The Community Engagement Fellows program seeks to enhance the academic, theological, formational, and leadership development of the fellows to best prepare them for their positions as leaders in the church and in the world.  The program enhances students’ learning in areas of applied theology and ministry praxis, experiential learning and theological reflection, and their identity as church leaders engaged in transforming the community toward the shape of God’s reign.

Community Engagement Fellows are expected to declare a specialization in either Urban Ministry, Missional Church Program, or Public Theology.  The requirements for these specializations for Community Engagement Fellows are as follows:

Urban Ministry Specialization for Fellows

Urban ministry brings students together for engaging dialogue and prepares you for innovative leadership in metropolitan areas. You develop skills in community engagement, social entrepreneurship and for leading transitioning congregations. You not only get to engage Wesley faculty, but practitioners in the field.

Courses required (19 hours):

• Foundations of Urban Ministry (CM-230) (2 hours)
• 3 hours Pastoral Care in Context (PC-111)
• 8 hours fellows seminar work (CM-405, CM-406, CM-407, CM-408)
• 4 hours of approved elective work 
• 2 hours capstone course—one per semester (CM-409 and CM-410)

Missional Church Specialization for Fellows

Missional Church is designed to turn churches inside out. You focus on the church’s mission of being sent into the world to create disciples for Jesus Christ while embodying God’s redeeming love through service and justice. This program equips students to lead churches or nonprofit organizations committed to social justice, service, community development, organizing, and advocacy work with those in need.

Courses required (19 hours):

• Leadership and Practices of the Missional Church (CM-150) OR Mission of the Church in the Contemporary World (CM-205) (2 hours)
• 3 hours Pastoral Care in context (PC-111)
• 8 hours fellows seminar work (CM-405, CM-406, CM-407, CM-408)
• 4 hours of approved elective work
• 2 hours capstone course—one per semester (CM-409 and CM-410)

Public Theology Specialization for Fellows

Public Theology equips leaders to help navigate the connection between faith and politics, ranging from social movements to public policy. This program helps leaders improve the tone of national political discourse by fostering a new ethic of civil discourse. The Center for Public Theology at Wesley Theological Seminary is non-partisan but not disinterested in the great issues of the day.

Courses required (20 hours):

• Foundations for Public Theology (ST-200) (3 hours)
• Paradigms and Practices of Public Theology  (ST-290) (3 hours)
• 8 hours of fellows seminar work (CM-405, CM-406, CM-407, CM-408)
• 4 hours of elective courses in public theology, social ethics, political theology, or contextual theology
• 2 hours capstone course—one per semester (CM-409 and CM-410)

Admission to the Community Engagement Fellows program is competitive.  Well-qualified candidates will have a demonstrated commitment to serving in transformational ministry, either in urban settings, missional engagement, policy analysis, or social justice advocacy ministry.  The fellowship is designed to allow interested ministry leaders to explore how their experience and call to ministry can be integrated into transformative engagement.

Application to the Community Engagement Fellows program should occur as a prospective student is applying for the Master of Divinity.  Fellows must remain registered as a full-time student throughout the duration of the three year Fellowship. Should the Fellow become a part-time student, he or she will forfeit the Community Engagement Fellowship position.  The student may remain eligible for part-time scholarship support as determined by the Financial Aid committee.

Essay: Applicants must submit to the Admissions office, along with their application, an essay of no more than 1,000 words addressing the following questions: 

• How have you experienced a call to ministry and service? How do you understand this ministry calling as being urban, missional, or related to public theology?
• What qualifications or experiences (including service hours, social justice ministry experiences, etc.) support your calling? In what type of ministry setting do you see yourself serving in the future?

Essays of 1,000 words or less must be received by February 1. Essays may be submitted by email to admissions@wesleyseminary.edu, by fax at (202) 315-3486 or by mail to Admissions Office, Wesley Theological Seminary, 4500 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC, 20016. Finalists for the Community Engagement Fellows program will be invited to interview with members of the Community Engagement Fellows Faculty Committee.