Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary

Mill Valley Campus

 

 

 

 

 

 

Theological Field Education

P1121

Larry Laxton, Peer Group Leader

 

 

 

 

 

 

Covenant of Learning

Fall 2002-Spring 2003

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chris A. Foreman

September 27, 2002

Learning – Serving Agreement

 

Student:  Chris A. Foreman                   Degree Program:  M.Div. Third Year (60 Hours)

                                                            Vocational Goal:  Pastoral Ministry

 

Field Mentor / Supervisor:                    Barry Stricker

            Pastor of Tiburon Baptist Church in Tiburon, CA, for 10 years.

            18 years total of pastoral experience

            Graduate of  GGBTS / MDiv (82), PhD (87)

 

Ministry Setting:                                    Tiburon Baptist Church             Tel: 415 388-3900

                                                            445 Greenwood Beach Road

                                                            Tiburon, CA 94921-2214

 

Tiburon Baptist Church is 42 years old with an average combined attendance of 230 people in two services.  Sunday School is held between the two services.  The church is about one mile from seminary.

 

Ministry Position: Ministry Intern

 

I will have several responsibilities with a view toward learning as much as possible about the position of church pastor.  I will teach an adult Sunday school class, preach from the pulpit on occasion, help out in the Church outreach committee, participate in a prison ministry to San Quentin, and assist the Youth Minister in youth outings.  I will attend the church council meetings and “shadow” the pastor in duties such as visitations, weddings, funerals, and baptisms.

 

Weekly Time Expectations: 10 hours                                        

 

1.  Teach Emmanuel Bible Study Class (and preparation)          3 hours

2.  San Quentin prison ministry                                      1 hour

3.  Youth ministry outings (average)                                           2 hours

4.  Outreach committee duties (picture album, greeting) 1 hour

5.  Outreach to Presbyterian Church men’s group                      1 hour

6.  Meet with Field Mentor / Supervisor                                    1 hour

7.  Meet with SD (monthly)                                                      

     Attend Church Council meeting (monthly)                 1 hour

     Attend deacon’s meeting (monthly)

     Lead own MRSG meeting (monthly)

 

Dates of the Covenant:  September 1, 2002 to May 15, 2003

 

Pay and Benefits:  None

 

Other Expectations:

 

  1. Student will remain a member of Tiburon Baptist Church and participate fully in its Church life.
  2. Student will continue duties during reading weeks and semester breaks.
  3. Student will be taking 15 hours of seminary credit in the Fall 2002 semester and in the Spring 2003 semester.
  4. Student will participate in staff meetings and deacon meetings as invited.
  5. Student will be a member of the Church council.
  6. Student will attend an SBC statewide event of some type.
  7. Student will preach in an evening service or morning services at least once per quarter.
  8. Student will devote more time to planning and preparing for Africa mission after April 1st (the last six weeks of covenant).  Participation in other ministries mentioned may be cut back to accommodate accelerated missionary schedule. 
  9. Student will be subject to the policies of the published Church Staff Handbook.
  10. Student will have two weeks of vacation time between Christmas and February first, at the convenience of the church.
  11. Student requests that he be ordained by TBC on a Sunday in June, 2003.

 

The Student is requesting 2 hours of credit per semester.

 

We have read and agreed to the Learning  - Service Agreement, the 5 learning goals, and enter into a covenant Relationship to carry out our agreements from September 2002 to May 2003.  We understand the covenant may be renegotiated during the semester break.

 

 

_______________                  Student

 

_______________                  Date

 

 

_______________                  Field Mentor/Supervisor

 

_______________                  Date

 

 

_______________                  Peer Group Leader

 

_______________                  Date

 

Goal #1

 

Type of Learning Goal:  Skill Development

 

Need:  To observe and practice one of the pastoral identities that pose a great challenge to me: pastor.  I need to become familiar with pastoral activities and responsibilities.  I need to participate in activities that draw me into pastor type relationships. 

 

Actions:

I will read the following books as referred to my field mentor, applying the lessons:

 

The Unnecessary Pastor: Rediscovering the Call

by Marva J. Dawn, Eugene H. Peterson, Peter Santucci (Editor)

Under the Unpredictable Plant an Exploration in Vocational Holiness

by Eugene H. Peterson

The Contemplative Pastor: Returning to the Art of Spiritual Direction

by Eugene H. Peterson

Working the Angles: The Shape of Pastoral Integrity

by Eugene H. Peterson

 

I will read the following books as referred to my Jerry Stubblefield, member of my MSRG, applying the lessons:

 

Serving in Church Visitation

            Jerry M. Stubblefield,  Paul E. Engle, series editor

A Church ministering to Adults: Resources for Effective Adult Christian Education

            Jerry M. Stubblefield

 

Evaluation:

 

Discuss the four books recommended by my field mentor and describe how I have implemented some of the ideas included in the books.  Do this by December 16th, 2002.

 

Discuss progress in the four books with Field Supervisor at regular meetings.

 

Discuss the two books by Jerry Stubblefield and describe how I have implemented some of the ideas included in the books.  Do this by April 25th, 2003.

 

Competencies Addressed:

 

Care – Spiritual Care, Hospital visitation, Pastoral counseling

Relate – Relate to Church people

Personal -- Attitude

 

 

Goal #2

 

Type of Learning Goal:  Skill Development

 

Need:  To observe and practice one of the pastoral identities that pose a great challenge to me: priest.  I need to observe those parts of the ministry having to do with the ceremonies of baptism, communion, funeral, wedding, and the like.

 

 

 

 

Actions:

 

I will participate in a baptism (or practice baptism).

 

I will lead in a communion service.

 

I will attend a wedding and follow pastor’s role in ceremony.

 

I will attend a funeral and follow pastor’s role in ceremony.

 

I will read a book about the role of pastors in the ceremonial life of the church.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Evaluation:

 

Write a brief paragraph about each event, describing what went right and what could be improved.  Discuss the event and evaluation with field mentor.

 

Discuss the book and how it has enlightened me in regard to pastor’s role in ceremony.

 

 

 

Competencies Addressed:

 

Proclaim – Worship, Lord’s Supper and Baptism, Marriage ministry

Relate – Relate to church people

Goal #3

 

Type of Learning Goal:  Skill Development

 

Need:  To learn more about the organization and administration of the local congregation and more about the SBC way of life.

 

 

 

 

Actions:

 

I will become more aware of all ministries in TBC congregational life.

 

I will meet with leaders of various TBC groups to understand the challenges from their prospective.

 

I will attend a meeting (convention) of Baptist organizations in California.

 

I will write a brief history of TBC from its founding including all its pastors 

 

 

 

 

Evaluation:

 

Report findings of church ministries to Field Mentor.

 

Report about Baptist convention meeting to Church council.

 

Report about church history to Field Mentor by April 1st, 2003.

 

 

 

 

Competencies Addressed:

 

Lead – denominational leadership, relating to community organizations, analyzing organizations

Goal #4

 

Type of Learning Goal:  Personhood

 

Need:  To clarify my calling.  I know that I have been called to serve the Church of Christ.  But how?  How can I best use my abilities, position, and gifts to serve God?  Should I pastor in an American church?  Should I seek out a position in the Korean-American community?  Should I be bi-vocational or let go of all my outside work responsibilities?  Should I place more emphasis on missions and pursue becoming a missionary? 

 

 

 

Actions:

 

I will better understand my gifts.

 

I will better understand my opportunities in the Bay Area.

 

I will read two books regarding a call to ministry.

 

I will guest preach at different churches in the area to gain insight about ministry opportunities.

 

I will pray for guidance.

 

I will develop criteria for a future ministry allowing room for me to act and for the Spirit to act.

 

 

Evaluation:

 

I will discuss ministry opportunities with Field Mentor on an ongoing basis.

 

I will report on my future ministry criteria after March 1st, 2003.

 

I will report on prospective ministry opportunities after April 1st, 2003.

 

 

 

 

Competencies Addressed:

 

Personal – call to ministry, self understanding

Goal #5

 

Type of Learning Goal:  Personhood

 

 

 

Need:  To not let my attitude, anger, aggravation, or frustration become an obstacle to my ministry. To become more accepting and less judgmental of others.  To become a better listener and less apt to speak. 

 

 

 

Actions:

 

I will recall and write about those instances when my attitude, anger, aggravation, or frustration interfered with my ministry.  (shortfalls)

 

I will recall and write about those instances when I was able to overcome my anger, aggravation, or frustration and not let them interfere with my ministry. (successes)

 

I will read one book about how to relate better with others.

 

 

 

 

 

Evaluation:

 

Once a month I will share with my Field Mentor the documentation of my shortfalls and successes regarding my personal encounters.  We will pray for improvement as the year progresses.

 

 

 

 

 

Competencies Addressed:

 

Personal – Attitude, Spiritual disciplines

Relate – Relate to Church People, Relate to peers

Spiritual Growth Plan

 

Ezekiel 11:19 “I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh”.

 

Need:  My circle of friends is small.  I have a wife and family that love me.  I have many associates and acquaintances that respect me.  I ache for true friends.  My personality (INTJ) and my history of moving from place to place (Army) have lulled me into a mindset where I feel comfortable without people in my life.  People complicate things and demand time. I find solace in solitude.  I understand that to make a friend I must first be a friend.  I feel competent in most aspects of my upcoming ministry, but I must mix better with people to become that true ambassador for Christ.  Sometimes towards others I sense my own heart of stone.  My spiritual goal is to transform that hard heart of indifference into a caring heart of passion.

 

Goal:  By May 15, 2003, I will have expanded my circle of friends to include at least 10 people with whom I may now be only marginally acquainted.  At least 5 of these people will be men in my own age group. 

 

Actions:

 

1.       I will make a conscious effort be more friendly, to grow friendships, and to match name with face with story.

2.       As I meet new people, I will engage them in conversation, doing more active listening than speaking.  I will not avoid their approaches.

3.       If another person invites me into their life, I will accept and share their company. 

4.       I will invite others into the activities of my life.

5.       I will follow up conversations, with phone calls, e-mail or letters.

6.       I will actively minister to people in the church who need company: the sick, the lonely, those who need companionship.

7.       I will attend functions which are conducive to meeting people and getting to know them.

8.       I will try to reestablish friendships that have recently grown distant.

 

Evaluations:

 

1.       I will keep a log of meeting people: name, place, time, topic of discussion, depth of conversation.

2.       I will discuss this log during meetings with SD.

3.       At the end of semester will discuss the goal and related progress of this pilgrim.

 

 

We agree to work together on the above Spiritual Growth Plan, to be mutually supportive in interest, attendance, discussions and prayer from September 2002 through May 2003.

 

Student                                                 Date

 

 

Spiritual Director                                   Date

 

 

Peer Group Leader                                Date