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Candler School of Theology

 

The Office of Contextual Education

Contextual Education combines academic instruction with opportunities for formation in ministry and leadership in churches, social service agencies, hospitals and other clinical and social settings. Candler's unique commitment to contextual theology and theological education is formalized through the four-semester sequence, Contextual Education I and Contextual Education II, required for all MDiv students.

Additional Opportunities for contextual education credit include:

About the Contextual Education Program

The Contextual Education Program involves:

  1. four hour weekly practice in a clinical or social setting for one academic year (Contextual Education I)
  2. eight hours of weekly practice in a congregational setting for one academic year (Contextual Education II) following successful completion of Contextual Education I
  3. weekly reflection groups and contextualized courses with distinguished practitioners and distinguished faculty

Contextual Education at Candler is grounded in strong, mutual partnerships with community agencies and churches. We are one of the few schools that place first year students in a clinical or social agency including hospitals, a woman’s prison, homeless shelters, and advocacy and lobbying organizations. As students work in one of these settings, they also participate in a weekly reflection group with a site supervisor and distinguished faculty. This is where students begin to reflect on what it means to be doing ministry in the world. Learn more.

In the second year, we work with students to tailor students congregational work to suit his/her particular vocational goals.  Working with some basic guidelines, we are open to where students may feel called to serve and are excited about helping to make students vocational goals happen. Learn more.

Another unique aspect of our program is our commitment to a contextualized curriculum. Alongside students work in the community and the church, students also have the chance to take contextualized courses led by esteemed Candler faculty from across theological disciplines.  These courses are specifically designed to utilize students experience on site as a primary source for learning.