Engage - (Explorations in Theological Field Education) by Matthew Floding (Paperback)

About the Book

Engage offers ministry students and their mentors a wealth of resources for theological field education, in which students begin practicing ministry in a supervised setting. With coaching from experts in the field, the book addresses all facets of ministry and themes such as r...

Book Synopsis

Engage offers ministry students and their mentors a wealth of resources for theological field education, in which students begin practicing ministry in a supervised setting. With coaching from experts in the field, the book addresses all facets of ministry and themes such as race and gender in a variety of contexts--from churches to non-profits.

Review Quotes

Academic instruction, identity formation, skill building, contextual analysis and intervention intersect with the questions of what is God doing today - among the people and in my growth toward ministry. Engage provides a compass for individual and congregational development in these areas and multiple maps for navigating the bumps, twists, and smoother places where learning, service, and reflection intersect. During the nineteen years that I served as a seminary director of field education I wish I had this book to help guide students and supervisors as they navigated congregations and other ministry settings.... Overall, Matthew Floding has chosen experienced practitioners and skilled reflectors to assemble his toolkit. The editing intentionally allows the multiple voices to complement each other.... It would be my choice today for a solid introduction to students and supervisors beginning the adventure of supervised ministry.

Engage is a valuable advice manual and resource guide for seminary students learning to live and serve in actual, real-life congregations and other ministry settings for the first time. Experienced pastors and thoughtful theological educators offer helpful guidance on many important aspects of learning and doing ministry. Dive in wherever your interests and concerns take you. You'll find thoughtful, practical advice as well as helpful suggestions for further reading.

It's like we have an extra instructor in the classroom. Students really appreciate Engage.

Once again, Floding shows us why he is a national expert in the area of theological field education. He has assembled an all-star cast of authors across denominational lines to equip both those preparing for ministry and those shepherding future ministers. Theological field education takes the classroom and integrates it into the real world of ministry, making education truly come alive. Engage is one of the most well-rounded, complete resources I have seen for ministry preparation.

Research has shown that the lecture is out, and hands-on experiential learning is in. This fantastic book not only offers a wide range of angles on formation for faith leaders, but it also pushes them to engage in making their learning as dynamic and creative as possible. No student should prepare for ministry leadership without this outstanding toolbox of a book in their pocket.

About the Author

Matthew Floding is director of ministerial formation at Duke Divinity School. He previously served as director of formation for ministry at Western Theological Seminary. He has also served as pastor and college chaplain and is a consultant with expertise in field education issues. He is a former chair of the Association for Theological Field Education and editor of Welcome to Theological Field Education.