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Community Engagement Fellows

Community Engagement Institute (CEI) Fellows program at Wesley Theological Seminary continues to be at the forefront of theological education, and at the heart of our theological education ethos.  Through academic, theological, formational, and leadership development experiences inside and outside the classroom, CEI Fellows are equipped to serve as world-class community engagement leaders for the twenty-first century Church and world.

What sets Wesley’s CEI Fellows program apart from other institutions is our unique location in the nation’s capital and our ability to provide Fellows with distinct opportunities to deal with vital issues in the church and public arena.  Fellows engage in innovative learning in the classroom while participating in transforming communities on the ground by innovating, integrating and initiating effective ministries.

As faith leaders who are theologically grounded, contextually nimble, and prophetically engaged in the church and world, Fellows learn and practice how to best engage in urban ministry, robust public witness, and missional work in ways that make the church a force to contend with in the public square.

In the classroom, our Fellows acquire theological and practical grounding and expertise in community engagement.  In the world, we desire for our Fellows to live what they have learned in their communities as they develop innovative ministries and engage in theological reflection that informs their identity formation as bridge builders and border crossers engaged in transforming communities toward the shape of God’s reign.

Thus, experiential learning is a crucial part of the Fellows’ educational experience.  It allows the Fellows to “brings to life in the community what is learned in the classroom.”  It plays a critical role in preparing students to holistically engage the complex issues confronting urban environs with the love of Christ in a manner that promotes an empowered citizenry and communal flourishing.

In addition, Fellows move through the Community Engagement Institute curriculum as they engage readings and assignments in a scaffolding manner and build upon what they have learned and experienced in the previous year inside and outside the classroom.  This strengthens their knowledge base and identity formation as a community engagement expert.

  • Field Education: Community Engagement Fellows participate in a community based  field education experience that allows them to undertake their self-designed community engagement project. The  Community Engagement Institute works with Fellows to secure placement in an appropriate setting via their ministry and nonprofit database.
  • Stipend: Community Engagement Fellows receive a stipend that helps to cover educational expenses and to engage in their community engagement ministry project.
  • Requirements: Fellows must be a full-time M.Div. student taking a minimum of 9 credit hours each semester; meet in a weekly seminar to read and discuss the theology and practice of community engagement; and serve as a mutually supportive learning community.
Goals of the Community Engagement Fellows Expand

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.

Foundational Courses Expand

Community Engagement Fellows can take the opportunity to be exposed to   either the Urban Ministry, Missional Church Program, or Public Theology.  The requirements for these specializations for Community Engagement Fellows are as follows:

Urban Ministry Courses

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 Courses

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 Courses

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)
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