This page is part of the seminary catalog

Additional Academic Information

Supervised Ministry

Supervised ministry is a requirement for the Master of Divinity and the Master of Arts in Church Leadership programs. This requirement is usually met in Formation in Ministry I and II (Field Education) which runs concurrently with the second year of seminary studies. (See FS Formation in Ministry for additional information.)

• A minimum of 6 SH of supervised ministry is required for the M.Div. and MACL degrees. A maximum of 12 SH of supervised ministry credit may be earned toward these degrees. Formation in Ministry is the normal way to meet this requirement.
• A person with significant congregational ministry experience (5 years of pastoral experience) may petition to substitute Clinical Pastoral Education (6 SH) in place of Formation in Ministry to meet the supervised ministry requirement.
• Persons with limited pastoral experience, but who are serving in a pastoral position of at least one-half FTE may petition to substitute CPE in place of Formation in Ministry if at least one-half of their supervised “clinical” time is served in a congregational setting.
• Formation in Ministry I & II is a prerequisite to a Ministry Internship in a specialized setting.
• Formation in Ministry (6 SH) and Clinical Pastoral Education (6 SH) are required for the M.Div. Pastoral Counseling Concentration.

Clinical Pastoral Education
(For Further Information Visit the CPE website)

Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) is professional education for ministry. CPE utilizes a clinical method of learning, a method that uses data from the actual practice of ministry as the content for reflection. Disciplined reflection on the practice of ministry in the context of a peer group and individual supervision is central to the learning process.

The CPE learning process is designed to develop the competency areas of Self- Awareness, Interpersonal Awareness, Conceptual Ability, Pastoral Functioning and Ministry Development and Management. In general, CPE focuses on the goals of:

PASTORAL REFLECTION-reflection on one’s self as a person and pastor in relation to persons in need, the supervisor, one’s peers and staff.

PASTORAL FORMATION- focus on personal and pastoral identity issues.

PASTORAL COMPETENCE-deepening competence in pastoral function, pastoral skills and integration of theological and behavioral science resources.

It is an underlying assumption of the program that the integration of cognitive knowledge, clinical experience and emotional and spiritual maturing are fundamental to growth in authenticity and power in ministry.

Clinical Pastoral Education may be taken in any CPE Center accredited by the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education. Credit earned may be counted toward relevant degree programs at EMS for a recording fee. For more information about CPE and accredited centers you may contact the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, INC., Decatur, GA 30033 Telephone: (404) 320-1472, WebPages: www.acpe.edu.

The EMS CPE program offers accredited units of Level I and Level II CPE each year. A ten-week Summer Unit is offered as well as an Extended Unit that runs during the school year. Placements for ministry practice include area healthcare institutions, retirement communities and congregations. Applicants carrying a ministry position in an institution or congregation may negotiate to have their ministry in their work setting count for up to half of their required ministry practice time.

Interested persons should be aware that CPE involves an extensive application process in advance of the beginning of each unit. For more information about CPE at EMS contact the Director of Clinical Pastoral Education, Kenton T. Derstine, ACPE Supervisor. Telephone: (540) 432-4565. E-mail: derstine@emu.edu.

Cross-Cultural Experience

All Master of Divinity candidates need to have some experience in cross-cultural learning and living. There are several reasons for this. First, it is increasingly true that any student can expect to work in a cross-cultural setting at some point in their ministry. Secondly, more and more congregations have people of differing cultural backgrounds and people with ministry and work experience in widely differing cultural settings. Thirdly, greater opportunities for world travel and communication make it necessary for Christians to interact appreciatively and cooperatively with the widely divergent societies of the global human community and the Christian churches in those societies. Fourthly, the fact that cultural diversity often feeds serious human conflict makes the Christian call for reconciliation and intergroup enrichment and respect an increasingly urgent priority. Finally, there is no substitute for direct personal experience in a cross-cultural setting when the objective is appreciative personal knowledge and understanding of people of other cultures.

These factors indicate that congregational leaders need increasing awareness of cultural differences and growing ability to function and lead in culturally pluralistic situations. They need to have growing appreciation for the wealth of experience and perspective that comes from persons and groups that are culturally different, and a growing ability to draw creatively on that wealth.

There are several ways for students to fulfill their cross-cultural requirement:

1. Students who have had a significant Christian cross-cultural learning experience with academic credit (minimum of one semester) in undergraduate study have no additional requirement.
2. Students coming to seminary with two or three years of cross-cultural ministry experience will be able to fulfill their cross-cultural requirement by participating in the Cross-Cultural Integration Seminar. (See CM 570 for more information.)
3. Students coming to seminary without cross-cultural experience will participate in one of several possible cross-cultural seminars. Typically these seminars will involve at least three weeks of intensive cross-cultural involvement. This will include interaction with Christian churches as well as with other religious, cultural, social and civic groups. Approaches to learning in these seminars will emphasize participant observation and careful attention to personal reactions and responses to one’s experiences through journaling and group reflection.

Directed Studies

Directed Studies refers to courses on specific issues or areas not covered by any of the standard offerings. These studies may be requested by the student or suggested by an instructor. Approval by the instructor and the associate dean is required. Methodology in directed studies may involve assigned readings, written reports or any other methods the supervising instructor chooses.

A student should have credit for three courses at EMS and must qualify academically for directed study in the judgment of the associate dean before approval is granted. A limited number of hours in directed study will be applied toward a degree. In the case of the M.Div. up to 10 hours may be applied. In the MACL program, six or seven hours may be applied. In an MAR program, the number of hours is determined by the faculty advisor.

Distance Learning

The seminary offers a number of courses for students at a distance from the campus. The courses use online computer technology to link students with the instructor and each other. The program of distance learning is under development. Twelve courses are currently available, with five being offered each year.

Old Testament: Text in Context
New Testament: Text in Context
The Church in Mission
Mennonite History
Anabaptism Today: Learning with Yoder and Hauerwas
Interpreting the Biblical Text
Pastoral Care
Prayer in the Faith Tradition
Ethics and Nonviolence: Sermon on the Mount
Leadership and Administration
Mennonite Faith and Polity
Mentoring Youth Into Life

(For course descriptions see the “Courses” section of the catalog or click on the course above)

The tuition costs are the same as on-campus rates. For a schedule of these courses and further information contact Don Yoder in the seminary admissions office.

For Additional Information on Distance Learning Click Here

Summer Offerings

May and June offer a variety of summer school opportunities. A couple two week institutes are offered in the month of June: Spiritual Formation and World Mission. In addition, every May and June a variety of two or three week intensive courses are offered. An intensive unit of CPE is offered from mid-June to mid-August.

Students who qualify may take directed studies in areas not covered by courses offered in the curriculum. Also, ministry internships may be arranged through the director of field education.

For a summer school brochure and application forms, write to the Office of Admissions, Eastern Mennonite Seminary, Harrisonburg VA 22802-2462 or email

School for Leadership Training

This annual event the third week of January has a long-standing tradition on the university campus. It has developed from a “Ministers Week” into a “School for Leadership Training” for lay leaders, pastors and current seminary students.

Many classes on a variety of subjects are planned. Bible studies, workshops and inspirational addresses round out the event. The program is integrated with the seminary schedule, allowing students to interact with visiting pastors. Continuing education credit is offered to those attending the entire event. For students the SLT classes and plenary addresses normally replace the regular class work for the week.

For Additonal Information on School for Leadership Training Click Here

John Coffman Center
Developing Missional Leadership

The John Coffman Center at Eastern Mennonite Seminary bears the name of John S. Coffman who played an important role in developing mission and evangelistic ministries of the Mennonite Church in the late 19th century. The Center provides resources for missional leadership development, by assisting students training for ministry within the changing urban and multicultural realities of our world. The Center facilitates experiential learning combined with creative study and reflection on the theology and practice of the church’s missional presence in the world. The Center assists students, congregations and mission agencies in missional development through seminars, teaching and material resources. The objectives of the Center are to serve students, the church and its agencies in missional development by:

• Assisting persons preparing for missional leadership in our increasingly urban and multicultural world by combining experiential learning in the context of a mission or service assignment with theological study through the Samuel Grant and other internships.
• Facilitating creative theological reflection on the missional calling and identity of the church that gives serious attention to both the changing cultural context and biblical and Anabaptist commitments
• Developing effective congregational approaches to mission, evangelism, church planting and ministry consistent with the life and teachings of Jesus
• Serving the church and its agencies through conferences, consultations, seminars and other specialized services and resources in the area of missions, evangelism, church planting and development.

For Additional Information on the John Coffman Center Click Here