TUL660 Field Supervision II

Aaron Smith
Servant Partners New Staff Training Director
23 Durian St. Project 2, Quezon City 1102
aaronema@yahoo.com  
0915-628-9670

I.  Course Description:
Supervised training within slum churches and improvement agencies supported by regular field seminars and guided retreats emphasizing spiritual development. Students blend first-hand experience and practical skill development under the supervision of designated mentors (site supervisor, field instructor, and spiritual director) with expertise in community development, faith-learning integration, and pastoral care. 

II.  Expanded Course Description:
Living and learning within poor communities is not only emotionally, spiritually and physically demanding, it also tends to complicate any naive notions about why people are impoverished and dispossessed. For this reason, those who would live, learn and serve among the urban poor require an optimal level of social and intellectual support.  The two Field Supervision courses are designed to provide an ongoing structure of pastoral care and field supervision combined with structured reflection upon urban poor realities. Students and faculty, together, form a multinational learning and serving community where they can explore how the “context” of urban poor life relates to the “text” of Jesus’ teaching on the kingdom of God and the “pretext” of the church’s missional response. The Field Supervision structure has three main components:
1.  Field Seminars 
2.  Supervised Field Experiences
3.  Individual Supervision

III. Course Objectives/Outcomes:
Knowledge (“head”)
1.	Demonstrate a keen awareness of one’s strengths and weaknesses in the role of field worker. 
2.	Demonstrate the ability to evaluate one’s ministry and to make needed adjustments.
Affective (“heart”)
1.	Show progress towards spiritual maturity in terms of moral integrity, emotional stability, and social and missional concern in various service contexts.
2.	Demonstrate a professional and faith-based commitment to social and economic justice, and work for the prevention and alleviation of community problems and human suffering.
Skills (“hands”)
1.	Demonstrate the ability to network with a variety of ministries.
2.	Support and uphold professional and ethical standards and values in the areas of time management, boundaries, work schedule, and confidentiality. 
3.	Demonstrate the ability to effectively minister in their ministry site.

IV. Course Materials 
Students will be guided to help them find relevant readings in their area of expertise.

V.  Course Calendar
Field Seminars 
There will be eigth (8) field seminars held during the semester.  Each seminar is 3 hours long, during which students will share experiences, discuss ideas and insights from their field ministry, discuss field seminar topics, and pray.  These will provide the student with pastoral care and practical ministry consultation.  They will also be a time of guided reflection on the student’s ministry. At any time during the semester, students may request an individual conference with the Field Supervisor.  The schedule of the field seminars will be given during the first class.

VI.  Learning & Assessment Activities
1.	Learning Agreement:  Students and Field Supervisor will write a contract describing the student’s role.  The student is to choose their ministry involvement based on their future ministry plans.
2.	Fieldwork Time Log:  Students are required to complete a minimum of 100 hours of “invested learning” on-site.  The Fieldwork hours are to be above and beyond the student’s current ministry involvement.  The student can either do extra ministry alongside their current ministry or do their Fieldwork with another ministry and/or community doing Fieldwork that is directly related to their future ministry plans.  Each day students record the hours spent in such activities on a Fieldwork Time Log. 
3.	The Gospel of Luke and the Urban Poor Part 2 OR Process Journal:  A reflection on an experience in the student’s ministry.
4.	Ministry Involvement “Student Evaluation Form”: This form is to be filled out by the on site ministry Supervisor and either mailed or emailed to the Field Supervisor.  
5.	Final Paper

VII.  Expectations & Grading
Course Requirements
1.	Fieldwork Time Log 100 hours of “invested learning” 50%  	
2.	The Gospel of Luke and the Urban Poor Part 2 or Process Journal 15%
3.	Ministry Involvement “Student Evaluation Form” 10%
4.	Final Paper 25%	 

VIII.  Course Policies
Workload Expectations
Students need a total of 150 hours of “invested learning” activity for this course.  This includes 100 hours of on-site “invested learning” activities, attending supervisor meetings and field seminars, and completing the Process Journal, and the Final Paper.

Late Assignments:  All course assignments are due on the specified date. Each late assignment will carry a 5%-penalty per day for that assignment and will only be accepted up to one week after they are due. This strictness regarding the submission of completed assignments is to guard students from procrastination and falling behind in their academic and field assignments.  

Academic Integrity:  Students assume the responsibility for maintaining honesty in all work submitted for credit and in any other work designated by the instructor of the course.

Computers are only to be used for taking class notes. The improper use of computers during class will lower the student’s grade for the course. 

IX.  Course Bibliography 
Bessenecker, Scott. (2006). The New Friars: The Emerging Movement Serving the World’s Poor. Press Downers Grove, IL:  InterVarsity. 
Bidwell, Duane R. (2004). Short-term spiritual guidance. Augsburg Fortress Publishers.
Boyd, Gregory A. (2001). Satan and the problem of evil: constructing a Trinitarian warfare theodicy.  Downers Grove:  InterVarsity Press.
Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection. (1977). The practice of the presence of God. Garden City: Image.
Claerbaut, David. (2005). Urban Ministry In a New Millennium. Waynesboro, GA: Authentic Media.
Craig, Jenni M. (1998). Servants Among the Poor. Manila:  OMF Literature Inc.
Dillard, Annie. (2007). Pilgrim at Tinker Creek. Harper Perennial.
Guenther, Margaret. (1992). Holy listening: the art of spiritual direction. Cowley Publications 
Hollyday, Joyce. (1997). Then shall your light rise: spiritual formation & social witness. Upper Room Books.
Holmes, Urban T. (2002). Spirituality for ministry. Morehouse Publishing.
Job, Rueben P., & Shawchuck, Norman. (1991). A guide to prayer for ministers and other servants. Upper Room Books.
Kelly, Thomas R. (1996). A testament of devotion. San Francisco:  Harper.
Kidd, Sue Monk. (2006). When the heart waits: spiritual direction for life’s sacred questions. San Francisco:  Harper. 
Linn, Dennis, Linn, Sheila, & Linn, Matthew. (1995). Sleeping with bread: holding what gives you life. Paulist Press.
McNeal, Reggie. (2000). A Work of heart: understanding how God shapes spiritual leaders. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publishers.
Merton, Thomas. (1972). New seeds of contemplation. New York: New Directions.
Merton, Thomas. (2005). No man is an Island. Shambhala Publications.
Merton, Thomas. (2002). The sign of Jonas. Harvest Books.
Mulholland, M. Robert, Jr. (2001). Shaped by the word: the power of scripture in spiritual formation. Upper Room Books.
Mulholland, M. Robert, Jr. (1993). Invitation to a Journey: A Road Map for Spiritual Formation. Downers Grove:  InterVarsity Press.
Nouwen, Henri. (2002). A cry for mercy: prayers from the Genesee. Garden City, New York: Image Books.
Nouwen. Henri. (1993). Gracias! A Latin American journal. Maryhill:  Orbis. 
Nouwen, Henri. (1993). In the name of Jesus: reflections on Christian leadership. Crossroad/Faith & Formation. 
Nouwen, Henri (1976). The Genesee diary: report from a Trappist monastery. Doubleday.
Nouwen, Henri (1999). The inner voice of love. Garden City, New York: Image Books.
Nouwen, Henri. (1984). The living reminder: service and prayer in memory of Jesus Christ. San Francisco:  Harper.
Nouwen, Henri, McNeil, Donald P., & Morrison, Douglas A. (2005). Compassion: a reflection on the Christian life. Image Publishing.
O’Connor, Elizabeth. (1975). Journey inward journey outward. Harper Collins Publishing.
Palmer, Parker. (1990). The active life: a spirituality of work, creativity, and caring. San Francisco:  Jossey-Bass.
St. Ignatius of Loyola. (1999). Spiritual exercises. Tan Books & Publishers.
Stairs, Jean. (2000). Listening for the soul: pastoral care and spiritual direction, Augsburg Fortress Publishers.
Vest, Novene. (1997). Gathered in the word: praying the scripture in small groups. Upper Room Books.
Wolpert, Daniel. (2003). Creating a life with God: the call of ancient prayer practices. Upper Room Books.