THE DIVINITY SCHOOL at WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY
The vocational development program, a central component of the M.Div. curriculum, provides a three-year framework for integrating theory and practice. The program is designed to equip students with skills for ministry in a changing world and to form in them the ability to think theologically about and within the practice of ministry.
Partnering with churches, hospitals, and other ministry agencies in the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County area, the Vocational Development Program has several goals:
Theological Imagination: An Integrative Approach is a two semester, four-credit hour course required of all first-year students. The primary purpose of the course is to involve students and faculty in theological reflection and dialogue and to introduce students to an integrative exploration of the art of ministry. Seminar topics include: "The Way of the Artist: Ministry through Imagination, "Beginning with the End in Mind: Spiritual Identity and the Profession of Ministry," "Imagination and Discipline in the Arts of Theology."
Shared Wisdom: A Program of Reflective Practice in Ministry guides each 2nd year students in a year-long internship. Through experiential learning in churches, hospitals, and other ministry agencies in the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County region, students encounter a broad spectrum of ministry opportunities and practices.
One of the most dynamic elements of Art of Ministry II is the mentoring program. Each student is assigned an on-site mentor who has ministry training and experience. During the internship year, the student and mentor participate in weekly teaching/learning dialogues. Ongoing exploration of vocational identity is a central goal.
Peer group reflection is also important to experiential learning in internships. Throughout the internship year, students and a facilitator meet weekly to dialogue about issues that have emerged in the ministry settings.
Wisdom Work: Exploring Theological Pathways is a two semester, four-credit hour course for third-year students. The primary purpose of the course is to give students an opportunity, through an interdisciplinary project, to integrate their three years of academic coursework. The course also gives students a venue for critically and theologically exploring career pathways. Workshop options include: "A Narrative Paradigm for Resume-Writing," "Beyond the Bottom Line: Negotiating a Call," "Now What? Discerning a Career Path Beyond Divinity School," "Getting a Ph.D.: The Inside Story," "Budget Reading, Writing and Negotiating 101: Where Is God in All of This?"
A third year elective for students who want to continue to learn skills for integrating the practice of ministry with foundational theological frameworks of professional ethics, ministerial identity, pastoral authority and leadership.
