A ministry reflection seminar constitutes the third year. Senior students meet weekly to review actual ministry cases they are dealing with. The goal is to help them learn to consciously draw on all of their previous experience and learning as they make decisions in ministry. We also want to help students begin a life-long habit of sharing the decisions, burdens and joys of ministry with colleagues. Seminary education is often criticized as being too academic and theoretical or, by contrast, too practical, lacking substance.
Integration is the key word.
The educational philosophy at Emmanuel does not split theory and practice. We consider them inseparable. We approach every theoretical inquiry with a concern for God s redeeming work in the lives of the people our students serve or will serve. We bring to every practical aspect of ministry the rich resources of God s Word, the history of God s people, and wisdom from the various disciplines of ministry. The SME program explicitly teaches students that learning is a whole-person experience hands, heart, voice and ears as well as head.