The Ministry Practicum is a field-based experience of ministry with a qualified mentor in a student’s own local context. Students must first be approved by the MDiv Director for their practicum location (e.g., a student’s local church, a parachurch ministry, or chaplaincy) and for their prospective mentor. The practicum must be at least nine consecutive months of ministry in which student and mentor meet for one-on-one meetings. The goal is an apprenticeship where students “shadow” their mentors to grow in the practice of Christian ministry. The Ministry Practicum gives students an opportunity to engage in practical, hands-on ministry experience and to reflect upon that experience with a mature Christian leader.

The three courses of the Preaching Practicum focus on gaining valuable feedback and direction in the experience of preaching. Each practicum consists of two preached sermons with evaluation and a book review from a book on preaching.

This course can be done in a student's own local ministry context. It can be done at any point during the academic term (i.e., it doesn’t follow the normal beginning and end of the academic schedule of courses), but students must be approved beforehand by the M.Div Director.
*** Knox does not allow “backdating” of sermons preached in the past. *** A student is approved for a sermon that will be preached, recorded, and then sent to the professor for evaluation. The practicum also requires feedback from an in-person witness to the sermon.

Prerequisite: AT502 (Introduction to Homiletics)