GTUS Internship
The
Urban Internship, supervised by an experienced and trained practitioner
or ministry, is the heartbeat of the GTUS program.
Internship
is the neighborhood classroom, where seminarians learn urban realities
and issues through first-hand experience. It is where they develop critical
and theological skills through integrating these experiences with academic
theory and course content.
Internship
is a place where the student's gifts and calling are tested, where specific
professional skills are developed, and personal growth is facilitated
through learning how to care and be cared for.
Placement
sites are typically urban churches, para-church agencies, or other community
organizations. To be effective training laboratories, they must be places
where:
-
People are in crisis
- Significant
tasks are given the intern to perform
- Interns
can function in leadership roles appropriate to the setting, and to
their own educational and vocational goals
- Competent supervision is provided
- The
supervisor is actively involved in urban ministry
- In-depth
experiences with people facilitate learning
- Intern
living expenses are provided, to allow energy to be focused on ministry
and growth
How does the internship work?
- SCUPE interns reside in the
community where they minister, and commute downtown to classes (normally
two days per week, except orientation intensive).
- During the spring term interns
work at their placement sites 20 hours per week. During the summer term
interns work 40 hours a week for half the number of weeks.
- Written evaluations are requested
at mid-term and at the conclusion of the semester.
- Internship placement sites provide
the intern with housing, food and a modest living stipend for the duration
of the internship.
Sampling of SCUPE internship ministry sites: