Ministry Formation

Spiritual Formation Retreats

Students and faculty will gather for retreats that include corporate worship, spiritual practices, and community building centered on a particular theme.

Ministry Collaboration Groups

Saint Paul has a strong tradition of small group reflection with experienced clergy that goes back to the beginning of the seminary. First-year small reflection groups will continue in the new curriculum. We are for the first time asking faculty with pastoral experience to lead upper-level small groups. This will provide a melding of scholarly and practical expertise brought to bear on student discussions and case studies, deeper theological reflection, deeper relationships between students and faculty members, and modeling how professional relationships and support can help students sustain themselves during the demands of seminary, and later, ministry.

Practicums
Practicums are short, workshop-style courses that focus on experiential learning in a particular practice of ministry. They are taught by a faculty member or faculty member in collaboration with a practitioner of ministry. Students engage in experiential learning about the practice of ministry which is the focus of the course.

Practicum Examples:

• Budgets and Financial Documents
• Funerals and Memorial Services
• Ministry of Social Justice
• Ministry with Youth

The Mid-Degree Seminar
This course is designed to help students reflect on their progress in formation for ministry, especially their ability to integrate theory and practice.

The Summative Seminar
This course is an intensive engagement with theology and ministry designed to help students strengthen their ability to integrate theory and practice. Students rehearse articulating their theology in relation to their ministry setting or intended ministry setting in preparation for ordination and commissioning processes.