Summer Internships: Missional Churches, Prophetic Congregations, and Communities of Shalom (3 or 6 credit options):
The Communities of Shalom Initiative at Drew Theological School is sponsoring a number of ministry internships during the summer of 2008 (4 or 8 weeks). A four-week internship may be taken for 3 academic credits and comes with a $3,000 stipend for travel and expenses. An eight- week internship may be taken for 6 academic credits and comes with a $6,000 stipend for travel and expenses.
Practical ministry opportunities with stipends are available in missional churches of community outreach, prophetic congregations of social justice, and communities of shalom doing community development beyond the local church. Critical theological reflection is required on postmodern ministry practices of so-called “emergent”, “organic”, “missional” and “prophetic” congregations; and on various models of faith-based community development.
Registration will be for Fall Semester 2008, but actual internships at selected sites will occur over a 4-8 week period during the summer (between June 8 – August 15, 2008.) Dr. Michael Christensen, National Director of the Shalom Initiative, is Faculty of Record for the course. An Internship Application and Interview with the National Director are required. Ministry placements and onsite supervisors will be assigned by the National Director maintains the right to remove an intern for any reason.
Registration will be for Fall Semester 2008, but actual internships at selected sites will occur over a 4-8 week period during the summer (between June 8 – August 15, 2008.) An Internship Application and interview with the National Director is required.
Course Requirements: initial class meetings (week of April 14 and week of May 19), preparatory reading, site supervision, weekly blogging, online discussion, case study, ministry project, and final class meeting (Fall 2008). Interns will be expected to work 35 hours per week, including discussion time with site supervisor/mentor and in online class sessions with instructor who will do a site visit during the placement.
Master of Divinity students may be able to fulfill requirements for either the cross cultural (4 weeks) or supervised ministry (10 weeks) in some placements. Students who wish to receive credit for their cross cultural experience should petition the academic standing committee outlining the reasons that this internship should be considered cross cultural. Students who wish to use the internship to fulfill their supervised ministry requirement must contact Dean Samuel.
Applications are available here:
Available Internships and Placements: 2008-02-26
Summer Internships in Pennsylvania
Scranton & Wilkes-Barre, PA area, R.P. Duncan, Site Coordinator, writes:
1. Internship in assisting the Shalom CDC of Greater Scranton in developing a business plan and a network of funding streams for a year-round urban farmers' market and minority business incubator in the city's South Side. The intern would work with the CEO and Board of Directors, local federal and state agencies, communities of interest (farmers, markets, banks, restaurants etc.), and faith communities in greater Scranton in shepherding this ‘urban’ revitalization project. A Spanish-speaking person would be helpful. It is possible that we'd be able to house this person at very low cost.
2. Internship at "The Book Concern" ministry of the Methodist Urban Ministries Community of Shalom – an employment readiness program for persons with marginal employment histories/skills who are homeless or who are at risk of homelessness. The intern would work with MUM directors and store personnel in the areas of communication, program management, program expansion, and capacity building. Low cost housing for this person may also be available.
Contact: Rev. J-P Duncan, Conference Coordinator and National Program Associate, umshalom@yahoo.com 570-969-0210
Summer Internships in Virginia:
3. United Methodist Urban Ministries of Richmond, Inc. (UMUMR). David Cooper, Site Coordinator, writes:
I see four key areas of focus in which graduate or doctoral level interns and UMUMR will find mutual benefit:
A. Support existing Communities of Shalom
·
Foster relationship building (internal<=>external)
·Evaluate perceptions of internals (church members) and externals (non-church community members) and the relation thereof as motivates group affiliation. In other words, "why might I want to affiliate with you?"
·Assist Shalom Team with refining & measuring Plan of Shalom progress
B. Support Shalom Council (CCUM)
·Foster indigenous leadership within CCUM
·Evaluate leadership development models & report to CCUM
C. Support Community Builder/Developer (new staff position) with a new Community of Shalom & housing development
D. Conduct an assessment (compare/contrast) of community development programs
·Compare Communities of Shalom against Hope in the Cities & other development models
·I may be able to locate some low or no cost housing for the interns.
4. Agape Christian Children's Community Center, Horntown, Virginia. Brenda Child, Site Coordinator, says:
Directly across the waterway from Chincoteague Island resort on Virginia’s Eastern Shore is an impoverished community of children in need care and parents in need of employment, life skills, and job development. There’s a shalom zone in the neighborhood known as Agape Christian Children's Community Center which ministers to the children and community members of Horntown, Virginia. The center strives to heal the hurts of this community by spreading the love of Jesus Christ through a preschool for 3 and 4-year olds that is open 11 hours daily, Monday through Friday; after school programs for kindergarten through second grade.
A summer intern is needed for community organizing and fund development; to help make contacts in community with local business, potential funders, partners, etc.; to help train adults for jobs, work with parents; perhaps to do some grant writing and come up with new ideas for fund-raising and community partnerships. Skills needed: relational and organizational; computer training exp and skills a plus.
5. Internship for Reconciliation Ministry in Richmond, VA
Rev. Marilyn Heckstall, Pastor of Asbury United Methodist Church and Site Coordinator of Church Hill Community of Shalom in Richmond, VA. mheckstall@comcast.net
The reconciliation intern at Asbury United Methodist Church will serve as a liturgist during morning worship, give children's sermons and preach at least twice, do community outreach during the week in the Church Hill community—an economically and ethnically diverse neighborhood in Richmond. During the week, the intern will assist in creating and facilitating a diverse, non-traditional small groups focusing on racial healing in the community setting. Other assignments in the church and community will be given according to need and interest. Gifts needed include: biblical teaching, mission evangelism/outreach, creative communication, community organizing, etc.
The intern will serve as a liturgist and give children's sermons during morning worship at least twice. Assist in creating and facilitating a diverse non-traditional small group focusing on racial healing in a non-traditional setting in the community. Preach at least twice during worship celebration. The job description will be adjusted once the intern is selected and length of service determined.
Why racial healing and reconciliation? To become the love engine that moves the world, we must begin to live out what Eric Law says a “spirituality of resurrection.” As new creations in Christ, we have been given the ministry of reconciliation, “that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us” (2 Corinthians 5:17-20). The sin of enslavement of African American people of God caused a disruption in our souls and the relationship between European and African Americans. Consequently, there are racial systemic injustices and an overwhelming oppression of mistrust. Yet, African Americans are called to forgive those who were and are still oppressed by the evil of racism, because we also have been forgiven of our sins. The ministry of reconciliation will empower both African and European Americans to regain our divine place as the prophetic voices of hope, and give us opportunities to speak out against and seek systemic change.
Therefore, I believe that God is calling us at Asbury United Methodist to live out a “spirituality of resurrection” as we embrace the ministry of reconciliation. This will provide opportunities for inner healing, and relationship building.
Summer Internships in California:
6. Rakestraw Community Center, Los Angeles, California. Rev. Jim Conn, Director of New Ministries, writes:
LOS ANGELES – Rakestraw Community Center is a church-related facility and program re-connecting the historic cradle of African-American United Methodism in Los Angeles to a neighborhood increasingly composed of immigrant Latino families. The program runs a variety of programs intended to build a relationship with the community, including, food support for families, after-school for children, a computer lab and recreational opportunities. The building includes a refurbished gym and boxing ring. The goal is to develop a Spanish-speaking congregation inside of the African-American church.
The intern would have hands on experience setting up and running a program for neighborhood children and youth during the summer. We prefer an eight-week commitment. Spanish language skills are a bonus but not essential since the young people themselves speak English and attend English-speaking
schools in the area. This is a grass-roots, hard work immersion in the life of a tough neighborhood that will be a life-changing experience.
Contact Rev. Jim Conn, Director of New Ministries,
110 S. Euclid Ave.
P.O Box 6006
Pasadena, CA 91102
California-Pacific Annual Conference
