In-Ministry Year
As explained in our General Information page, the
Master of Divinity Program
(M.Div.) is divided into two or three years of
foundational studies at McGill Faculty of Religious
Studies (i.e. the B.Th. program), integrative studies
at the denominational college and finally, a year of
professional studies, known as the In-Ministry Year,
offered jointly by the Montreal Diocesan Theological College (Anglican/Episcopal),
the Presbyterian College, and the United Theological College.
The program is supervised and monitored by the
Academic Committee of the Montreal School of Theology,
on which all three Colleges and the McGill Faculty of
Religious Studies are represented.
The In-Ministry Year is an integrated program of personal and pastoral
formation intended as an immediate preparation for the
exercise of Christian ministry. It combines a major
component of field education with course work in
practical theology and pastoral subjects, reflective
seminar groups, workshops, field trips, and the
writing of an integrative paper.
While the program was developed primarily for the participating churches,
the Montreal School of Theology welcomes students from
other denominations and traditions, who are invited to
participate through the sponsorship of one of the
colleges.
Admission to the In-Ministry Year may be
granted to students who complete the B.Th. degree or
equivalent. Students may also be admitted on
completion of the STM
(Master of Sacred Theology), or the
Montreal Diocesan Theological College Reading and Tutorial Course.
Combined with the In-Ministry Year, these courses
lead to the Diploma in Ministry. (Please also refer to
General Information, Structure of the program.)
Graduation requires the satisfactory completion of all
the course and field components of the program. The
field placement component needs to be satisfactorily
completed or repeated as no "make-up" is possible in
this area.
The M.Div. program is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools
in US and Canada.
Languages
The primary language of work and instruction in the
In-Ministry Year is English. However, students may
write assignments and make class presentations in
French. Wherever possible, field placements operating
in French will be arranged for francophone students.
Where the number of francophone or bilingual students
makes it practicable, sections of the In-Ministry Year
courses and seminar groups working in French will be
arranged.
Les étudiant(es) francophones peuvent présenter leurs travaux écrits et
oraux en Français. Dépendant du nombre d'étudiant(es),
et selon les besoins, des groupes de travail en
français ou bilingues peuvent être mis sur pied. Des
lieux de stage en français ainsi qu'une supervision
appropriée peuvent être réalisés.
Both French and English are used in the community life of the
theological colleges and in the conduct of liturgy.
Field Education
About fifty percent of the In-Ministry Year is spent by
students in their field placements, where they
minister to persons under the supervision of
experienced pastors. In this situation students are
led to integrate all aspects of theological learning
and to develop the art of reflecting theologically on
events in ministerial life. In this way growth in
understanding and competence in practice are fostered.
There is a close relationship between field experience
and course work. Practical experience in the field is
brought into the classroom for critical consideration,
while the more theoretical learning of the classroom
is expressed practically through work in the field
placement.
Course Work
Approximately two days a week are spent in course work
at the colleges. Courses taken in common include
Preaching, Pastoral Care and Counseling, Leadership,
Education in the Church and Mission in Context. Each
of the colleges offers courses specific to their
denominations.
Workshops and Field Trips
At regular intervals throughout the year, time is set aside for
an in-depth, experiential look at a particular
subject. A Workshop in Conflict Management is normally
offered as well as field trips to examine first hand
the problems of rural and inner city ministry.
Particularly important among the field trips is the
opportunity to explore the work of the church and the
life of faith in another country at the beginning of
the second term. This trip has become the highlight of
the year for many students as we have developed an
ongoing relationship with a sister-seminary in
Matanzas, Cuba. Early in 2009 the In-Ministry Year
students went to Cuba for the 6th time.
The Integrative Paper
The purpose of this paper is to provide students with an
awareness of their own journey of faith, an
understanding of the Gospel, the church and the world,
and also the task of integrating these two into a
theology of ministry which is reflected in the actual
work of ordained people.
