Purpose of the Pastoral Internship Year

The purpose of the Internship Program is to provide the student an opportunity at action-reflection learning in the doing of ministry.  Thus, the student is engaged in valid work of ministry in and through which he may have the opportunity of gaining insights and skills in integrating academic knowledge, theological reflection, spiritual formation, competence in the functions of ministry, and awareness of personal functioning and interpersonal relations.

Internship is not simply a process of practicing skills, learning policy and systems, and gaining confidence in running a program.  It is, in fact, the contextual appropriation and execution of all that makes up ministry, including the academic knowledge.  It means testing, reflecting, learning.

To attempt to achieve these goals, Internship is a process involving consultant, Pastor/Supervisor, intern committee, pastoral staff, intern and formation personnel.  It is in the interaction of all of these persons with students in ministry that personal and  professional growth and maturation may take place.