Mid-America Reformed Seminary believes that mentoring be part of all ministerial training. From the beginning of Mid-America's existence, pairing the student with an experienced pastor has been an integral aspect of the Seminary's training. Students participate in mentoring relationships not simply during the summer, but throughout their Seminary career. Veteran ministers and their congregations partner with the Seminary in preparing men to be pastors as well as preachers.

Mid-America's program is concerned that students at the Seminary receive practical experience as well as an excellent academic education. Mid-America's academic standards are high and its program rigorous, but academic excellence alone does not make an effective minister of the Word. Knowledge is of little value if the student is not able to apply what he has learned to the daily situations and regular preaching involved in the pastorate. In addition to having knowledge of the Word in his head, a minister of the gospel must have the Word dwelling in his heart. The indwelling Word and Spirit are crucial in shaping a minister who is not only a knowledgeable preacher, but also a compassionate pastor.

Program Description

Mid-America recognizes the necessity for practical experience in preparing a man for ministry. And it realizes that there is no better way for a student to gain that experience than being paired with a veteran pastor in a mentoring relationship. This relationship between the seasoned pastor and the student is the focus of the Ministerial Apprenticeship Program (MAP). The Ministerial Apprenticeship Program allows the student to gain field experience throughout his seminary career.

Field education is a part of seminary training, but it is always closely connected to the life of the church. This is because seminary training must serve Christ's church. Students whose denominational requirements differ from, or go beyond, those of the MAP should ensure that necessary requirements are incorporated as much as possible into their field education.

Every full time student preparing for the gospel ministry is required to participate in the MAP throughout his time of study. The student automatically becomes part of the program upon his entrance to the Seminary.

This program is under the supervision of the MAP Director, in consultation with the other faculty members. In consultation with the student, the MAP Director will help secure a minister to supervise the student's fieldwork. The supervising minister should be a member of the Mid-America Reformed Seminary Association, if possible. Ordinarily the student will make the supervising pastor's congregation his church home, and his relationship with the pastor and congregation will continue for the duration of the student's seminary training. Any financial remuneration is incidental to the established purpose of the program.

The student's work will be evaluated at stated times each year so that his competency in several areas may be tested and improved. The student, the pastor, and the faculty will meet at the end of the junior year to evaluate specific areas of growth in the student's spiritual, personal, theological, and ministerial life. Near the end of the middler year, a consultation with the student is conducted in the presence of the entire faculty. The faculty helps the student determine his suitability for the ministry and counsels him with regard to his continuing studies. If necessary, the senior year concentrates on any areas which need improvement.

The following program requirements are to be met by the student and, except for the exhorting, they should be completed before the third year of seminary study:

1. Regular contact with the pastor, consistory/session and congregation by the student during the first year of study in order to gain a broad acquaintance with the life and activities of the congregation. It is the responsibility of the student to see to it that his work is being supervised and regularly evaluated.

2. Involvement in the following areas of the work of the church: A) Teaching a church school (catechism) class, or leading a society or Bible study; B) Attendance at a specific number of meetings of consistory/session, diaconate, classis/presbytery; C) Direct contact with the evangelism program of the congregation; D) Involvement in calling on the sick, shut-ins, and others needing pastoral care; E) Exhorting in the worship services of the congregation.

3. At least two summers of service in a congregation either as student assistant to a pastor or in a vacant church, in which latter case the student will be supervised by a pastor in a neighboring congregation, whenever possible. Each summer assignment is to be at least ten weeks in length.

4. Whenever possible and desired by the student, some of the above and additional requirements may also be met by a pastoral internship program of no less than ten months, normally between the middler and senior years of seminary studies.

5. In all cases of work, detailed evaluation will be periodically required from the supervising pastor, the student, and the consistory or session.

The stated number of unit credits will be given for each of these areas of involvement; the full number must be obtained to receive the Master of Divinity or Bachelor of Theological Studies degree.

Program Implementation

The Ministerial Apprenticeship Program is concerned with the spiritual, personal, theological, and ministerial development of seminary students in the following broad areas:

• worship leadership (especially preaching)
• church education
• pastoral care
• church government and administration

The Program incorporates both course practica (see below) and work specifically assigned by the pastor and consistory or session. In this way the Program integrates as much as possible the academic work and field work experience.

All of the work, except for the exhorting, must ordinarily be completed by the third year of seminary study. The exhorting requirements can be completed in the last two years of seminary since licensure to exhort is usually granted only at the end of the first year of seminary studies.

Frequency of meeting with the supervising pastor shall be at the discretion of both the pastor and the student. As has been stated, the student must take the initiative in seeing to it that such supervision is conducted. At least in the initial phase of the work, the supervising pastor shall review with the student such questions as the following: what is the minister's role in leading worship, in teaching catechism and/or leading societies, in congregational evangelism and witness to the community, in pastoral care and counseling (pastoral conversation), in leading and training consistory members? What goals does the minister have in these various areas? How does he structure his use of time (for family, for congregational work, for ministerial growth and development, etc.)? What goals for study and reading does he have in order to facilitate such growth and development?

These areas need not be covered in one session but may be covered as the work is approached. To maximize benefit from the Program, before the student is actually teaching, making pastoral calls, attending meetings, and so forth, the supervising pastor should discuss the specific goals of such activities (What do we want to accomplish?). Following such activities, it is important to review what actually happened (Were the goals met? Why or why not? What must happen next time?).

In addition to the regular course assignments given in the Division of Ministerial Studies, students who aspire to the gospel ministry are required to complete on-the-field assignments as outlined below. These must be performed, as much as possible, in consultation with the professor in charge of the prescribed courses and the student's supervising pastor and consistory/session.

These practica will not be considered completed until all the proper forms are filled out, handed in, and the student engages in reflection and evaluation with the supervising pastor and a faculty member. This will take place at the end of each academic year. Additional written work may be required at that time.

Since not all of these practica can in every instance be carried out during the time scheduled for the prescribed courses, final credit in each is not given until completion of the work and the submission of the appropriate forms. It is expected, however, that as much as possible the two (class work and practica) be completed concurrently. Both the course practicum and any other Apprenticeship work are described below.

Homiletics Practicum (One unit)

During the Junior year, upon completion of at least one half of the Preaching and Public Worship course, the student is to hear four sermons preached by four different preachers and record text, theme and divisions and write an evaluation of both structure and delivery, along with theological reflection on the significance of the sermon(s) in the context of the congregation's life.

Liturgics Practicum (One unit)

In connection with the Preaching and Public Worship course, the student is to attend three different worship services in three different churches, noting carefully the "Order for Divine Worship" followed in each, and writing an evaluation of them in the light of Reformed liturgical principles and practice.

Church Education Practicum (One unit)

During the Church Education course, the student is to engage in conversation with the pastor of the church to which he is assigned, to learn and evaluate the place, order and curriculum of the church education program in that congregation. He is to teach a church school (catechism) class or lead the Bible study of a church society. In addition, the student is to visit two different classes taught by the pastor, if possible, and engage in theological reflection with the pastor. The pastor and/or a member of the consistory or session should observe his teaching.

Evangelism Practicum (One unit)

In connection with the Evangelism and Missions course the student is to participate with the pastor in the work of evangelism. If the supervising pastor is not involved in evangelism that year, he may, in consultation with the M.A.P. Director, refer the student to another pastor who is directly involved in evangelism. When the student does evangelistic work on his own, he is to submit written reports to his supervising pastor, which reports will serve as the basis for conversation and reflection between him and his supervising pastor.

Pastoral Care and Counseling Practicum (One unit)

In connection with the Pastoral Care and Counseling course, the student, under the guidance of pastor, consistory or session, is to engage in a specific number of calls on families, youth, the sick and the aged. Ability to use Scripture appropriately and lead in prayer should be demonstrated, and will be evaluated by the supervising pastor to aid in the development of pastoral skills. This pastoral work can also be conducted in the course of the summer assignments.

Church Administration Practicum (One unit)

In the first year the student is to make contact with his supervising pastor and obtain permission to attend two consecutive meetings of the consistory or session as well as one diaconal meeting. The above are to be attended after briefing by the pastor.

In connection with the Denominational History and Government as well as the Ecclesiology courses, the student is also to attend two meetings of an area classis or presbytery, one of which should include the examination of a candidate for the gospel ministry, if possible. Reports concerning these meetings (including the student's theological reflection), written on the appropriate forms, are to be handed in and placed on file.

Practice Preaching Practicum (One unit)

In addition to the sermons assigned for the practice preaching, the student is to keep a record of the congregations where and dates when he has exhorted, noting the texts and themes used. A faculty member may be able to evaluate an exhorting assignment during the year for each student.

During the second year of study, the student should lead at least eight worship services, using at least six different sermons.

During the third year of study, the student should lead at least twelve worship services, using at least eight different sermons.

In addition to these required exhorting engagements, students are encouraged to accept as many opportunities to exhort as possible.

M. A. P. Credits

Appropriate report forms for all Apprenticeship activities can be obtained from the M.A.P. Director. More information concerning supervision, consultation and reporting is available upon registration.

The required number of MAP credits is nine (9), of which seven (7) are for practica and two (2) are for summer assignments or intern work.

Credit for prior work in churches

Mid-America Reformed Seminary recognizes that some students begin seminary studies with significant experience in a variety of capacities within their home congregations. This can include experience in church education, evangelism, youth work, pastoral visiting, and service as an elder or deacon. All of this can be very beneficial to the student's preparation for the ordained ministry.

If a student with such experience can provide adequate description of his prior work, along with statements by supervising elders and/or pastor that such work was conducted in an approved and satisfactory manner, Mid-America may credit such work and experience toward the respective practica that are included in the Ministerial Apprenticeship Program.

However, no work completed prior to seminary enrollment will be credited toward a summer field education assignment.