HDS - OMS - Field Education Handbook

Project: Grace Episcopal Church is a diverse, urban congregation (Latino and Anglo) located 25 miles north of Boston in Lawrence, Massachusetts, one of the poorest cities in the state. English-language Sunday services are offered at 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. The largest service of the week is at noon on Sundays and is a Spanish-language liturgy attended by 100-200 people and is the largest Latino ministry in the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts with possibilities for more growth. Grace Church also hosts (and sponsors) a new, tuition-free, middle school for (Latina) girls that will open (on site) in September of 2006. Opportunities abound at Grace Church for the student to experience real leadership (of all kinds) in an urban-poor setting and to shape and define the substance of the placement. The site is not easily accessible from Cambridge by public transportation; a car is almost essential.

Student Involvement: The student, who should have at least a moderate-advanced proficiency in Spanish, will be expected to participate liturgically in a variety of capacities (including the design and planning of special, thematic liturgies) as well as to contribute programmatically to the Latino congregation. That is, the student will design and implement a year-long program of their choosing (in conversation with the rectors). Possibilities are endless and include: running an adult education class; starting a food pantry, ESL classes, or other social service on site; initiating a social justice ministry; leading a prayer or bible reflection group; developing a family or youth ministry; assisting the associate priest with developing womens ministry programming, etc. The self-motivated and self-directed student will do especially well (though will also have lots of support). There is plenty of room for your vision and gifts. A possibility exists for a second student whose ministry will focus on the English-speaking congregation. The placement in this case is less open-ended and will be focused on developing a contemporary family liturgy, a family ministry, and a Christian education program.

Arts of Ministry Competencies: Preaching and Worship. Pastoral Care and Counseling. Religious Education and Spiritual Development. Administration and Program Development. Public Leadership, Community Organizing and Planning. Denominational Polity.

Harvard Divinity School

Ministry Studies

Field Education Handbook