Field Ministry Requirement
Field Ministry is a vital part of every M.Div. degree offered at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. This component of each degree is designed to connect the student with a church to allow him to gain hands-on experience under the supervision of an experienced mentor. The purpose of field ministry is for the student to grow in his personal walk with the Lord, in his understanding of the ministry, and in his ability to minister to the church relative to his calling. The student will be challenged to integrate theological training with the practice of ministry.
There are two ways to gain field ministry experience at Southeastern: mentorship or a mission trip. The first and most common way is for the student to participate in PMN 7900 Mentored Internship. However, the student should be aware that this option requires a faculty sponsor to oversee the mentorship. The student is responsible to find a faculty member who will oversee the mentorship experience. Secondly, Southeastern has partnered with some healthy churches in our area (and near our Extension Centers in some cases) to develop EQUIP Partners for the purpose of offering a significantly greater field ministry experience. These EQUIP Partners normally offer a one or two year internship through which a student can gain field ministry experience. A student must be invited and approved by the individual EQUIP Partner in order to gain Field Ministry credit in this manner.
In any case, the student will be working with a Field Mentor who must meet the requirements set by Southeastern and be approved by the professor and/or the EQUIP Network Coordinator prior to the beginning of the student’s Mentored Internship. It is the student’s responsibility to contact and secure a Field Mentor for his or her field ministry experience. Therefore, this process should normally begin before the start of the semester in which the student wishes to gain Mentored Internship credit. While the EQUIP Network Office will attempt to assist the student in securing a Field Mentor, it is ultimately the student’s responsibility.
For more information, contact the EQUIP Network Office at (919) 761-2460 or equip@sebts.edu.
Graduate International Students
International students who are in “F-status” must take the minimum load that their status requires. For Seminary students, this is nine credit hours. International students should consult with the Director of Financial Aid and International Students before making any changes to their class schedules that might affect their status.
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