Pacific School of Religion

Number of Encounters

Master of Divinity students are required to participate in one (1) encounter per academic year for a total of three (3) certified encounters for graduation. There will be three events per semester designated as Certified Contextual Learning Encounters. The six annual Certified Encounters will be posted by the Office of Contextual Learning at the beginning of the fall semester.

Registration for an encounter will be required and each encounter will be limited to no more than 25 registered students.  Only the first 25 M.Div. students to register will be allowed to use their attendance at that event to meet their Certified Contextual Learning Encounter requirement.

Required Consultation with Faculty Advisor

Students will schedule appointments with their faculty advisors early in their first semester to discuss their educational/vocational goals and the life experiences that will contribute to their leadership formation. The goals and past experiences of the students revealed in this interview should inform the student’s selection of the certified encounters. It is important to ask yourself: (1) What is the context of this encounter? (2) How is this context different from my own? (3) How will this experience challenge me? Students are encouraged to choose encounters that are challenging and that will put the student in a context significantly different from their own. 

Expectations of Encounters

Each encounter will be several hours in length and will include some engagement by the student. Offered encounters will include travel to explore other community settings and discussion of different theological, social, gendered, cultural, economic, environmental, and historical contexts.

At the completion of the encounter a theological reflection of two—no more than three—pages is required. Participation in group reflection is not required but strongly recommended.  Within a week of the encounter students will have an opportunity to reflect on the experience as a group with a faculty member and a representative from the sponsoring center.
 

Sponsorship of Certified Encounters

The Office of Contextual Learning will work with three PSR educational centers to develop  Contextual Learning Encounters. These centers may offer various events during a semester, but only one event will be designated as a Certified Contextual Learning Encounter. These encounters will be designed to address the goals of PSR’s M.Div. degree: “preparing leadership for historic and emerging faith communities for a more just and compassionate world.” Each center will offer two certified encounters per academic year, one in the fall semester and one in the spring semester. The three PSR educational centers that will offer Certified Contextual Learning Encounters are:
• PANA (Institute for Leadership Development and Study of Pacific and Asian North American Religion)
• CLGS (Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies in Religion and Ministry)
• DRC (Dismantling Racism Committee)

Reflection Papers

Students will complete a 2-3 page written reflection paper on the experience and its contribution to their spiritual/vocational leadership formation. This reflection paper must be submitted to the Director of Contextual Learning within 10 days of participating in the encounter. Content should include:
• Personal cultural identity/social location.
• Social context.
• Theological reflection.
• Integration with course work.
• Implication for future vocation and spiritual growth.

 Summary of Student Responsibilities

1. Choose one encounter for the year and sign up for that encounter on the sign-up sheets outside of the Contextual Learning office.
2. Attend the Encounter and sign the attendance sheet.
3. Within a week of the encounter, students will have the opportunity to reflect on the experience as a group with a faculty member and a representative from the sponsoring center.
4. Within ten (10) days of the encounter, students will write a 2-3 page reflection paper according to the guidelines, attach the “Documentation of Attendance” form, and submit both to the Director of Contextual Learning. If a reflection paper is not received within 10 days of the registered encounter, the encounter will not count as the student’s annual encounter.
5. The paper will be read by a designated reader and returned to the student with comments. The student may be requested to revise and resubmit the paper if the guidelines for reflection are not met.