Office of Contextual Learning

Internship Handbook[i]

2017-2018

Table of Contents

What is Internship?...... 2

Student Preparation for Internship…………………………..…………………………………..3

Goals and Outcomes of Internship………………………………………………………………..6

Learning Goals…………………………………………………………………………………………9

Evaluations……………………………………………………………………………………………11

Internship Project………………………………………………………………………………….13

Supportive Relationships during Internship……………………………………………….…14

Stipend/Housing ………………………………………………………………………………….15

Expenses………………………………………………………………………………………………17

Vacation Time & Other Compensation……..…………..……………………………..18

Special Circumstances During Internship……………………………..………………………20

Conclusion of Internship………………………………………………………………………………23

Note: This Internship Handbook is not exhaustive. Throughout one’s internship, both Luther Seminary’s student policies and the congregation’s employment policies apply.

Handbook modified June 1,2017

What Is Internship?

At Luther Seminary, Internship is a core integrative experiential learning component of the formation of Christian Public Leaders. It is a required component of the core curriculum for

All MDiv students (Both in the ELCA & from other denominational backgrounds)
Students affiliating with Luther Seminary for their Lutheran year.

Internship provides leadership experience under the supervision of a pastor or non-profit ministry leader who serves as a contextual educator. Its dual aim is:

(a) to be a developmental process of vocational formation and

(b) to assist with growth in competence in the various skills of ministry practice.

In Internship, students take on the role of a Christian public leader, engage in the full range of ministry and professional experiences, hone knowledge and skills in proclaiming God's promise in a variety of ways, form new communities, and equip existing communities to love and serve their neighbors.

ELCA International Horizon Internships

The Horizon International Internship program provides ELCA Master of Divinity students with an opportunity to have their ministry shaped by the witness of the world. It is an intensive and transformational opportunity, which aims to enrich the talents and skills of future rostered leaders for the ministry and mission of the ELCA.More information is located on the ELCA website.

ELCA Domestic Horizon Internships

The Horizon Internship Program is an exciting collaborative venture of the Domestic Mission Unit, with synods and seminaries of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. It is an intensive and transformational opportunity that aims at enriching the talents and skills of future rostered leaders for the ministry and mission of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The ministries participating in the Horizon program are normally urban or rural sites with priority given to ethnic specific and multicultural ministry sites. More information is located on the Contextual Learning website.

Markers of Student Readiness for Internship

The following arerequiredto be completedprior to beginning your Internship:

Checkpoints required by your denomination (including endorsement for ELCA)
Boundaries Workshop (Available in January and June)
Internship Orientation Workshop (offered in January or June)
Minimum of 10 Credits of Coursework Completed

The following areencouragedand recommended to be completed prior to beginning your internship:

Clinical Pastoral Education(CPE)
Course -CG0525Congregational Care and Formation
Course -PR0510Foundations of Biblical Preaching
Course - WO0515 Public Worship: Leadership in Word and Sacrament, Prayer and Thanksgiving

Student Preparation for Internship

Background Check

A background check must be on file with Luther Seminary before beginning your Internship.

Boundaries Workshops

A completed Boundaries Workshop is required prior to the beginning of your Internship. Internship Supervisors are required to complete a Boundaries Workshop as well.

FE 0200 Internship Orientation

Luther Seminary students going on Internship are required to attend one Internship Orientation during the year prior to Internship. The Internship Orientation is offered on campus or via Live Streaming. Viewing the Internship Orientation as a recording is not an option.

•FE 0200 is a non-credited course required for your degree.

•No tuition is charged for FE 0200.

•FE 0200 is a prerequisite for Internship.

•Registration for FE 0200 is available during the J-Term Registration and/or Summer Registration.

Defining Internship Frameworks

•Geographically Restricted:Interns that need to complete their Internship within a limited commute from home. Includes a Stipend.

•Geographically Open:Interns that are able to go on an Internship without geographic restrictions. Includes Stipend and Housing.

•Ecumenical Internships: 12-20 hours per week in a congregation or faith-based organization that includes a congregational component.

•Full Time ELCA Internship: 40 hours per week for 12 months.

•Part-Time/ Concurrent ELCA Internship: 20 Hours per week for 2 Years.

•Affiliated ELCA Students:Interns fulfilling their Lutheran year at Luther Seminary.

Internship: Timeline A and Information for a Geographically Open Fall Placement*

(For a Geographically Restricted and/or non-Fall start date, refer to Timeline B)

Internship Placement Timeline A
(Remember to Confirm Specific Dates with the Contextual Learning Office)
July-October / Students complete the Luther Seminary Application for Internship (available on the Contextual Learning website). All MDiv students (ELCA & Ecumenical), Distributed Learning Students, and Affiliated Students.
September-October / Students interested in the International and/or Horizon Internship complete and submit applications. The applications are available on the Contextual Learning Website and are due: October 31 (International) and October 25, 2017 (Domestic).
October 31, 2017 / Luther Seminary Student Application for Internship is due!
November / All intern applicants have a preliminary interview with a Contextual Learning Team Member regarding Internship.
December / Separate Horizoninterviews take place.
January / Internship Orientation (FE0200) (Allstudents arerequiredto take one day of FE0200).
February / •Geographically Open Internship interviews are held with students and prospective supervisors.
•Geographically Open students and prospective supervisors complete Preference Forms.
•Contextual Learning Team works to place Geographically Restricted students.
March / •Internship placements begin for Geographically Open students.
•Contextual Learning Team works to place Geographically Restricted Students.
April / •Geographically Open Internship placements announced.
•Contextual Learning Team works to place Geographically Restricted students. (Ongoing through spring/summer until finished).
June / •Internship Orientation (FE0200) (All students are requiredto take one day of FE0200).
•New Supervisor Orientation-- June 15-16, 2017 at Luther Seminary.(New Supervisors must attend one Orientation in June or August).
August / •New Supervisor Orientation—August 17-18, 2017 at Luther Seminary. (New Supervisors must attend one Orientation in June or August).

*Internship: Timeline B and Information for a Geographically Restricted and/or non-Fall Placement

(does not apply to International or Domestic Horizon Internship)

Internship Placement Timeline
(Remember to Confirm Specific Dates with the Contextual Learning Office)
Expected:
October 31, 2017* / Students complete the Luther Seminary Application for Internship (available on the Contextual Learning website). All MDiv students (ELCA & Ecumenical), Distributed Learning Students, and Affiliated Students. Submission deadline: October 31, 2017.
*Non-Fall placement / If a student enters the Internship process outside of the Fall 2017 process, the Intern application must be submitted prior to any official planning and processing by the Contextual Learning office. Submission deadline will likely be a date other than October 31st.
**Steps to follow in process / 1)All intern applicants have a preliminary interview with a Contextual Learning Team Member regarding Internship
January or June / 2)Internship Orientation (FE0200) (All students are requiredto take one day of FE0200).
February: Open Interview Process students/Geographically Restricted Students
Non-Open Interview Process students/Geographically Restricted Students / 3A) If a Geographically Restricted student is Participating in the Open Interview Process:
•Open Internship interviews are held with students and prospective supervisors.
•Open interview students and prospective supervisors complete Preference Forms.
3B) For All students NOT participating in the Open Interview Process, including Geographically Restricted Interns: the Contextual Learning Team works to place students.
a)This process includes the student participating in an interview with the potential site. This will include the Supervising Pastor and possibly members of the congregation.
b)Timing to confirm the Placement Site and the Start Date will vary based on the discernment and availability of an appropriate context and supervising pastor. A “Good Fit” is top priority.
March / •Contextual Learning Team works to place Geographically Restricted Students.
April / •Geographically Open/Open Interview Process Internship placements announced.
•Contextual Learning Team works to place Geographically Restricted students. This process is ongoing until a “good fit” is located for the student intern. There is no definitive date for announcing placement.
June / •Internship Orientation (FE0200) (All students are requiredto take one day of FE0200).
•New Supervisor Orientation-- June 15-16, 2017 at Luther Seminary.(New Supervisors must attend one Orientation in June or August).
August / •New Supervisor Orientation—August 17-18, 2017 at Luther Seminary. (New Supervisors must attend one Orientation in June or August).

Goals and Outcomes of Internship

Each Internship is a New Internship.Each supervisor, Internship site, and student bring different strengths, experiences, and viewpoints to the Internship. Guiding our Internships are the following Goals and Outcomes set by the Luther Seminary curriculum.

Goals of Internship

1.Students will continue in the developmental process of Vocational Formation.

2.Students will demonstrate growth in competence in the Characteristics and Skills of Ministry Leaders.

Outcomes of Internship

Throughout your Internship you will be asked to practice, demonstrate, reflect, receive feedback, and be evaluated on the following Characteristics and Skills for Ministry Leaders. Assessment of this growth will be facilitated through various conversations between the Internship Supervisor and the Intern, the Internship Committee and the Intern, and the Contextual Learning Team and the Intern. Assessment will also include formal evaluations conducted by the Intern, Supervisor, and Internship Committee Chair Person.

Personal Characteristics of Ministry Leaders / Skills for Ministry Leaders
Goals / Leading Worship
Preparedness / Preaching
Key Relationships / Teaching Adults
Congregations’ Experience / Teaching Youth and Children
Receiving Feedback / Evangelism
Work Habits / Pastoral Leadership
Strengths / Visionary Leadership
Areas of Growth / Theological Understanding
Administration
Stewardship Leadership
Leader of Social Ministry

Timeline of Key Submissions

Ongoing feedback and evaluation enable the student interns to learn how others view their ministry and to identify their strengths and weaknesses. The evaluations are one snapshot of the feedback you will receive on Internship. Additionally, these evaluations will be used as the basis for your semester grade. All of the following assignments and evaluations should be completed online at the Contextual Learning website.

Due / Form / Submitted By
Intern / Supervisor / Internship
Committee
Within first 2 weeks of the internship / Confirmation of Internship Placement. Confirms contact information, supervisor and Internship committee chair person, and financial agreements. This form may be updated throughout the year in adjustment to changing circumstances. / X
Within first 4 weeks of the internship / Learning Goals. Feedback should be solicited from both the supervisor and the Internship committee in the development of this document. This form may be updated even after it has been submitted, to allow for changes in the learning goals. / X
Within first 3 months of the internship / 3-month evaluation/reports. Evaluations are submitted electronically to Contextual Learning. / X / X
Grade Reported / 1st Semester Grade Reported
Prior to the Mid-Point Evaluation / Project Proposal. Feedback should be solicited from both the supervisor and the Internship committee in the development of this document. This form may be updated even after it has been submitted, to allow for changes in the project focus. / X
At Mid-Point of the Internship / Mid-point evaluations. It is the intern's responsibility to mail a hard copy of the evaluations, with signatures, to their candidacy committee or denominational leadership, if required. Evaluations and signatures are submitted electronically to Contextual Learning. / X / X / X
Grade Reported / 2nd Semester Grade Reported
At the conclusion of the Internship / Final evaluations should be completed before the intern leaves the site. It is the intern's responsibility to mail a hard copy of the evaluations, with signatures, to their candidacy committee or denominational leadership, if required. Evaluations and signatures are submitted electronically to Contextual Learning. / X / X / X
Prior to the conclusion of the Internship / Project Report. When the project is completed, the intern should complete this online form. / X
Internship Completion Reported / Internship Completion reported to the Registrar with Submission of Project Report and all Final EvaluationSubmissions. See Final Evaluation recommendations p.11-12

Coursework during Internship

Many interns enroll in coursework during internship. If an Intern wishes to do so, they need to be mindful of the energy and commitment required to fully engage within an internship context, and also the scheduling and time required within the internship context. Recommendations to consider:

It is good to remember that Internship itself is considered coursework, and evaluation and grading of one’s internship do occur at semester marks. If an intern does enroll in additional coursework, it is recommended it be on a limited basis, especially the first semester, with 0-1 courses recommended.
It is requested that the intern consult with their Faculty Advisor regarding enrolling in any courses during internship, and that this conversation guide the intern’s choices.
The intern must consult with the Supervisor prior to enrolling in the course, to ensure that the Supervisor is aware and responsive to the intern’s course expectations.
If a course requires the intern to be absent from the context to attend any portion of the course expectations as outlined in the course syllabus, the student must consult with the Supervisor in advance, and address and respond to any conflict in schedules of the course and the context.
Regarding any absence from the context for coursework, the intern may use the context’s continuing education policy and practice for this absence. Or they may use the allotted internship vacation time.
If a continuing education option is not available and if the intern does not wish to use their vacation time, it is not an expectation that the context or supervisor make time for the Intern to attend Intensive Coursework.

Learning Goals

The purpose of the Learning Goals is to outline clear areas of learning for your Internship. Recall that the dual aim of Luther Seminary’s Internship program is:

(a) The developmental process of vocational formation and

(b) Growth in competence in the various skills of ministry practice.

Your Learning Goals should be developed in collaboration with your Supervisor and Internship Committee. This is an organic and developing document since Goals should be adapted to respond to the learning throughout your Internship.

Please keep the cultivation of vocati
on and skills in mind as you prepare your Learning Goals. Remember to think about how you will address these areas of Pastoral Leadership in your goals. (See Table of Personal Characteristics of Ministry Leaders / Skills for Ministry Leaders on p. 6 of this handbook for reference).

SMART Learning Goals

A SMART Learning Goal clearly describes what you want to learn.

Developing a SMART learning goal makes sure that your goal is focused and provides a clear idea of what you want to learn. A SMART goal makes it easier to plan relevant learning activities, measure your progress toward achieving the goal and know when you have met your goal.

What is a SMART Learning Goal?

1.Specific / A specific goal is detailed, focused and clearly stated. Everyone reading the goal should know exactly what you want to learn.
2.Measureable / A measureable goal is quantifiable, meaning you can see the results.
3.Attainable / An attainable goal can be achieved based on your skill, resources and area of practice.
4. Relevant / A relevant goal applies to your current role and is clearly linked to your key role responsibilities.
5. Time-limited / A time-limited goal has specific timelines and a deadline. This will help motivate you to move toward your goal and to evaluate your progress.

Examples of SMART Goals

Goal 1 / Goal 2 / Goal 3
Specific: What exactly will you accomplish? / Effective Email Communication with individuals in a timely manner. / During preaching, I want to focus on improving my presentation style so my tone and body language are not a distraction to the message. / Exploring and growing my leadership development through the use of the StrengthsBased Leadership tools and resources to become a more self-aware leader.
Measurable: How will you know when you reach it? / I follow up with emails/ phone calls within 2 days of receiving them. / When my hands are not moving around the entire time. / I naturally engage and utilize my Strengths in leadership tasks and responsibilities.
Achievable
(Resources)
Is achieving the goal realistic with effort & commitment? Have, or will get, resources to achieve this goal? / Yes- at the beginning and end of every day I will set aside 20 minutes to look over my correspondences and write down who I need to respond too. / I will record myself once a month for 3 months and watch them to check on improvements. The first time I preach I will have my committee complete the sermon evaluation and then have them complete it 3 months later. / I will read through my Strengths once a month and list out different ways I am seeing them in my work.
Realistic
Why is this goal significant to your job? / My hope is that in my first call I will be placed in a rural site. I will not have an administrator to help me. / In order for individuals to understand and listen to the message of the sermon, my presentation skills cannot be in the way. / When I am utilizing my strengths, I am at my best self as a leader.
Timeline
When will this goal be achieved. / Check in with supervisor weekly and in 3 months evaluate with supervisor and Internship Committee / Ongoing / Check in with my supervisor every 3 months.
Learning Goals Evaluated

Learning Goals: Process

The intern makes any necessary changes to the Learning Goals draft and submits the document within the first four weeks of the Internship. These are living documents, and every intern should return to them to re-evaluate and re-frame as needed throughout the semester. Some goals will be reached early on in the Internship, some will take longer, and some will be reevaluated throughout and will continue to be a work in process.