Establishing A Learning Agreement:

Instructions, guidelines and examples are provided in the PMM Handbook (section 3 with examples in Appendix C). A synopsis of this process is presented in bullet points in a Learning agreement handout. Use the exercise sheet in the learning agreement handout (pg. 4) to help each member of the learning team explore what they have to offer as you create your learning agreement. Also, this Learning goal grid can assist in conceptualizing the learning agenda, but the final form of the learning agenda should be consistent with the example provided in the Handbook and signed by the intern and the learning partners.

Seminarian interns are responsible for crafting these learning agendas in consultation both with their learning partners in their contexts of ministry and with their fellow participants in the PMM Colloquies. Seminarian interns are given specific instructions in their syllabi about providing final forms of these learning agendas to their colloquy leaders and/or the PMM office early during their internships. 

Each of the three learning partners can bring particular insights to bear on the task of constructing a Learning Agreement:

1. Seminarian interns know best what they want to learn or need to learn. They have the best understanding at any given moment in time concerning their discernment of a call to some kind of ministry. They know best their gifts for ministry and strengths for service (which might not need to be framed as learning goals) and their growing edges (which might make excellent learning goals).

2. Clergy/mentoring learning partners know best the opportunities for ministry and learning that are offered within their parishes, agencies, non-profits, and communities. Where are there particular opportunities for engagement, service, or learning? This is not to ask what the partner has to teach the intern from the partner's wealth of experience. This is also not to ask what jobs need to be done. It is instead to identify the special opportunities within the congregation or non-profit for the intern to experience ministry him- or herself and to learn from that experience.

3. Lay/site learning partners: The design of these learning partnerships is not an apprenticeship. Seminarian interns are not simply learning from their clergy or mentoring learning partners, they are learning in broader conversation with those who provide ministry in a variety of ways, and those who are recipients of ministry in a variety of forms. This is why it is important to have an insightful individual on the learning partnership in addition to the clergy/mentoring learning partner and seminarian intern. This person can bring a different voice and needed perspective into their theological reflection together.

*PMM documents may refer variously to “learning goals,” learning agenda,” “learning agreement,” and “learning covenant.” Unless particular clarification is given, these may be understood as synonymous.