HDS - OMS - Field Education Handbook

Project: St. Matthew's United Methodist Church, a Reconciling Congregation of the UMC, was established in 1962 to provide a United Methodist presence in the Acton-Boxboro-Littleton-Stowe region. We understand ourselves to be a vibrantly diverse Christian community, journeying together in faith, hope, and love, open to self-examination, to the spirit and guidance of God, and to all who seek to love and serve God. As of the end of 2005, after a comprehensive audit, our membership is 266 with an average Sunday worship attendance of 125. The congregation is comprised of highly educated people, including many young families who have moved to the area because of the excellence of the public schools. St. Matthew's is noted for its excellent music program, which includes vocal, handbell, and other instrumental music. A long-standing commitment to mission outreach and social justice has been a hallmark of our congregation's life. We are a congregation that encourages each member's personal spiritual journey, as we seek to be continually transformed by God's love. St. Matthews is a congregation that not only accepts but also encourages new initiatives in seeking to live faithful and committed lives as disciples of Christ.

Over the years of our existence, St. Matthew's has been a thriving teaching parish, and we count some of the most gifted members of the New England Conference among our alumni. Our purpose in being a teaching parish is to offer our resources as a learning site in which a student may develop skills for effective parish ministry. Under the weekly supervision of our pastor and with the strong support of our teaching parish committee, we make all of our resources available to our students.

Acton is an upper middle class suburb located 26 miles west of Boston. The church is on a main road in Acton, just off Rte 2 at Exit 41. Excellent commuter rail service is provides, but students may find transportation by car easier.

Our pastor, Bob Moore, was appointed to the congregation in July 2005, having served in parish ministry since 1971. Most recently he served for 11 years at Niantic (CT) Community Church (UMC/UCC), where he was a field education supervisor for Andover-Newton Theol ogical School.

Student Involvement: St. Matthew's provides opportunities to participate in diverse areas of the congregation's life depending on the student's unique gifts and interests, including: children's and youth ministries, adult education, music, preaching, worship preparation and leadership, church administration, pastoral care, and social action. After consultation with the pastor, teaching parish committee, and HDS, the student will prepare a learning agreement to meet strategic goals for professional development.

Arts of Ministry Competencies: Preaching and Worship. Religious Education and Spiritual Development. Administration and Program Development.

Supervision: Weekly meetings between student and supervisor. Monthly meetings with the Teaching Parish Committee.

Harvard Divinity School

Ministry Studies

Field Education Handbook