Field Education Reflection Essay

Field education provides a safe and accountable practice field for the student to learn and exercise skills of ordained leadership. My field education placement internship was highly practical and informative for my ministry. Having the opportunity to practice the skills from the classroom and the lessons picked up through being immersed in the life of the congregation has deepened my understanding of what it means to be a minister and to lead a community. The experience was full of learning and difficulties as I navigated the role of being an associate minister in a small rural community. I gained an immense about of knowledge on the administrative and planning portions of ministry. Through trial and error, along with feedback, I utilized my experiences to grow as a leader and to address conflict in a healthy and productive manner that nurtures communal responsibility and spiritual growth. It has been an adventure to try to figure out how previous leaders functioned in their roles and especially how items are stored throughout the building. I felt like I
I am grateful for the relationships that I have gained through the field education experience. From theological reflection, I gained a new understanding of ministry and developed skills in interpersonal and inter-professional

relationships. I struggled to be in a productive relationship with my site supervisor. Throughout the year, I have learned more in depth about my leadership style and how I manage the diverse pieces of being in a role with a high level of responsibility and leadership. I have a type a personality along with being driven by completing goals. I value being a hard worker and following through on projects after planning out and implementing of the necessary preparations.

The five student learning outcome for Field Education are to demonstrate