FAQs

What is Contextual Education?
An active process of formation for ministry by practicing what is learned in a ministry setting and reflecting upon what is practiced.

We learn the practice of ministry through attentiveness, action, and reflection in a specific setting. This process includes practices of attentiveness to the context of a community, action in the context of community, and reflection on the practice of ministry.

Theology is a contextualized practice of rigorous and coherent thinking, action, and reflection that leads to sound judgment. Praxis and theology cannot be separated nor polarized (as learning needs doing and doing needs learning). The practice of ministry is context specific and yet draws on ancient practices that transcend context (like good conduct & prayer).

What are Mentor Groups?
Regular face-to-face gatherings for prayer and conversation regarding life, ministry, and school. The mentor provides space to listen and assist students in attending to God, self and others on their journey to embody virtue in life and ministry.

MDiv students participate in mentoring for three years and MA students for two years. Each year has a particular focus or stage (below), even as these practices (of listening, interpreting, and living) are present and develop over all years.

Stage 1: Listening - share life story with a focus on calling to ministry and to ACU GST
Stage 2
: Interpreting - prayer, theological reflection on ministry scenarios, virtues
Stage 3: Living - prayer, vocation, ministry scenarios, virtues

What are Residential Mentor Groups?

These Faculty led small groups of residential students meet weekly for prayer and conversation. Groups of three to seven students meet over twelve weeks (10x minimum) for 45-60 minutes.

What is Online Spiritual Mentoring?
For students entering Fall 2018, online degree requirements now include a Mentoring component. Online Spiritual Mentoring occurs as a student selected, GST approved Context Mentor meets monthly one-on-one for prayer and conversation with the student-minister for 60 minutes. Find out more information about this program in the "Spiritual mentoring" booklet.

What are Pathways Projects?
A discipline-specific contact points between student learning in a particular class and the overall goals of their degree program.

Pathways require one to integrate the resources of particular disciplines into your course of study, to apply classroom learning to particular situations, and to reflect on implementation. This is where what a student is most excited about in class connects with their ministry passion in a unique integrative practice.

Currently accomplished by students applying course material (a) to your case or (b) to a project that you develop and implement in a ministry context. (Class series, sermon, discipleship program, etc.)

What is the Annual Review Process?
Students are given opportunity to represent their best work by creating a personalized online Portfolio. An annual review of GST students by two faculty members occurs each April. This review process monitors and assesses a student's formative progress through the program.

Year 1 - First Review and Candidacy Check: Completed English Bible Exam, Ministerial Identity, Case 1 Revisions, Pathways Project #1, and Mentor Group participation report. Due before March 21.

Year 3 - Final Review: Substantive feedback on Senior Case #2, Theology of Ministry, and revised Ministerial Identity papers. Plus Mentor Group participation report and completed Pathways Project #3. (note: students will not be reviewed if they have not completed requirements for years 1-3). Due before March 15.

Current students will find many additional resources on the GST Pathways Blog