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Field Ed Overview

Supervised Concurrent Field Education (SCOFE)

SCOFE is an educational endeavor designed to help students grow in competent practice of ministerial leadership through a multifaceted process of learning while serving. Students use their structured supervised internship as the venue and context for developing the perspectives and skills required to become practical theologians: ministers who continuously ask themselves and their congregations, “What ministry is appropriate in this context?”

Appropriate ministerial practice emerges from the interface of several factors: the giftedness, faith, and spiritual sensitivity of the persons engaged in a particular ministry situation; understanding of the wisdom of God through scripture, theology, the history of God’s people, and other disciplines of learning; and keen awareness of the context. SCOFE seeks to introduce students to a lifetime of reflective ministry practice.

Master of Divinity students are required to complete two years of supervised ministry experience for credit, and are expected to begin their first year of SCOFE (M-516, M-517) between the completion of 18 and 45 credit hours. Students are strongly encouraged to enroll in Advanced SCOFE (M-616, M-617) and either continue a second year in their ministry site or seek a placement in a teaching site the second year that emphasizes the type of ministry that matches their long-term call.

Master of Arts in Educational and Arts Ministry students are required to complete one year of supervised experience. Students who have completed field education requirements for graduation may continue in a supervised ministerial experience for additional credit.

SCOFE ministry placements usually begin with the fall semester of the second year of full-time coursework. Students must have placements approved no later than July 1. Placement begins with the student attending a required SCOFE start-up meeting in January. Individual interviews follow, preparing students for employment by teaching congregations.

Placement in a teaching congregation means recognition of the student as a staff person in that congregation. Students work 12 to 15 hours per week, at least September through May. In most cases, students receive a stipend for their work; in others, they volunteer their time but must be recognized as professional staff with specific responsibilities.

All SCOFE students are required to have a site supervisor with whom they meet for regular supervision. All placement sites are required to establish a ministry support committee (MSC) of four to seven adults who are not professional staff, family of staff, or family of the student. The MSC meets monthly with the student to provide support, perspective and feedback. This committee helps students evaluate progress toward learning objectives through timely feedback and by completing two written evaluations during the year. The site supervisor also provides two written evaluations, one at the end of each semester.

Students, site supervisors and MSCs are required to receive training for supervision. Students enrolled in SCOFE participate in a weekly SCOFE peer group. Carefully selected and trained pastors serve as supervisors for the SCOFE groups. Each student writes at least three issue in ministry reports per semester, dealing with specific issues or problems they are facing in ministry. In the weekly SCOFE meetings, students and supervisors examine ministry issues in order to:

  • identify theological as well as other perspectives involved;
  • assess vocational and spiritual formation implications;
  • name the presenter’s interests, needs and strengths; and
  • determine appropriate strategies and actions in the student’s ministry.

A learning covenant is a central component in the SCOFE process. In Basic SCOFE, each student develops a covenant for learning in consultation with the SCOFE supervisor, the SCOFE group, the site supervisor and the ministry support committee. The covenant articulates the major learning objectives that the student intends to address in SCOFE. It becomes the basis for supervised reflection and evaluation.

Developing pastoral identity is the focus of Basic SCOFE. In Advanced SCOFE, the focus is on developing leadership and collegiality within community. Peers develop a group learning covenant based on learning opportunities identified within teaching sites represented in the group.

All M.Div. and MAEdAM. students are required to complete Introduction to Christian Ministry (M-514, M-515) concurrently with SCOFE (M-516, M-517). This year-long course guides students in developing a practical theology for discernment and decision-making in ministerial leadership. It provides resources for increased self-understanding as well as analysis of the ministerial context and skills for ministerial leadership.