Mentored Ministries Program

The assumptions for Mentored Ministry are most precisely stated as:

Fruitful Christian Leadership, including that which is part of the called vocation, requires a life that is increasingly formed in the image of Jesus Christ.
Vocational tasks are sometimes best learned through:

Modeling
Self-reporting and group accountability (action/reflection)
Practicing with instructive feedback (based on respectful and supportive peer relationships.

Therefore, the goals for Mentored Ministry are that each student will, by the end of Mentored Ministries, be able to demonstrate:

A doctrinally sound understanding of ministry in the Wesleyan/Holiness tradition (including the willingness to cross class, ethnic, national, et. al. boundaries for the sake of the Gospel);
A realistic evaluation of his/her capacity to serve in vocational ministry based on "testing" his/her gifts and graces (e.g., demonstrating a recognition of relational boundaries, consistently showing the capacity to deal with conflict, social & cultural analysis skills for understanding the local congregation or other organization);
Basic practices for vocational ministry (including the ability to work with others in local church settings and other settings as appropriate; appropriate spiritual disciplines needed, according to the Wesleyan/Holiness tradition for fruitful ministry).

It is important that students begin their Mentored Ministries courses early in their seminary careers, normally by the second year. IS501 and IS502 must be completed before beginning the M.Min. courses.

Students are assigned to two field experiences under an approved on-site mentor. Ordinarily, students will complete the required courses in Mentored Ministry, MM601 and MM602, in adjacent terms and in a single congregation-that is, through an entire academic or calendar year of Mentored Ministry in the same congregational setting. MM601 requires placement in a local church setting. MM602 extends the parish ministry outside the walls into a cross-cultural setting. In some cases, the second course may be completed in an approved setting other than a local church. The Mentored Ministry experience is concurrently coordinated with a Campus Reflection Group under the leadership of an assigned faculty facilitator. Case Studies are used as tools for integrating field experience and the Campus Reflection Group. The case study method is used as a tool for integrating field experience and the peer-group reflection seminar on campus. Student and faculty interaction is aimed toward effecting an adequate and comprehensive view of ministry.

It is standard policy that Mentored Ministry courses cannot be waived on the basis of previous ministry experience. However, MM603, MM604, MM701, MS660, MS661, MS662, MS663, or PC655 may be substituted for MM602. Only one of the required Mentored Ministries courses may have a substitution. All substitutions are subject to approval by the Director of Mentored Ministries. It is strongly recommended that students take all 500 and 600 level core course requirements prior to the last semester of their classes. The maximum limit of Mentored Ministry internship hours or other field internship courses that a student can take for credit is 12, including those taken in other areas.

Asbury Theological Seminary

Academic Catalog

Mentored Ministries Program