Office of Contextual Education
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Candler School of Theology
Ecclesial Site and Site Mentor Guidelines
The participation of ecclesial Site Mentors in the theological education of our students is invaluable for the Contextual Education II Program , and we thank you for being interested in offering a student a place to experience the practice of ministry.
Every January, the Office of Contextual Education initiates the process for first year students to look for their ecclesial placement. During the second semester, students will begin to interview churches or chaplaincies that fit both their vocational goals and the goals of the Office of Contextual Education.
- Complete Contextual Education II Profile Form
Your profile will be added to our database and website so that students looking for a site may search for a site that fits their needs.
- Complete Contextual Education II Contract
Requirements to be an approved Site Mentor
The site mentor must fulfill the following requirements to be approved for the Contextual Education II program:
- Be ordained and a graduate of an accredited seminary, and employed in the respective placement.
- Be willing to meet with your student in an intentional mentoring relationship for approximately 1.5 hours every other week
- Be able to accommodate your student to rotate through the five areas of ministry with opportunity to experience all of them during the academic year
- Both minister and church are willing to engage in educational ministry, understanding that this is an educational partnership between Candler and the site
Expectations of a Site Mentor
The following are general guidelines about what is expected of site mentors.
A Site Mentor should:
- review the “Guidelines for Ecclesial Practices”
[PDF 62K] to confirm that you and your site are appropriate for Contextual Education II. - meet bi-weekly (on-site) with student(s) for approximately an hour to an hour and a half.
- may delegate supervision to persons related to particular ecclesial activities.
- require written material(s) when appropriate, especially related to responsibilities.
- complete evaluations at the end of each semester.
- retain confidentiality of conversation, unless of urgent need.
- offer positive and professional role models for ministry, time to reflect theologically with the students, feedback to grow in relational and leadership skills, continuing formative evaluations and feedback, and aid in forming future leaders of the church and ecclesial settings.
- extend hospitality to the student.
- opportunity for each student to work eight hours per week for twenty-five weeks during the twenty-seven week academic year, engaging in the full life of the site.
- maintain a mechanism to verify weekly time and schedule (e.g., a time sheet).
Note: Students are not required to be on-site during school break
Requirements to be an Approved Ecclesial Site
A site must be able to allow students to fulfill the five areas of ministry for Contextual Education II. View the “Guidelines for Ecclesial Practices” [PDF 62K] for the requirements each student is to fulfill during the course of their placement with you. If you find that any of these Areas of Ministry will be difficult to fulfill, please contact us, and we can work out ways in which the student may complete this requirement.