supervised Practice of Ministry process and is aided by theological reflection on the interpersonal dynamic of ministry.

Conceptually, the relationship a teaching church has with an intern differs from traditional field employment. The responsibility a teaching church accepts by partnering with ACU and the intern involves specific formative learning goals. Teaching churches should understand their role as a ministry intended to bless the intern and his/her future ministry in our fellowship. Although interns will contribute to the present work of the church, the primary focus of SPM is the intern’s development. Consequently, some teaching churches will opt to choose an intern with greater growth needs rather than interns with more potential.

Churches interested in becoming a teaching church and willing to provide supervision, evaluation, and financial support for an intern, should complete and submit the online application. The church or agency must have a qualified person to function as the Field Supervisor. Once a congregation has been approved, the SPM Director will recruit potential interns for the setting. When possible, ACU highly recommends the congregation arrange an interview with potential interns. Many churches find Lectureship a good opportunity to interview students.

Upon selection, the intern will develop a Learning Covenant outlining his or her goals for service and growth. The Field Supervisor, the intern, and the SPM Director must agree upon this Covenant during the first week of the Internship. Furthermore, it is important to select an Intern Support Team and Chairperson that will serve as a mentoring group to the intern.

If your congregation is willing to become a partner in preparing men and women for service that will make a difference in our world, please contact the SPM office at ACU.

For more information see the Manual for SPM Supervisors, the Worksheet for Supervisors and the Manual for SPM Intern Support Team.

Sincerely,

Dr. Tim Sensing
ACU Box 29416
Abilene, TX 79699-9416
(915) 674-3792
sensing@bible.acu.edu