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:

• Bethel New Life Ministries (www.bethelnewlife.org)
• Lawndale Christian Development Corporation (www.lcdc.net)
• Roseland Christian Ministries (www.roselandchristianministries.org)
• St. Pius Catholic Church in the Pilsen neighborhood
• Protestants for the Common Good (www.thecommongood.org)