Internship Overview

Registering For Your Internship

Begin by familiarizing yourself with the contents of this page including reviewing the Internship Manual, Orientation Seminar (PDF), and the Syllabus. Registration for the Internship Program requires meeting the prerequisites, meeting with the Internship Program Director, finding an appropriate placement site with a qualified supervisor, and then submitting the proper forms.

To set up an appointent to meet with the Internship Program Director, please email the internship administrator at seminternship2 [at] tyndale [dot] ca.

Learning Outcomes

Each MDiv Major has its own set of ministry competencies that students will be expected to develop, which will enable the Intern to serve more effectively.  At the completion of their internship placements interns should be able to:

• Demonstrate growth in ministry capacities and competencies in accordance with their individualized learning covenant and their ministry major competency requirements
• Engage effectively in the practice of both personal and group theological reflection on ministry experience
• Analyze the social, cultural and global context of God’s mission in the world with particular focus on their own ministry setting
• Understand the value of mentoring, supervision and peer accountability for lifelong personal, professional and spiritual growth
• Identify and articulate one’s calling, aptitudes, growing edges and personal philosophy of ministry
• Demonstrate an integrative understanding of the Biblical, theological, historical, spiritual and personal dimensions of Christian ministry

See also the projected Learning Competencies, specific to your program. They are listed in the Internship Manual.

Program Prerequisites

MDiv Students must have completed the following:

• “Spiritual Formation” course (SPIR 0700).
• “Leadership Development” course (LEAD 0510).
• “Gospel, Church, and Culture” course (MISS 0782).
• The first two years of their academic program (a minimum of 15 courses).

Exceptional cases will be considered by the Internship Program Director.

Program Requirements

The components within the Internship Program distinguish it from other kinds of ministry or professional experiences including volunteer work, lay ministry, professional ministry, or other employment. (For this reason, previous experience is not considered for academic credit.) The syllabus describes details of the program requirements. The components include:

• An application form which provides the Internship Program Director with background and contact information about the student.
• 10 hours per week over two semesters of practical ministry experience (260 hours) in an approved Internship placement setting. Possible internship placements sites can be investigated by connecting with the Internship Program Director and by exploring Tyndale's Centre for Service Learning.
• The formulation of, and adherence to, an individualized Learning Covenant.
• Mentoring and weekly supervision sessions with an approved Internship Supervisor. The supervisor must fill out a Placement Site Information Form to signify their willingness to function as a Tyndale Internship Supervisor.
• Preparation of a Ministry Experience Report (a case study) each semester (2 total) to be submitted to peers at one of the designated Ministry Reflection Seminars. This will be a 5-page (max) paper consisting of the selection of a “ministry experience” from the placement that is current, open-ended and reveals personal action in the ministry situation;
• Mandatory attendance and participation in at least 6 Ministry Reflection Seminars held approximately once a month normally held on Tuesday afternoons or evenings  (dates are outlined in the syllabus). The Reflection Seminars are designed to help students with the process of theological reflection. The content for these seminars is the case studies the students bring and some lecture material from the Internship Program Director.
• Submission of a mid-term (after one semester), a final Self-Evaluation (at the end of the Internship) and an "exit interview" with the Internship Program Director where the Intern student offers oral feedback about his/her Internship experience;
• An Final (Summative) Integrated Reflection Paper that is to be written in the final month of the Internship and submitted two weeks before the last day of classes. The Final Integrated Reflection Paper provides an Intern an opportunity to write a 12-15 page reflection paper on his/her internship experience and how his/her theology, understanding of ministry, and practical experience have interacted with and affected each other.