Wesley Theological Seminary

God's call is bold. Your seminary should be, too.

Menu
  • Study
    • What Wesley degree Is right for me?
    • Masters Degrees
      • Masters of Divinity
        • UMC Requirements
      • Masters of Arts
      • Masters of Theological Studies
      • Close
    • Field Education: Practice in Ministry and Mission
    • Student Pastor Program
    • Doctor of Ministry
    • Non-degree
    • Certificate in Children and Youth Ministry & Advocacy (CYMA)
    • National Capital Experiences
    • Faith and Public Life Immersion for Undergraduates
    • Course of Study
    • Resources
      • My Wesley
      • Academic Catalog
      • Course Schedule
      • Library
      • Student Writing Center
      • Office of the Reigstrar
      • Local Churches
      • Close
    • Close
  • Discover
    • Welcome!
    • Admissions
    • Choose a Wesley degree as unique as your call…
    • Visit Us
    • About Us
    • Faculty
      • Faculty Directory
      • Adjunct Faculty
      • Department Directory
      • Close
    • Community Life
      • Wesley Safety and Regulatory Information
      • CARES Act Emergency Financial Aid for Students
      • Close
    • Chapel Worship
    • WTS Campus Master Plan
    • Current Openings
    • Community Engagement Institute
    • The Lewis Center
    • The Luce Center
    • Partners Schools and Programs
    • Close
  • Apply
    • Try a Class at Wesley
    • Office of the Registrar
      • Academic Catalog
      • Academic Calendar
      • Close
    • Student Information
      • Course of Study
      • International Students
      • Housing
      • Close
    • Financial Aid
    • Apply Now
    • Close
  • Request Info
  • Alumni
  • Give
  • My Wesley
Menu
  • Prospective Students
  • Congregations and Non-Profits
  • PMM Steps for Students
    • Upcoming Events
    • Applying for PM&M
    • Close
  • Current Learning Partnerships
    • Establishing A Learning Agreement
    • Suggestions For The Meeting Of Learning Partners
    • Maintaining Respectful Boundaries
    • Conducting Transparent Evaluations
    • Close
  • Immersions
    • Upcoming Immersions
    • Close
  • Student Pastor Program
    • Student Pastor Program Denominational Partners
    • Entering the Student Pastor Program
    • Current SPP Students
    • Close
  • Handbook & Forms

Maintaining Respectful Boundaries 

Please view this slideshow on “Basic Concepts and Best Practices” provided by the Presbyterian and Reformed Theological Field Educators. It provides an excellent introduction to the subject of boundaries in supervised ministry.

The guiding rule to govern the relationship between supervisors and interns should be respect. Please regard one another with appreciative respect:

  •  Respect for each other’s personal integrity,
  •  Respect for the pedagogical and ministerial nature of your relationship with each other, and
  •  Respect for the power differential between you and the intern’s relative vulnerability. Because of the imbalance of power structured into the relationship between supervisors and seminarian interns, Wesley prohibits amorous relationships between them. The seminary’s Sexual Harassment Policy states the following:
establishing a learning agreement photo with candles
Practice in ministry and mission partnership requirements

While the development of romantic relationships between genuinely consenting adults can obviously be a positive event in appropriate circumstances, faculty and administrators, as individuals in authority, must recognize that the imbalance of power between themselves and students renders mutuality of consent in relationships with students problematic and raises potential conflicts of interest.

Further, when the authority and power inherent in administrative and faculty relationships to students is abused, whether overtly, implicitly, or through misinterpretation, there is potentially great damage to individual students, to the persons complained of, and to the educational climate of the institution.

For these reasons, Wesley Theological Seminary prohibits romantic or amorous relationships between faculty and students, and between administrators and students. For the same reasons, Wesley Theological Seminary also prohibits romantic or amorous relationships between students and learning partners, and between students and parishioners in the Practice in Ministry and Mission sites. Likewise, the seminary prohibits romantic or amorous relationships between supervisors and those whom they supervise (PMM Handbook, p. 82).

Please read Wesley's Sexual Harassment Policy in its entirety (pp. 82-83 in the PMM Handbook). In addition, please review Wesley's other important policies and covenants in Appendix F of the PMM Handbook.

ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDED BOUNDARIES RESOURCES

Safe Sanctuaries:

Safe Sanctuaries:  General Board of Discipleship, UMC
Safe Sanctuaries:  Baltimore Washington Conference, UMC

FaithTrust Institute:

http://www.faithtrustinstitute.org/resources/bibliographies/clergy-sexual-abuse

The PMM faculty and staff are available to advise and assist you with all aspects of the PMM program. The PM&M office is located at Wesley's main campus in the Kresge building, office suite K-107. Please feel free to contact us.

Dr. Doug Powe
PM&M Director
DPowe@wesleyseminary.edu

Dr. Nick Works
PM&M Associate Director
NWorks@wesleyseminary.edu

Rev. Debra M. Whitten
PM&M Program Administrator
PMMAssistant@WesleySeminary.edu

Contact Us
Wesley Theological Seminary
4500 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20016
p 202.885.8600
f 202.885.8605
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
Apply
Who We Are
Admissions
Academics
News & Events
My Wesley
Resources
Alumni
Community Life
Support
Consumer Information

Wesley Logo

© 2023 Wesley Theological Seminary

Copyright © 2023 · Wesley Theological Seminary on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Read the latest information from Wesley regarding COVID-19 and the reopening of campus