All Courses. Theological Field Education at GGBTS. Theological Reflection

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1 All Curses Thelgical Field Educatin at GGBTS Thelgical Reflectin All materials August 2016 Gateway Seminary. D nt cpy, pst, r distribute withut prir written permissin frm GGBTS Thelgical Field Educatin.

2 Thelgical Reflectin Ding Thelgy Overview f Thelgical Reflectin 1. Thelgical Reflectin begins with the premise that every Christian is a thelgian. T be Christian at all is t be a thelgian. N exceptins. The questin is whether a persn is a gd thelgian. 2. Thelgical reflectin is a hlistic apprach t ministry. It helps us engage all f wh we are, what we knw, hw we feel, and ur sense f Gd s leadership in ministry situatins. 3. It is a develping discipline. Thelgical reflectin helps us becme better thelgians. Traditinal Definitin f Thelgical Reflectin Thelgical reflectin is: a prcess that facilitates the examinatin f an experience r series f experiences t determine the thelgical mtivatin fr actins r the thelgical meanings f events. Sme refer t the prcess as the actin-reflectin mdel. Our Definitin f Thelgical Reflectin Thelgical reflectin is: a prcess that facilitates the examinatin f an experience r series f experiences t determine the thelgical mtivatin fr actins r the thelgical meanings f events which will lead t a pastral care plan r actin. The methd we recmmend culd be seen as actin-reflectin-actin mdel. We want the prcess t be mre than an intellectual exercise. We want it t lead t learning and t mre effective ministry. Why D Thelgical Reflectin? 1. T examine the discrepancies in ur persnal thelgies. 2. T intentinally draw frm the strengths f each facet f ur thelgy. 3. T make thelgy a verb, s we d thelgy. We want the prcess t lead t learning and t mre effective ministry. We have Tw Levels f Thelgy t Examine 1. First Order Thelgy Embedded Thelgy The thelgy that is at the cre f ur being that has develped since we were brn. Cnfessed Thelgy Our cnfessed thelgy is the ne we say we believe. It is the thelgy that we share when we preach, teach, cunsel, r talk abut ur understanding f Gd. Thelgical Reflectin TFE Student Resurces August 2016 Gateway Page 1 f 14

3 2. Secnd Order Thelgy Operatinal Thelgy Our peratinal thelgy is the ne we share with thers thrugh hw we live ur life. It is nt what we say but what we d. It des nt always match what we say we believe, hence the urging frm sciety t practice what we preach. Deliberative Thelgy This is thelgy in transitin r thelgy in the making. It is ur thelgy that emerges frm a prcess f reflecting upn the intersectin f ur experiences, ur current embedded, cnfessed, and peratinal thelgy, and seeing Gd at wrk in ur lives. Thelgical reflectin is deliberative thelgy and causes us t examine the gap between ur embedded, cnfessed, and peratinal thelgy. We Tend t D Thelgy in Tw Ways Mst f us have a natural preference in appraching thelgy in ne f these tw ways thinking r feeling. 1. Thinking - The thinking apprach is the head apprach. It is what we have examined, analyzed, and crdinated in a systematic way. It is well thught ut. It makes sense and it is lgical. It is the way we are taught t d thelgy in seminary. It is mainly cgnitive in nature. 2. Feeling - The feeling apprach is the thelgy f the heart. It is the thelgy that we feel. It is drawn frm significant persns in ur backgrund - ur mms and dads, Sunday Schl teachers, hymns, frmer pastrs, r persns that we admired. It tends t be situatinal and t feel right. It is mainly emtinal in nature. Drawing frm the Strengths f Each The prcess we use in TFE draws frm the strength f each the lgical thinking (head) apprach and the warmth f the feeling (heart) apprach t frm a truly pastral thelgy. Pastral thelgy makes use f bth appraches t frmulate a hlistic thelgy. The Prcess f Thelgical Reflectin Thelgical reflectin is a prcess. It may seem mechanical at first, but thelgical reflectin will becme mre cmfrtable and mre infrmative as we use it. The thelgical reflectin prcess we recmmend fr TFE is mdified frm ne develped by Dran McCarty. It is nt the nly way t d thelgical reflectin, but we have fund it useful fr develping thelgical reflectin. Thelgical Reflectin TFE Student Resurces August 2016 Gateway Page 2 f 14

4 Adaptatin f Dr. Dran McCarty s Mdel fr Thelgical Reflectin 6. What d I feel abut this? 5. What emtin des this stir frm my past? heart (emtinal) 7. What des Gd s Wrd say in this prcess? 12. What des all f this lead me t believe? 4. What histry des this remind me f? hly (spiritual) histry (stry) head (intellectual) 8. Where is Gd in this prcess? 11. All f this becmes a whle 3. What d I think abut this? 9. The end: Hw d I respnd t this? hand (actin) 2. The beginning: the critical incident that started all this 1. a cnversatin r an encunter 10. Am I cnsistent with my actins in the past? This is rarely sequential. Depending n ur psychlgical makeup and the situatin, we may engage ur heart first r bth head and heart almst simultaneusly r g directly t the hly. 1. HAND There is an event, cnversatin, encunter that happens. It raises questins. We seek understanding f what went n, r we want t help the persns invlved in the situatin. The event is reprted t us; r, if we are invlved, we interpret the event fr urselves. We recall certain things. The reprt f thers, ur wn interpretatin, and recall give us the histry f the event. It is nt the event. We always wrk with the histry f an event. That means every persn in the event r that hears f the event cmes up with his/her wn histry. Therefre, there will be a number f histries f the same event. Everything begins with a critical incident. Thelgical Reflectin TFE Student Resurces August 2016 Gateway Page 3 f 14

5 2. HEAD 3. HEART Since there are always a number f histries f the event, we need facts t clarify what happened. At this step in the prcess, we must suspend judgment and pstpne decisin-making. We gather facts. The head ges t wrk n the facts. We use all f ur frmal training frm disciplines such as psychlgy, scilgy, plitical science, ecnmics, and thelgy. We use ur analytical ability. We try t understand the event. What d we think? What previus histry des this remind us? We use ur heart as we lk at emtins & feelings, bth the emtins f the persns invlved in the event and the emtins we feel. As we wrk thrugh the prcess f thelgical reflectin, we will stir ur emtins as well as thse f the persns in the event. 4. HOLY 5. HAND 6. HISTORY The hly is ur seeking t answer the questin, Where is Gd in all f this? What is HE ding in the event, t the persns in the event, t YOU since yu are nw invlved. What des all f this mean? Where is Gd? What is He ding? We use Scripture and prayer in seeking t understand and discern. We will be sensitive t the leadership f the Hly Spirit. We return full circle t the hand. What actin d we take? Hw d we respnd? Is this actin cnsistent with my past actin? This experience becmes a whle stry. What des all this lead me t believe? It is nly after yu have engaged all three the head, the heart, and the hly that yu understand that thelgical reflectin impacts yur ministry, becmes a part f yur stry, and infrms yur actins bth nw and in the future. As yu reflect upn the event, yur persnal thelgy and yur ministry begin t use what yu have learned and decided fr yur future ministry. It may be ministry t ne r mre f the persns invlved in the riginal event, r it may be ministry in later situatins where yu apply what yu have learned t ther persns. The utcme f effective thelgical reflectin is increased cmpetency in ministry. Dealing with Head, Heart, and Hly Issues Head Issues Heart Issues Issues f The Hly Scilgy/Psychlgy Emtins Revelatin Thelgy Defenses Gd Physical Mtivatins Prayer Ecnmics Resistance Leadership f the Plitics Cmpulsins Hly Spirit Traditin Anxieties/Fears Scripture teachings Culture Similar situatins Religin Biblical persnalities Thelgical Reflectin TFE Student Resurces August 2016 Gateway Page 4 f 14

6 Shrt Circuiting the Prcess 1. Sme f us interpret and analyze the situatin, then cme up with the answers that we take t peple. We use ur head, but we d nt benefit frm what we can learn frm the heart r the hly. 2. Others f us tend t be mre feeling riented. Peple are hurting and we want t fix it as sn as pssible. We hurt with the persns and take the understanding we gain frm hurting with them t find help. We use ur heart, but we d nt benefit frm what the head r the hly can tell us. 3. Still thers f us are clear n what the Bible says abut the situatin. We have a clear answer t the questin Where is Gd in all f this? and are ready t respnd t peple with ur knwledge. We are n very dangerus grund when we speak fr Gd. We need t take time t hear what the head and the heart are saying. 4. If we d thelgical reflectin in a hlistic way, a dialgue will take place. The head, heart, and hly will interact with each ther. Yu will use all f wh yu are, all f yur experience and learning, all f yur sensitivity t peple, all f the resurces that Gd has given yu t minister t thers. In the midst f this dialgue, Gd will be at wrk. He can help us in being mre hlistic in ministry t the whle persn. Persns will be helped. Our ministry will becme mre effective. We will learn hw t minister in this situatin and in future situatins. Presuppsitins Cncerning Thelgical Reflectin Thelgical reflectin is Cnclusin An apprach t life rather than an intellectual exercise. Is required f the cmpetent Christian. Presumes a living, grwing understanding f the biblical recrd. Grws in quality as it is cnsciusly pursued. Directly related t the quality f decisins we make as a result f ur reflectin. One f the gals f TFE is t intrduce students t the prcess f thelgical reflectin as a lifestyle prcess. As we practice thelgical reflectin as a grup, yu will becme mre cmfrtable with the prcess. Yu will see the results in yurself and in yur ministry. Yu will becme mre prficient in yur use f all the tls Gd has given yu t use in ministry. Thelgical Reflectin TFE Student Resurces August 2016 Gateway Page 5 f 14

7 Writing, Presenting, and Prcessing Ministry Actin Cntacts (MACs) Five Majr Gals fr MACs 1. T better understand the specific ministry incident. 2. T better understand yurself as a persn and a minister. 3. T better understand the ther persns invlved in the incident. 4. T better understand where and hw Gd was invlved in the incident. 5. T enhance yur ministry effectiveness. Tips fr Selecting an Event fr Yur MAC Select a real incident frm yur ministry. Select a critical experience ne that was challenging, trubling, and/r is still unreslved. Select an experience n which yu desire feedback: Hw did yu handle it? What culd yu have dne differently? Where d yu g frm here? Tips fr Writing Yur MAC Write yur MAC in the first persn it is yur case that happened t yu. The incident is t be cnfidential; use initials r fictitius names (fr peple and ministry setting) and d nt include yur name n the paper. Use the MAC cver sheet fr submitting the MAC t yur PRGL. Yur MAC shuld be cmprehensive, yet brief (usually between tw t three single-spaced typewritten pages). Include the fllwing frmat fr writing yur MAC: 1. Backgrund Infrmatin Wh was invlved? Where did it take place? What dynamics r previus events shaped the event? What had yu hped wuld have happened during the event? What happened that yu didn t expect during the event? Identify cnditins in which the incident ccurred: yur emtinal state, wh initiated cntact r was it accidental, etc. 2. Detailed Reprt f the Incident Give a chrnlgical reprt f what was said and dne. Verbatim reprting is ften the mst helpful. Be specific and factual. Use behavir descriptins cncerning the thers invlved d nt make judgments at this pint. Give yur feelings at the time (fr example, I was angry, etc.). Number the statements t make discussin easier. (See the sample in Sectin 4.04.) Thelgical Reflectin TFE Student Resurces August 2016 Gateway Page 6 f 14

8 3. Evaluatin f the Event What really happened? Why did it happen? What did yu try t accmplish during the incident? Hw effective were yu? Hw has the event shaped yu as a minister? What are yur hunches abut what happened? 4. Thelgical Reflectin 5. Respnse What were the thelgical assumptins (cnscius r uncnscius) f the persns invlved, including yu? What biblical and thelgical themes emerged during the event? (grace, lve, frgiveness, justice, lstness, etc.) What biblical r thelgical questins emerged frm the event? (suffering, death and dying, frgiveness, justice, etc.) Hw has the incident impacted yur persnal thelgy? What ministry ptins d yu have? What yu plan t d persnally? Share yur MAC with yur Field Mentr and Spiritual Frmatin Mentr befre yu present it t the class. They can give yu input cncerning rewriting fr mre clarificatin as well as help yu prcess the incident. Tips fr Presenting and Prcessing Yur MAC Submit yur MAC t yur PRGL by the due date, regardless f what class sessin yu schedule fr presenting it t yur Peer Reflectin Grup. On the day yu share yur MAC, prvide a phtcpy f yur MAC t each member f yur Peer Reflectin Grup. Allw time fr the class members t read yur MAC. Be ready t answer any clarificatin questins withut analyzing and/r judging. Frmulate questins cncerning areas n which yu want input. What d yu need frm the class discussin? Such as What culd I have dne differently? Hw d yu suggest that I minister t this persn in the future? What might Gd be trying t teach me thrugh this incident? What resurces are yu aware f that might help me in this area? Listen with bth yur head, heart, and hly input frm yur Peer Grup. Decide what curse f actin yu will take as a result f the MAC prcess if nt tday, very sn. Tell the class what yu heard frm them tday. Allw a time f prayer fr the characters invlved in tday s MAC. Return all MAC cpies t the student presenter. Thelgical Reflectin TFE Student Resurces August 2016 Gateway Page 7 f 14

9 Sample Ministry Actin Cntact (MAC) This sample uses a verbatim frmat an excerpt f the cnversatin as it is remembered by the writer. Yu are nt required t use the verbatim frmat, althugh it is usually the mst effective methd in reprting an incident. If yu use verbatim frmat, please number yur recrding f the cnversatin statements as in this example. Persns Invlved D Knwn J fr 3 years J 59-years ld Backgrund Active, semi-pr glfer, avid hunter Wrked fr same cmpany fr 30 years Meeting with J Has a daughter, expecting in January, and ne sn Daughter and sn-in-law very active in church where I serve Was active in the Church where I serve (befre cancer) Cancer f the lung, arrested, has spread t face The ccurrence f the meeting was Thanksgiving. My family had been invited t the gathering by J s daughter and sn-in-law. I knew ahead f time that the hliday seasn wuld bring added stress fr the family. J and I bth enjy the same hbbies and fund urselves playing cribbage fr much f the day and talking abut the usual everyday happenings. After dinner we bth went int the living rm and began t talk abut what had been happening t him the past several mnths. The fllwing is a verbatim excerpt frm that cnversatin: J1 D1 J2 D2 J3 D3 J4 I am s angry with the dctrs because they said this lump n my face was just a cyst. If they wuld have dne smething abut it earlier maybe I wuld have a better chance. Was it the insurance that was the prblem? N. It wuldn t have cst me anything t g t Stcktn t get a scan r a bipsy. I als wasted s much time ging t Arkansas and visiting with the family when I culd have pssibly had a better chance. Yu didn t really waste time, yu just used it fr the family and fr yur enjyment. If yu had knwn abut the cancer, yu wuldn t even have had the visit this past summer t enjy. Yes, but at the same time I am angry with the dctrs that they didn t take the time t pursue the prblem further. (Pause) What d yu d? Yu can t cmmit suicide because the insurance cmpanies wuldn t pay ff, but at the same time what is there t g n fr? Wuldn t suicide defeat the purpse f trying t beat the cancer? That just seems t be giving in. I knw, I have t keep fighting with the chemtherapy and radiatin treatment. But what d yu d besides trying t fight it? Thelgical Reflectin TFE Student Resurces August 2016 Gateway Page 8 f 14

10 D4 J5 D5 J6 D6 J7 D7 J8 D8 J9 D9 J10 D10 D11 J11 D12 J12 Yu lk pretty gd fr having gne thrugh all f this. Yu seem t be getting arund pretty gd. Yes, I just have ne week f discmfrt frm the chemtherapy. I just dn t want t becme an invalid and be a burden t the family. I wuld rather be dead than g thrugh what I see the peple at the hspital ging thrugh. Sme f them are yung and lk wrse than I d. I hear what yu re saying, but at the same time yu seem t be getting arund pretty gd and I hpe that yu enjyed the family tday, and yu aren t a burden nw. Yu can still d a few things and yu aren t bedridden yet. Didn t they clear up the cancer in the lung with surgery and radiatin treatment? There is still the prblem in the cheek and the cancer has gtten int my bldstream. That is why I have t take the chemtherapy s that it will kill the cancer in my bld. That is why they left the cancer n my face, s it wuld be an indicatr f hw well the treatments are wrking. S if the cancer n yur face ges dwn then yu wuld nly have t wrry abut the cancer in the bld and that culd be cntrlled with chemtherapy? Hw lng wuld yu have t be n that? I dn t knw. One f the things that makes me mad is that the dctrs will nt tell me anything because they are afraid f a lawsuit. One f the prblems with chem is that I becme anemic because the gd as well as the bad cells are killed and I am a little anemic anyway. D yu like the way my hair lks? (Humr I frced a laugh.) Yu mean they wn t tell yu hw lng yu have t live? N, they wn t. That is ne f the prblems, the lawsuit again. They just say that I have t keep n trying. I wuld like t have anther tw r three years. I was just getting ready t retire in March and my wife retires in anther tw years. We had planned t really enjy urselves but I guess that wn t happen nw. It desn t seem fair. Yu make sure yu enjy life nw. I d try t enjy life each day and find purpse in each day. I will be ging in next Tuesday fr anther treatment and will be in the hspital fr tw days. J, can I pray fr yu? Sure. (Prayer) Hw abut getting tgether in tw weeks and g ut plinking sme cans r smething? D yu have a place we culd g? That sunds gd. I knw just the place by the river. Then let s just plan it fr Friday r Saturday. Sunds gd. I m sure I ll feel gd then. 1. Head J has been in the same jb fr the past 30 years, which indicates a stable envirnment and attitude tward wrk. He has been married t the same wman all his life and his children have nt given him any Thelgical Reflectin TFE Student Resurces August 2016 Gateway Page 9 f 14

11 unusual truble. There has been very little fr him t wrry abut ver the years besides the usual everyday things f life. 2. Heart I sensed a great deal f anger and frustratin ver the present situatin. Anger brught n by having t face death n a day-t-day basis has caused extreme emtinal and psychlgical stress, bth n J and his family. The frustratin f having a future filled with dreams and hpes ripped away by a disease that n ne can explain. The fact that there has been a stable envirnment fr the past 30 years has helped J in dealing with the situatin. 3. Hly I believe that J is trusting in the grace f Gd in deciding his future. The fact that I was called upn t pray led me t believe that he was searching fr sme answers that perhaps I culd supply. I have always felt the lve f Gd whenever I have been at their huse. The warmth and friendliness is genuine and real. I believe that he has been saved by the Lrd but ver the years he has fallen away due t disappintment in the church. Pastral Care Plan I feel that the Lrd has led me t this area fr specific purpses ther than getting a degree at Gateway. I knw that I can be a surce f help and supprt fr J and his family. I als realize that the last thing that J needs is smene t begin thelgizing abut the situatin he is in. I d believe he is receptive t a listening ear and a friend, smene wh is nt afraid t deal with the reality f death. I was Spirit-led t deal with the visit t J s huse days befre and I believe that there is mre Gd has in stre fr me in this situatin. Evaluatin I can t really say if I was successful r nt. In the sense that we prvided cmfrt t the family by ur presence, yes I was successful. The terrible aspect f the cancer, thugh, is the verwhelming sense f helplessness that a persn has. Thelgical Reflectin TFE Student Resurces August 2016 Gateway Page 10 f 14

12 Grup Thelgical Reflectin fr MACs 1. Suspend initial judgment. Yur purpse is first t understand the peple and r the situatin, in rder t use all f yur tls in making the best judgments later in the prcess. 2. What are the facts? D nt start yur analysis until yu have all the factual infrmatin that yu need. Ask questins t get the facts that yu need. 3. What des the presenter want frm the grup? The persn wh wrte the case study had reasns fr picking this event ut f all the experiences he/she has had. What are they? Yur primary purpse is t address that persn s needs, nt t impse yur perceptin f their needs. 4. What can yur head tell yu? Use the best f yur training, educatin, and experiences t understand the situatin. What can psychlgy, scilgy, ecnmics, plitical science, histry, traditins, religin, culture, etc., tell yu abut the situatin? 5. What can yur heart tell yu? What are the emtins that the persns, including the presenter, are feeling? Fears, cmpulsins, anxieties, defensiveness, resistance, and ther emtins will shed new light n the situatin and n ur understanding. 6. What des the hly tell yu? Des the situatin bring Scripture passages t mind? Are there events like this ne in Scripture? Are there biblical persnalities like these persns? Can yu picture Christ in the situatin? What wuld He be saying, ding? D yu feel any directin frm the Hly Spirit? Hw can prayer be used? D yu see any thelgical themes such as: Law/grace Respnsibility/fate Creatin/destructin Justice/inequality Freedm/bndage Incarnatin/mechanical Cmmunity/fragmentatin Why are yu invlved? Culd Gd be trying t d smething in yur life? Where is Gd in this situatin? 7. Allw time fr the head, the heart, and the hly t dialgue with each ther, clarifying, enlightening, and giving understanding. 8. What have yu learned? Begin t draw cnclusins. 9. What are the ptins? Evaluate each. 10. Gd s directin. Have I sensed Gd s directin as I wrked thrugh the prcess? 11. Decide. Use all f yur training, educatin, experience, knwing what emtins can tell yu, and intentinally seeking directin frm the Hly; being infrmed by the Head, the Heart, and the Hly, what will yu d? 12. Has the grup answered all the questins that the presenter wanted answered? Ask the presenter. 13. What are the ther issues in the study? If there is time, use the prcess t lk at the ther issues that the grup sees in the event. Thelgical Reflectin TFE Student Resurces August 2016 Gateway Page 11 f 14

13 Ministry Jurnal Instructins The ministry jurnal is a daily recrd yu keep which includes evaluatins f yur ministry, yur feelings abut what is happening, and thelgical reflectins. Yu will submit a ne-week jurnal each semester f TFE. Use the infrmatin belw and the sample jurnal n the fllwing pages fr required cntent and frmat fr yur jurnals. Each jurnal shuld cver seven cnsecutive days. Purpse The ministry jurnal will assist yur PRGL in his/her attempt t gain insight int yur ministry. It will develp discipline within yu. It will cause yu t reflect thelgically upn yur wrk and yur feelings abut yur wrk. It will help yu develp gd wrk habits and sensitivity f feelings in yur experiences. It will help yu integrate yur thelgy and ministry. What t Include Date Brief Devtinal & Prayer Highlight (2-3 sentences) Tday s schedule: What I need t get dne tday (brief list) What actually happened (brief list) Evaluatin f the day: Overall, my day went.... because.... Days like tday make me feel.... because.... Thelgical Reflectin: Where did I see Gd tday? What did Gd teach me tday? Hw did Gd wrk thrugh me tday? Length Because f a variety in styles, it is impssible t give a definite, bjective guideline n length. Yur PRGL will evaluate yur ministry jurnal and suggest hw t imprve its usefulness. Each day f jurnal is nrmally ne typed page. When t Present Yur ministry jurnal is due at times set by yur Peer Reflectin Grup Leader. Please refer t yur curse syllabus. Cnfidentiality Yu will want t assure prper cnfidentiality in yur ministry jurnal. If there is a prblem f cnfidentiality, yu may use pseudnyms. Yur Peer Reflectin Grup Leader will als treat yur ministry jurnal with cnfidentiality. Frm and Frmat The ministry jurnal shuld be typed when presented t the PRGL. It des nt need t be letter perfect in as much as the typing is fr the cnvenience f reading, nt t demnstrate frmal style. The standard frm is 8 1/2 by 11. Use the ne-day sample n the fllwing pages as a guide. Each day s infrmatin shuld cver all the pints listed abve in What t Include. Yur jurnal des nt have t begin n any particular day, but shuld cver seven cnsecutive days (ne week). Thelgical Reflectin TFE Student Resurces August 2016 Gateway Page 12 f 14

14 Ministry Jurnal (Sample) Mnday, Nvember 4, 2006 Devtinal & Prayer Time Jhn 14: Thrugh the Hly Spirit Gd has cme t be with me in my life. What a cmfrting thught! In this ministry t peple in which I am invlved I am nt alne. Gd is with me and wrking thrugh me. I wish I wuld always be an pen and willing instrument. Daily Schedule Gals: Wrk n preaching schedule fr December Wrk n rder f service fr Sunday Make a hspital call Wrk n layut fr church directry Prepare fr and lead church business meeting Visit ne prspect 6:00 7:00 AM Rse and prepared fr the day, devtin & prayer time 7:00 7:30 AM Breakfast 7:30 8:30 AM Made a pre-surgery call t ne f ur members 8:30 12:00 PM Drve hme and wrked n preaching schedule fr December 12:00 1:00 PM Lunch 1:00 2:15 PM Phne call frm a member wh had a crisis--he was drunk and his wife left him 2:15 3:00 PM Wrked n rder f service fr Sunday. 3:00 4:30 PM Drve t prspect s hme and made a gd visit. 4:30 6:00 PM Prepared fr church business meeting and greeted peple as they arrived 6:00 7:00 PM Fellwship dinner 7:00 8:00 PM Business meeting 8:00 10:00 PM Hme with family, watched TV 10:00 PM Headed t bed Evaluatin: It has been a lng but prductive day. I accmplished all but ne f my gals. That is great! I really believe that my preaching plans fr Octber will meet the needs f a number f persns in the cngregatin. I m glad I ve cmpleted that and am pleased with the result f my effrts. The fellwship dinner and business meeting went really well. There was a gd spirit and a clseness amng thse present this evening. I think having the dinner befrehand really cntributed t that clseness. Als, I think having a printed agenda available n Sunday befre the meeting has helped the business meetings t g mre smthly. Peple being able t see the written recmmendatins befre Wednesday evening has resulted in a less defensive attitude at business meetings. I am glad Jhn made that suggestin. I need t tell him that. I felt I ffered a real ministry t J.M. as I visited him befre his surgery. J.M. s faith in Gd is healthy and I knw he appreciated my visit. I felt happy and relieved t have my sermn schedule cmpleted. I felt angry yet srry fr ur member whse wife left him. B.D. has had a drinking prblem fr years and has abused his family. It kind f serves him right that they left him (and I feel better abut their safety), but I can t imagine hw painful this must be fr B. I feel helpless. I enjyed the fellwship f ur peple tnight and felt refreshed by their cmpany. Thelgical Reflectin: Where is Gd in B.D. s experience? Was he with B. s family, giving them enugh sense t leave and prtect themselves? Was he even cnsulted abut their marriage years ag? What is my rle t B. and t his family nw that they are separated? Can I be pastr t all f them? What des the Bible say abut marriage, divrce, and mental illness? These are all questins I d nt have answers fr, but dwn in my heart I feel B. s family did the right thing by leaving--at least fr nw. Thelgical Reflectin TFE Student Resurces August 2016 Gateway Page 13 f 14

15 Thelgical Reflectin Paper Purpse The Thelgical Reflectin Paper is a way f assessing yur strengths, weaknesses, and liabilities in regard t ministry cmpetency and t reflect upn yur experience in Thelgical Field Educatin. The paper is intended t be a persnal assessment, nt simply a statement f activities dne. Supprting evidence can be included in appendices. Frmat The Thelgical Reflectin Paper is a frmal paper and is t be typed in acceptable frm and style. Yu will fllw Turabian style in writing and frmatting it. An acceptable cver sheet shuld be prvided with the paper. This paper is yur pprtunity t demnstrate yur cmpetence and experience in written cmmunicatin. Include the fllwing sectin headings and tpics. Althugh n specific length is required, full develpment f the tpics addressed usually takes 8-10 pages. Overview f Cntent Sectin 1. Call and Ministry Fcus Briefly explain yur call by Gd. Share hw yu plan t use yur Seminary training in future ministry. Sectin 2. Cre Cmpetencies fr Ministry Review yur Initial and Final Cre Cmpetencies fr Ministry. Use the headings frm these assessments t share hw yu have grwn in these areas thrugh TFE. Share what yu feel t be yur greatest strengths. Share what yu see as yur grwing edges, bth weaknesses and ptential liabilities. Sectin 3. Cvenant f Learning Review yur final Cvenant f Learning. In ne r tw paragraphs each, assess yur verall prgress in meeting each f yur ministry skills, spiritual frmatin, persnal, and evangelism gals frm yur Cvenant. Sectin 4. Thelgical Reflectin Share sme majr things abut yurself and yur ministry readiness that yu learned thrugh yur TFE experience. Hw did yu integrate what yu ve learned in yur seminary classes int practical ministry? Hw are yu a better minister as a result f yur TFE experience? Due Date and Distributin A cpy f the paper is due t the TFE Office r Reginal TFE Crdinatr ne week prir t the Evaluatin Cnference. Students shuld als distribute cpies t thse persns participating in the Evaluatin Cnference (TFE Prfessr, Field Mentr, Spiritual Frmatin Mentr, and MRG Representative) at least ne week prir t the Cnference. Thelgical Reflectin TFE Student Resurces August 2016 Gateway Page 14 f 14